From the remote coastal community of Skidegate, Canada, William “Tycoon” Russ has been quietly building a formidable catalog of hip-hop production that honors the golden age while pushing boundaries. A devoted student of West Coast G-Funk, Boom-Bap, and Trap, Tycoon’s journey from bedroom producer to independent artist is a testament to passion, persistence, and DIY creativity.
A Lifelong Love for Hip-Hop
Tycoon’s connection to hip-hop runs deep. “I’ve always loved Hip-Hop for damn near my entire life,” he explains. As a young artist, he pored over advertisements for music equipment at the back of magazines, dreaming of one day owning the gear to create his own sound.
Everything changed when he discovered digital production tools. Inspired by 9th Wonder’s use of Fruity Loops, Tycoon purchased the software and taught himself the fundamentals of beatmaking from scratch. What started as recording freestyles over other producers’ beats evolved into full-scale original production, mixing, and mastering.
“I had a friend named Steven that got me and my other homie James into making music,” Tycoon recalls. “We started by rapping over other rappers’ beats, then I saw that 9th Wonder used Fruity Loops, so I purchased that for myself and started to teach myself how to make music from there. I’ve been making music ever since.”
Building a Legacy, One Beat at a Time
Tycoon’s Bandcamp catalog speaks for itself. With numerous instrumental albums available at carvingshedstudios.bandcamp.com, he’s proven himself as a prolific and versatile producer. His standout solo project *Persevere* holds a special place in his discography, an album he produced, wrote, mixed, and mastered entirely on his own.
“Being able to complete my album *Persevere* and then going out and performing it at local shows over the last couple of years has been the biggest highlight of my career so far,” he says with pride.
Beyond solo work, Tycoon is one-third of Hydra Gwaii, a collaborative group with Japanese artists Pot C and DJ Hotwings. Their debut album *The Elements of Fire* showcases cross-cultural collaboration at its finest, blending their unique styles into cohesive, high-energy hip-hop.
The Influences That Shape His Sound
Tycoon’s production style pulls from a legendary roster of influences. Producers like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Timbaland, Erick Sermon, DJ Battlecat, RZA, Pete Rock, Rick Rock, and Bosko shaped his approach to crafting beats. On the mic, he draws inspiration from MCs like The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Scarface, Redman, The Game, and Badseed.
His versatility spans West Coast G-Funk, Boom-Bap, Trap, and even Pop-influenced production, with piano serving as a foundational instrument in his creative process.
What’s Next
Tycoon is currently working on three instrumental albums. One features sample-based productions in collaboration with The Producer’s Corner, while another project titled *Find a Home* will showcase beats created entirely from scratch, with all instrumentation performed by Tycoon himself. A third project is also in the works, yet to be titled.
With over two decades in the game since starting in 2001, William “Tycoon” Russ continues to honor hip-hop’s roots while carving out his own sonic identity from the shores of Skidegate.
**Connect with William “Tycoon” Russ:**
Instagram: @william_tycoon_russ
Bandcamp: carvingshedstudios.bandcamp.com