Too $hort and his engineer Ekzakt discuss their bond in new video series Capture

Oakland rapper Too $hort is the first guest on Capture, a new video mini-series from Lauten Audio. The series aims to chronicle the path that the studio engineers behind music's most influential artists have taken. Too $hort appears alongside his engineer Zach "Ekzakt" Perry.

In the video Ekzakt charts his rise from trapping in the Bay Area to engineering, via a degree in Emeryville, California, and locking in with local Bay Area rappers. He outlines what it took for him to make his way in the game while Too $hort lifts the lid on what he looks for in an engineer and how he knows when he's found the right person for job.

"As friends, advisors, producers, and more, a personal engineer's role is far more meaningful than the title implies," a spokesperson for Lauten Audio says in a statement. "These unsung heroes of music are the trusted conduit between artist and audience. Each episode of Capture explores the unique relationship between artist and engineer, and the incredible paths in life that brought them together."

Too $hort is a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop and one of the few rappers to have collaborated with both The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac at the height of their careers. Ekzakt has engineered Too $hort's most recent albums; 2018's The Pimp Tape and 2019 release The Vault. He has also worked with the likes of 6LACK, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and more.