Beat smith’s Dru Brett and Mayne Zayne who compose THE RUNNERS are quite a deadly combination. In less than a year and 5 months they’ve earned over  11 platinum plaques and sold over 4 million ring tones.  Together, they started the company in the summer of 2003. First time they heard their record on the radio was a production for Fat Joe’s “Does anybody know” record.  They next did Lil Wayne’s Money on My Mind and Juelz Santana’s Murder, Murder. They linked up with DJ Nasty who co-manages them with DJ Khaled.  The Runners  refer to the business as “a country club that is real small , a lot smaller than you think, but once you get in you know everyone and everyone knows you,” says Dru.  Nasty was already in that club and he walked them through the door. They placed “Hustlin” on their own and have blown up to be one of the most sought after producers in the game since then.

How did you guys meet?
(M) Dru and I been friends since Pre- school. We are like brothers. Brothers don’t meet they just come together.

How did you pick your group name?
(D) Originally when we started the company I was in North Carolina, he was in Florida. We would just creatively talk on the phone. We wanted to have a business strategy behind our plans. We wanted to come up with something real catchy. We wanted to come up with a name that we both felt was appropriate and it just clicked. Besides the fact that music is on a track, it just felt right.

Are you both from Orlando originally or somewhere else?
(M)  We are originally from Vero Beach.

Do you think success changed you?
(M) Not really because since day one we knew who we were and who we were going to be. Our self confidence coming into this game was very high.

What can you no longer do now that you are “The Runners?”
(M) You just have o be aware of the people that come to you . Now that they know who we are they want to tie themselves in with our operation.  We have to keep our eyes wide open.

What’s the worst part about being famous?
(M) I wouldn’t consider ourselves famous. I consider ourselves as a Michaelangelo,  where people  love you for your work. (D) We are the producers so we try to stay behind the scenes.

Do you think you can do for Orlando what you did for Miami?
(M) Bug Time! (D) we already are. We signed our first artist – Bali. His mixtape is called the come up – volume one, hosted by DJ Nasty and DJ Khaled

How did you hook up with BALI?
(M) About seven years ago we linked up. He had a group called ‘Hot and Heated” He decided to be the front man and pay his dues to help his family out. (D) Bali is like us – he strives for perfection!

Are you looking to sign more artists?
(D)Right now we are trying to focus on our one artist. We are very busy so we want to give the proper attention to our artists. (M) We have to prove ourselves not only as producers but as CEO’s as well. Once we do that I feel like we will have the cream of the crop artists looking to be down with us.

How many beats do you make in a week?
(M)It depends on how booked up we are. It could take 2 days on one record or it could take one week on a whole album

How long does it take you to make a beat?
It could take two hours to a couple of days.

If you were to name one session you have ever been it your favorite which one would it be?
(D) I would say working with Luda and T.I.
Sometimes being in a group – people step on each other’s toes – do you foresee that happening with you r has it happened?
(D) At the end of the day we’ve been frends from preschool. We have learned how to work well together. We always hear each other out and it works!

What would say is the formula to success?
(M) You gotta work hard! (D) I feel like you have to have the right team around you that understand the business. Of course you have to have the talent.  (M) You need to have patience too!

If you were to use one word to describe yourself what would it be?
(D) Complex
(M) Complexer

For the ladies – single and   ready to mingle or taken?
(M) Taken. I’m married to my music (D)  Same here
Finish this sentence – Drew is A BOSS!  Mayne is UNSTOPPABLE!

Any shout outs or things people should know about the runners?
BALI!!!! Watch the Runners progress and break into pop music. You’ve seen us work with hip hop greats , now keep watching as we work with all mainstream.  Stay tuned………..myspace.com/therunners