Elzhi
Yeah I have had the same experiences...the worst part about being an engineer/producer in the studio is when it really feels like WORK...especially if you not getting properly paid for it...and believe me if you working with Hip Hop cats it's going to be plenty of times that it feels like that.I've worked with a handful of artists and can confidently say there's nothing better than being in the lab with someone you vibe with and be honest with. There'll be times where they'll spit a verse and it just doesn't work. You gotta be comfortable with the person enough to be like, "Dawg, we need to run that back or you gotta try another 16." Also, it helps if the MC has a good sense of humor. I've been in sessions where we do work but it's always light hearted, too. Like, having a good ass time, literally having to take asthma medicine because I've been cracking up so much.
That's the ideal situation for an entire album to my, my friends.