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Hot 97, AListRadio.net, Flavor 105.5, Doc J, Spreez, A-Smooth, Radio Killers Mixtape, Hear My Voice Ent. |
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Doc J's Music Insider Guide: ADVICE FROM MAJORS TO INDIES! - Part 2
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS SIDE. Whattup kiddos? During the last segment I covered advice from major label artists speaking on the type of mentality an artist should strive for, when trying to be successful. Once you get your mind right, an artist t
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Doc J's Music Insider Guide: ADVICE FROM MAJORS TO INDIES! - Part 1
A Profound Rationalization of Jesse Gissen’s April 2010 XXL article. This month XXL journalist, Jesse Gissen (who also shares my first name), briefly tou
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Every Playa! Worldwide's Doc J reviews: SLASH - SLASH
4.5 Stars out of 6: Above-Average Album, a good CD that while still containing a few flaws, it surprisingly has a lot of quality material and replay value.
While claiming to be a Hip-Hop collector and aficionado, Rock music is something I enjoy as well. While I’m not an avid Rock lis
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Every Playa! Worldwide's exclusive interview with Toronto's TOMMY G
Tommy G has to be the hardest working lyricist from Toronto, Canada’s burgeoning rap scene today. He is so on fire right now with his over 10 000 recorded songs! You easily notice that he has the confidence and energy it takes to pull these feats off
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It’s Tuesday, June 8th…This is Doc J, representing Hear My Voice Ent, and I’m in the building with DJ A-Smooth, and we bringing you this audio interview straight from EP WORLDWIDE…Every Playa! Worldwide, trying to show you that hip-hop is global! So what’s going on A-Smooth, what’s happening??
A-SMOOTH: Chilling my brother…Good...just ready to grind after these next few moments so…
DOC: True…yea we gotta finish this interview man, we’ve been keeping it off for a while, so lemme jump right into the questions, so we can let them know who you are ---- First off, tell us about what area you’re coming and where you representing??
A-SMOOTH: I represent New York City, New York and Worcester, Massachusetts – “212” and “508”…Jersey also, DJing everywhere, at least trying to get everywhere.
DOC: I’m born up there too, have you done anything in Westchester County, NY yet or naw??
A-SMOOTH: Not yet…but yea, next time come up here – let’s go.
DOC: Aight, yea, I’ll cook I’ll cook though, hehe.
A-SMOOTH: Nice, that’s perfect, that’s all that matters.
DOC: Aight, Question 2 man, especially these days, it’s not normal for someone to be attached to vinyl at such a young age as you…so please tell me when/how/why you got into DJing in the first place??
A-SMOOTH: Umm, I got into DJing from Nickelodeon on a show LL Cool J used to be a guest-star on called “All That!” back in the late 1990’s. Yes, I’m a young kid!...But so, I remember when I was 7-8 years old, they had 2 DJs come on, and they were always cutting up records. So I was always asking my Dad – can I scratch. He’d be like “Are you kidding me? That’ll ruin my needles & my records”. I never had a chance to as a kid, but I was always attached to music. And I’d always walk around my house with a microphone, and I was born to a family that played instruments and such. I just now play a different type of instrument – called Turn-Tables. That’s how it all started. Then when I was 14, I loved cell phones and worked at a cell phone store…and met someone, who showed me his DJ equipment, and I was like “Wow, I gotta do this!...And 5 years later, I’m doing online & FM radios.”
LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE AUDIO INTERVIEW HERE: 
DOC: True…so what official age did DJ A-Smooth start DJing at??
A-SMOOTH: 14 Years Old…This past June actually, I remember retarded stupid stuff like dates…I started June 3rd, 2005.
DOC: Damn, you even got the date!?…Do yall guys throw like an anniversary gig…heheh
A-SMOOTH: Naw we don’t, but that would be cool though right, hahaha…that’d be crazy.
DOC: Aight, moving on, for as long as I’ve known you which is pretty damn long, one thing I really respect about you is you always pay homage to different time period, different DJs, different styles…so who would you consider as your biggest DJ influences or idol??
A-SMOOTH: I have a lot of influences especially now in the radio game and where I’m trying to get into mix-shows, but I have a few that really-really helped me out, people that I always watch, listen, and learn from…people I look up to honestly. Gotta say I look up to my man DJ Shy who I met 5 years ago in June, who works for Denon DJ. My boy Angel who took me under his wing to DJ. I look up to Yonny whose at 92.3 Now in New York City; DJ Spin-One who is at A-List Radio.net; DJ Kastone, who I work for on Saturdays at Hot 97 actually and he also does A-List Radio, he’s one of my favorite DJs.
