Large Professor

The Keep It Oldskool Artist/Producer of the Day




William Paul Mitchell aka "The Large Professor/Xtra P" is a name mostly associated and credited for discovering Nas. What KEEP IT OLDSKOOL wants people to know is that in addition Xtra P is an accomplished rapper as well as producer. Growing up in the Queens section of NYC he started producing at an early age. His first foray in to making beats was making "pause tapes" He learned from the late Paul C (Paul C Mckasty) how to use the E-mu-SP-1200  beat machine and created his own distinct sound. As a high school student he was asked to program beats for Eric B and Rakim's 3rd Album "Let the Rythym Hit Em" He joined with K-Cut and Sir Scratch to form Main Source together they released 1991's Breaking Atoms which included singles "Looking at The Front Door","Peace is not the word to play" and the star(Nas)making song "Live at the Bar B Que"




After going solo Xtra P became a highly sought after producer working with groups and acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock and C.L Smooth. Many people don’t know the story how he discovered Nas and the connection between Nas and Rakim. It seems that Nas recorded in studios that were booked for Rakim. Xtra P has stated in interviews Eric B said to him and Paul C "do some beats or do whatever you want, but I need something to come out of every session.” And so I was like, “Yo, I got my man (Nas) down the block in Queensbridge, he rhymes. Alright, get him in the studio man". We know what those sessions turned into. Xtra P continues to write and produce. His most recent album was 2012's            "Professor @Large" 

Large Professor/Xtra P KEEP IT OLDSKOOL!