MixedByAli on Building EngineEars and Mixing Grammy Winning Classics from Kendrick, SZA, Mac Miller and More

Before he was the Grammy winning engineer behind some of the most iconic hip hop albums of the last decade, MixedbyAli was a tech savvy kid in Gardena with a cracked copy of ringtone software and a curiosity for sound. On the latest episode of The 3rd Verse Podcast, the 36 year old engineer and founder of music tech startup EngineEars shared the origin story that sparked his journey into defining the sonic identity of a generation.

Ali's first experiments with audio came from crafting parody ringtones on Nextel and Boost Mobile phones. He used LimeWire to track down software that let him manipulate tracks into 30 second clips and charged his football teammates to create custom tones. These weren’t just jokes. They were an introduction to the idea that recorded sound could be personal, permanent and profitable.

Without access to formal music education, Ali took the DIY route. He dug deep into internet blogs, downloaded software illegally, and taught himself engineering by trial and error. His early breakthrough came by recording Tyga's first mixtape, Young on Probation, which eventually opened the door to other opportunities, including recording sessions for a young Schoolboy Q. These experiences planted the seeds for a deeper passion and purpose in music.

The TDE Come Up and Early Studio Chaos

Ali's path to Top Dawg Entertainment felt organic, even fated. His roots with Tyga led him to connections with Dave Free and Punch, who were still building the TDE foundation in a modest setup. At the time, Punch was handling most of the engineering himself. When Ali offered to help and eventually took over the recording chair, the chemistry was instant. He wasn’t just another tech guy. He was a hungry student who knew his value.

Those early days in the TDE compound were intense. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock were constantly pushing each other to sharpen their pens and deliver better performances. With Soundwave feeding them beats and Ali tracking every session, the energy was raw, competitive and uniquely collaborative. They were not just chasing hits. They were building legacy, one verse at a time.

Ali described the setup as a freeway with five lanes, each artist pushing to be the fastest while still moving in the same direction. It was that healthy competition that made the collective so strong. But those moments weren’t without their growing pains. Ali was often thrown into situations he wasn’t prepared for, like becoming TDE’s tour DJ. At one of their earliest shows in Utah, he accidentally ruined the performance by fumbling with the mic and triggering the wrong sounds. The moment was humiliating, but also formative. He took every mistake as an opportunity to evolve.

Raining Classics and Respect from the Greats

After his work on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Ali went on a legendary run that included YG’s My Krazy Life, Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron, Mac Miller’s The Divine Feminine, Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap, and SZA’s Ctrl. The list continues with Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, A$AP Rocky’s At.Long.Last.A$AP, and even work on Black Panther’s Grammy winning soundtrack. Each project added a new layer to his legacy.

During the podcast, one host joked that Ali was listing classics too fast, calling it "raining classics" as he rattled off title after title. But it wasn’t just the volume of work that mattered. It was the trust. Artists leaned on Ali in their most critical moments. Kendrick name dropped him on The Heart Part 6. Dr. Dre gave him half the mixing duties on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and even provided real time feedback by sneaking into his mix room to offer a thumbs up or down.

What Ali developed wasn’t just a style. It was an experience. He helped define the immersive sound of TDE, but it took years before he fully understood the lyrical depth of projects like Ab Soul’s Control System. At the time, much of the content went over his head. But years later, revisiting those tracks with fresh ears made him appreciate how layered and complex the work really was.

The EngineEars Era Begins

Despite all the accolades, there came a moment when Ali felt uninspired. Mixing platinum records no longer fueled him in the same way. What did ignite something new was the constant wave of young engineers reaching out online, asking about his techniques. That interaction planted the seed for EngineEars, a platform built to uplift audio professionals worldwide.

He tested the idea by hosting a workshop. Charging $1000 per seat, he wasn’t sure what to expect. But the class sold out in less than a week. That small experiment revealed something major. People were willing to pay for his insight, and more importantly, they saw value in the voice behind the board. It gave him a new sense of purpose.

The workshops soon became a global tour, generating over half a million dollars in revenue. But the bigger breakthrough came through the feedback he collected. From Canada to Japan, attendees shared the same struggles: chasing invoices, managing bookings and finding new clients. Ali realized this wasn’t just about teaching technique. It was about building infrastructure. That realization became the foundation of what EngineEars would grow to become.

Pivot to Tech and the Dre Connection

Ali had the vision, but he knew he needed support to bring it to life. So he reached out to someone he had always looked up to. With the help of Stat Quo, Ali found himself in a room pitching his idea directly to Dr. Dre. By his own admission, the deck was a mess and he wasn’t fully prepared. But the meeting happened, and that was the win.

He recalled the moment with gratitude, sharing how Dre had once mentored him during the making of Good Kid. They worked in adjacent rooms, each offering input on the other’s mixes. It wasn’t just a cosign. It was training. The photo from that pitch meeting still means everything to Ali. It represented a passing of the torch and confirmation that he was stepping into his next chapter with intention.

EngineEars is now growing into a platform designed to meet the needs of the working class audio engineer. From better business tools to educational resources, it’s aimed at the creators behind the scenes who often go unnoticed. But for Ali, this isn’t just about software. It’s about making space. He wants to show the next generation, especially those who look like him, that engineering is a viable path. That their work matters. That their creativity has value beyond the mix.

Now, with EngineEars, he’s building something sustainable. Something global. Something real.