DOC: Props, so Kastone is a boss too…man shoutouts to Kast, hahah, holla at me man.
A-SMOOTH: Yo..yea…Kast is the FUTURE of Hot 97…
DOC: Yea!, well Naw-naw, let’s put this right here, Kast & YOU are the FUTURE of Hot 97. Hahaha
A-SMOOTH: Yea, that’s it right now…I’m climbing right now, I just gotta keep meeting people, like I just met Mister Cee like 2 weeks ago. A dope moment…if you a Hip-Hop fan and don’t know who Mister Cee is – you need to do your history…
DOC: Well anyone in Toronto area listening to this, if yall don’t know Mister Cee is a legend, he’s one of the DJs that first put on Biggie, so I mean, Mister Cee has got longevity in the game to say the least..a little older than your age definitely, haha.
A-SMOOTH: Oh yea, he’s been around for over 25 years, but yea, he looked at me first like “what the hell are you doing here?”…but then we kicked it, he looked at my laptop and music, and then was like “yea, you dope!”
DOC: Let’s backtrack a little bit…I know you as Andrew, but yea, you are Mr. DJ A-SMOOTH, so yea, take a second and explain why do you go by DJ A-SMOOTH and where did you get the name from originally?
A-SMOOTH: I didn’t get the name from the streets or someone who gave it to me, like most people or how everyone has a story…I was just actually sitting in my room trying to come up with names, and I was like “what should I choose A-Smooth or A-Skills”, and I actually asked my mom and she was like “Ehhh, I like A-Smooth”…So I was like “aight let’s go with A-Smooth”, plus A-Skills sounds a little cheesy.
DOC: Yea, I’m down with that, I’m agreeing with you, heheh…Actually actually, shoutouts to DJ A-Smooth’s mom, hahaha…naming a career right there, yea man. Well anyways, for us DJ aficionados please break down what kind of equipment you are working with right now?
A-SMOOTH: I’m using the industry standard, hehe, yes a very loose term, but yea, I’m using – Technic 1200’s, been around for 30 years, they’re actually considered an element of Hip-hop, and they’re now being discontinued..so go grab a pair!…
DOC: Yea! Go grab them now before they are a collector’s item.
A-SMOOTH: TTF-57SL by Rayne, which is the Serato Scratch-Live Mixer, and I use an Apple Mac book Pro…which is now the industry standard…
DOC: Yeaaaaa…umm, for some of us….
A-SMOOTH: Yea, not you…you still stay away from that PC-Stuff but we’ll give you a pass.
DOC: Yea-yea-yea, I’m a dinosaur man…but hey that’s why I get my gigs, they still want that old-old school.
A-SMOOTH: Haha, but yea, you might be like the last best T-Rex around, heheh.
DOC: Hehee…You mentioned Serato, and you and I always joke about the newer DJ generation and how things have changed, especially me being around this long me seeing a lot of changes, some of it I like, some I don’t… briefly explain in your own thoughts you’re beliefs about softwares like Serato versus a few of us Dinosaurs that are left that (are all hardware) and still manual scratch, DJ, and collect physically albums??
A-SMOOTH: Exactly what you said…there’s some things you like, and you don’t like. Serato is like a gift and a curse…We’ll keep it Serato as it’s the most used program out…but It’s a gift and a curse; there’s too many DJs now, too many people undercutting in the game, but…(Serato) also saves DJs a whole lot of money. I mean if you don’t DJ, you won’t understand how much money we spend. But think about it as like luggage - like DJ Johnny Jefferson spends like $1500 in sending 3 cases of records on the road with him on tour to DJ….Compare that now to bringing a laptop on an airplane, which makes our lives so much easier. Also, I use Serato Scratch Live as an organizational tool, and not as a handicap.
DOC: Yea, I mean, that’s one thing I respect about you…you do use Serato, but I’ve seen you, Miami Remix Hotel whateva…you know, but you actually got turn-table skills. I guess my biggest beef with Serato basically is, like you said – it’s a handicap (or crutch). People think if you use Serato and you’re a DJ. You actually have DJ skills, and you just use Serato.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, that’s the point of the program though, you know. The point of it is – ok let’s save vinyl, but let’s make it a lot easier. Like with Serato is, if you suck…you’re still gonna suck. If you don’t have DJ skills you’re still going suck with Serato, and it maybe even make you worse. You have to have the basics down, and I know now there’s a lot more features/functions in Scratch Live but…you know, the better your skills are without Serato, the better you’re gonna be with it. And as long as you stay up on your skills, and understand how to use the program, you’re gonna be great.
