In this Puremix Inside The Mix episode, Grammy-winning mixer Leslie Brathwaite opens up his full session for Lil Uzi Vert – “Chop Suey” and walks you step by step through how he keeps this dense, guitar-heavy record loud, clear and emotional.
Leslie shows how he uses the Fairchild 670 and Precision EQ to add oomph, top-end and grit to the guitars while skipping harsh mids, shaping the transition from the aggressive sections to the more open, acoustic moments so the energy drops without “falling off a cliff.” You’ll see how he brings all the elements in, then sifts through the chaos to find what’s too much and what really drives the song.
He also breaks down his workflow decisions: taking strategic breaks to reset his ears on a very loud, information-heavy track, listening through entire “life cycles” of the beat, and always checking back to the rough mix so Uzi still hears what he loves.
On the vocal side, Leslie focuses on Uzi’s lead, muting adlibs and backgrounds at first so he can dial in the main performance, then using Pro-Q 3 and careful EQ to clean low-end mud and grittiness while keeping Uzi’s signature autotuned tone front and center. Along the way he explains the difference between instruments that are felt vs heard, how to honor every part the producer added, and how to make sure the vocal is the real glue of the record.
If you’re into mixing, hip hop–rock crossovers, vocal production or Lil Uzi Vert, this Inside The Mix episode is packed with real-world lessons you can apply to your own sessions.