While Decap may not enjoy the same level of fame as renowned artists like Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, or Charli XCX, his influence on the music industry is undeniable. His production style has left its mark on a variety of tracks from artists such as Freddie Gibbs, Bad Bunny, Mac Miller, and BTS, as well as on Ludwig Göransson’s score for the film Oppenheimer.

Professional musicians know him as Nicholas Piantedosi, but he has earned recognition as a highly sought-after record producer. One of his most significant contributions to contemporary music is the Drums That Knock sample pack series. Since its inception in 2016, this line has garnered immense popularity and is currently in its 11th edition. Notably, fellow producer Kenny Beats, who has worked with Denzel Curry and FKA Twigs, remarked that Decap “changed a million lives with a single snare.”

An advocate for high-quality audio, Decap has voiced a particular dissatisfaction with the sound output from mobile phone speakers. Despite using advanced software like Ableton Live in his digital audio workstation, he remains loyal to his Boss SP-202 Dr. Sample, first released in 1998.

Insights from Decap

What is your most indispensable tool?
“Ableton Live. It’s how I get my ideas out.”

What is the most underappreciated tool?
“The clipper. A soft clipper can give your drums that warm analog sound, or it can make them hit super hard. It’s the tool that changed my music.”

What do you wish you could change about your phone?
“The speaker. I wish I could hear a fat 808 on my phone. A raw 808 with no processing is basically inaudible on a phone speaker.”

What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?
“My Boss SP-202 sampler. It’s the first sampler I had, and it was the start of everything I’m doing now.”

Which tech trend do you wish would go away?
“Gatekeeping over gear. The idea that you’re not a real producer unless you use certain hardware or software is false.”

What is one thing you wish you had created?
“Nothing. I’m happy making the music I make; it’s meaningful to me.”

What creation are you most proud of?
“Creating a hard-hitting sound that I love and watching it spread across genres.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“From my dad: Make a decision and put a stake in the ground, but remember that you can always move it.”

What do you do when you need to focus?
“I meditate. It helps me align my mind and body.”

What do you do when you’re feeling stuck?
“I use the 3M technique: make it, mix it down, move on.”

What do you think is worth splurging on?
“Really good food. I love exploring Los Angeles’s amazing dining scene.”

What would the tagline for your biopic be?
“This all started with not wanting a real job.”