If I'm into an artist lyrics, message & over all vibe I like to help as much as I can with their goals.  I'll do production, play keys for free and even run the band.  The problem I have with some people is they expect you to give yourself for their project.  They may promise something in return but, truth be told, if you start out getting it for free then you will always treat your help as such.  I've dealt with people who are use to paying as little as $20 for ownership of a beat or track and these same people are shocked when you fill them in on the real price of a good product.  They actually believe that $1,000.00 is what Dr. Dre or Glenn ballard get to do track when it's more like 100 times that.  Music is easy to come but good music takes time and expertise.  This expertise does not start at $20.00 a beat.