How is your Digital Noize Tour going? What are some of the highlights of your tour so far?
The tours been goin great, we’ve been able to hit allot new grounds plus this is the first tour I’ve brought an MC (MC JD) with me so this is what we call ‘the full show’. We’ve been performing together for yrs so it’s more like a live performance/show rather than just spinning records & shouting at the crowd. Some of the things we enjoyed were peeps reactions once we set it off. In cities where they’ve never seen us before, half the crowd starred at us in awe & the other half went crazy as hell. We love playing for new crowds cuz they appreciate it so much, both the show & the music. You don’t get that with every dj & mc that comes to your town.
We feel your sound is one of the most original and unmatched in Drum n Bass today. How would you describe your sound?
Put it straight, ‘I’m oldskool!’ I grew up with different influences & backgrounds & I’ve gotten real picky about music since the 90′s ended. My sound is basically about making me happy. I create music that I can relate to, music that backs up my dj sets. I’m not trying to duplicate styles that are made & played in other countries where I don’t live. That has nuthin to do with me. This year I’ve concentrated mostly on dubs for my shows, people notice when a dj gets up & plays the same tracks the guy before him just did. I like being able to go in with some head crushers & buss up the place then return people back to they’re regular scheduled program. I like my choons hard but not too complicated, its gotta have a groove with a bassline you vibe with from the start, and a hook that everyone can relate too with out cheesin out. Its all street music, not hip hop jungle, ragga jungle, jump up, mash up… I make my own soundtracks for the streets, I don’t follow fashions.
What are some of your biggest influences in music?
I miss the oldskool bad. I still have mad records & Pirate tapes of breakbeat hardcore, jungle & hip hop from 91-96. I’ll never stop listening to those. The best music era was the early 90′s. It paved the way for all music now, without all those stupid sub-categories. It wasn’t all about makin $$$, the main message was be creative; it’s all about the music.
Is there a certain philosophy you hold with your music, or with music in general?
When I headlined my first rave back in 92′ (I think), a pretty big dj (we’ll call him John Aquavelva) came up to me after my set. He mentioned that I was an incredible young dj with alota potential but I’ll never get anywhere playing that Breakbeat Jungle stuff. He added that he just came back from touring out in the UK & that stuff is dead. He then began to tell me if I wanted to make it anywhere as a dj I should start playing what he makes & plays (Techno). He ended up getting pretty pissed when I looked him in the eyes and said “No offence but even if it could make me the most popular dj in the world, I wouldn’t waist my time & money on music I know in my heart
that I don’t like, I play what I luv & Luv what I play, plain & simple!”
note: That pretty much ruined my chances of becoming a Techno dj.
Think for yourself, don’t let your peers or the media tell you what your suppose to like or listen too, or eat.
What are your feelings on the DnB scene today and where it’s heading?
The music’s still going strong but as for the party scene, its not like it used to be. People sobered up & noticed that alota new D&B being played isn’t really that good. D&B’s lost its vibe & soul. Some of the new shit out is straight up Techno & Trance! Sorry but when you’re leaving the Jungle room to go to the Trance room, that ain’t right… D&B needs to become popular again but for the right reasons. If it could somehow become part of corporate America but still owned by the people, it will get the radio & TV play it needs badly. There’s a ton of D&B videos & performance’s that are never aired or covered in the media. People know D&B’s out there, it just
needs its exposure & to be recognized as real music.
“Diss Da Program” is definitely in my top 3 tunes list for of all time. It received quite a response from DJs all around. How did you go about creating that tune?
I made that choon in 2000. To tell the truth I was drunk. I had just hooked up the studio in my new house & was testing out the acoustics in a session, then I recorded it then forgot about it. Couple months later I found a Dat stuck between the wall & the desk & gave it a listen. Shit was off tha hook! There were several other cuts on there that no ones ever heard too. That shit was sooo slept on; I even slept on it for a while too. Then I started shopping it to labels & hookin up djs with it to play. The best promotion that choon ever got was when I sent to Dj Craze. He took that shit back to the UK & dropped it in the middle of they’re jams & showed them that they can still enjoy a good Ghetto choon. Even if it was made by some stinkin Canadian…
How did you hook up with the N20 crew?
They found a tape of me somewhere in the US & gave me a call after they heard. Turned out we had the same taste in music. We both used to turn trix on BMX’s when we were younger too.
How did you hook up with Kenny Ken for “Evil Streets” ?
I dropped the choon after him at a party & the place went nutz, he dropped his pen in mid-autograph, ran up on stage, snatched the dub & bolted into the crowd. Then he called me on Monday.
What’s the story behind your new album, which has definitely been highly anticipated for quite a while? Also, your website mentioned a DVD?
The album is cursed!! I don’t think it was ever suppose to happen but it is. It’s now on the 4yr mark but maybe it’s for the better. It’s just been remasterd again in Europe & will be released Jan 1st 2005. 4 new singles are out on promo right now from WIKKID recs, get em while they’re hot. The DVD (Diary of a homesick Dj) was a little side project to show people a taste of what goes on on the road for me. People need to see what’s going on for D&B in other cities & Countries. And those terds who think just because I’m not on a flyer for a local party that I’m sitting home baking cookies, they get a front row seat at a jam in another country where Canada is reppin.
What else is in store for the future and what should we be looking out for?
There’s so much new shit that’s been held & pushed back but 2005 everything’s getting put out. I’m cleanin house! All dubs, classics, bootlegs, everything! Even some hip hop choons I’ve been producing for my lil bro Ron B, watch out for him he’s gonna run tings soon.
Is there anything you would like to say to our readers and the LA junglist massive? Any shout outs?
First off I’d like to big-up everyone who Luvs D&B cuz without you I’d be a doctor or a lawyer or somethin, shouts out to MMI / Substitution Kru, Damn Management, Wikkid Kru (Julian & R-Cola) , Dylan Scott Shulman (RIP. We All Miss Ya man!), RAW, Operator & N20 Kru, Big Triggs & The original Next Junction Kru (still # 1), Kenny Ken & Everyone @ Mix n’ Blen Recs., Knowledge & Wisdom kru, Empire kru, Jestiny (JB), Mason & the Swarm, Gil T & the Springfield True Crew., TC Islam & the Zulu Nation, Starchild, Armani Reign, MC Sharpness, Mys-ty, J-Messinian & the rest of the Philly kru, Dj Craze, Visionary, Chopstick house, MC JD, Darren Jay, Foxy, Skibba, Shabba, Stabba, Hoogs , Braka D, Alexis & the B-lo Massive, Caddy Cadd (Tha Don!), Dj Tasc (Presha Cooka!), Urban Takeover Recs. , The Hometown London Kru, , Cain & the Cold Ass Winnipeg Kru, Teal & Dave @ PIE Ent. (Stay Strong!), White Bird Recs., Tester & Trilogy sound crew, Rhygin, Jesse Rude1, Those dudes with the CAP J Banners at parties!, Ryan Ruckus, PSI 45 in San Diego, APX 1 & Ghetto life Kru (Thanx for the TAT & the Hollywood Tour!), Navigator, MC MC, Demolition Man, 0=0, Dj Bailey, MC Fats, & Last goes to Dez & Ron B
Interviewed by Solomon Baldeo
