It was like a summer day in April when I found myself excitedly driving in my car towards an incredible opportunity and experience of a lifetime.  I was invited to collaborate on a song with my mentor iLL Gates and fellow members of the Class of 808.  I knew this was going to be an incredible learning experience and I couldn’t wait to get started. I arrived nice and early at noon (this is actually early for music producers who frequently work and perform through the night).  Ryan (a.k.a. Arko) was nice enough to let us take over his studio for the collaboration. When I first saw the studio it felt like the NASA control room and I was both blown away and befuddled by the many different types of outboard gear and modular synths.