DOC: Ha - You heard it first, you young DJs…Listen, keep practicing. And just because you got Serato don’t mean you’re a pro DJs yet, so keep practicing like anything else.
A-SMOOTH: Really, let Serato make you better honestly…still be able cut up a record. I even still sit in my room, and break-out records and practice cuts for like 4 hours straight.
DOC: Speaking of that, let’s keep that going, in this day and age (and economy especially), what would you say are the 1-2 biggest hurdles that you and other working DJs have to deal with??
A-SMOOTH: Perfect segway, like Serato really brought up lots of new DJs that no one has ever heard of…ya know, but they undercut a lot of DJs now, and now we don’t make as much money, and it’s tough. I know you were telling me that’s a problem in Orlando for you now too…That’s the biggest hurdle, we don’t make as much money cause there’s so many new (and inexperienced) DJs coming in…and they’re buying libraries, and pairing it with Serato. Like look, Solange Knowles (Beyonce’s sister who isn’t doing music now) so Solange is a DJ now…and she just bought someone’s library.
DOC: That’s sad man, that’s the thing…(forget a library) you seen my pictures on Facebook, I still have my PHYSICAL collection on display.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, ahh, man like I heard stories about your collection, but when I saw them on Facebook, I had to just get water and come back. Crazy
DOC: Well yea, not even that…lemme tell you a quick stupid funny story…we recently had to change carpets in this house over here in Orlando, and moving that shit…that’s over ya know, 9,000+ CDs (not counting mixtapes), and that took us some time man, hehe…Oh man. But I know got a pretty thick library too man.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, that’s all computers though…haha.
DOC: That’s a little more space-saving though I bet…If I had that as a kid maybe...I might have been up on that, but now that I’m molded this way, I think I’m going to stick with that…
A-SMOOTH: That’s good though, ya know. I feel that people don’t take pride in their collection anymore.
DOC: Yea, well, people don’t buy anymore…
A-SMOOTH: That’s true, people don’t buy anymore, but I feel that if you actually have CDs and a collection, that’s something you can (pass down) and show off to people – like look at this 9,000 CDs…and I know you have it specifically organized or something right?
DOC: Yes, every Thanksgiving weekend we usually try to reorganized (re-alphabetize), and try to space-save a little bit, hahaha….Well, one thing I notice about you, me knowing you…for God man, how long have I known you for?
A-SMOOTH: Almost like 4 years, like 3-4 years….do you even remember how we met by any chance??
DOC: Ahh…was it through Rakesh???
A-SMOOTH: Yes...Wow!
DOC: DJ Rakesh…damn, I remember that.
A-SMOOTH: Does he still DJ??
DOC: No, he retired….hehe
A-SMOOTH: Oh, wow, oh he actually retired? Oh well, yea ok, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
DOC: Yea, keep your thoughts to yourself…he kinda retired while he was doing Kese’s last mixtape…kinda hurt my heart there, but yea, so I had to help Kese out. Shoutout to Kese Soprano man…he’s, Kese is holding down New Jersey, and he’s got lyrics for days..and definitely people gotta check him out if you haven’t heard him yet….but yea, Rakesh retired a couple years ago and he’s in college now.
A-SMOOTH: So yea, what does retired mean?
DOC: No…Longer…DJing…that’s what it means. Hahhaaa
A-SMOOTH: I don’t know, I’m just saying…I’m just saying…yea…I think retirement is a word you can only use if you done something in their career…not saying Rakesh didn’t do anything in his career, but I’m just saying…Not many people can say there retire from anything. You can’t work like 2 years in financial and stuff and then say you’re “retired”.
DOC: Well, one thing I’ve seen you move, maybe not retire, but move from since I’ve known you, is you’ve moved from mixtapes to a lot more radio…and what factors made you go more in that direction??
A-SMOOTH: Ummm, honestly, it’s not about moving from one to another…it’s more about being able to do more than one thing. I moved out here to do clubs and radio. But I’m trying to not be one type of DJ, cause that’s the problem everyone is one type of DJs these days.
DOC: Yea, you ain’t lying there man, you, one thing I like about you is you have diversity, you can do a couple things, you’re more like a jack-of-all trades.
A-SMOOTH: Right…Right…that’s the one thing, I did mixtapes…now I do clubs, I didn’t do mixtapes for a while and do some radio now, but now I’m about to come out with another mixtape. So you can’t say I moved out of anything. Honestly, the problem with me is, I need to stay on track with everything all at once. So for me, it’s more club and radio, but now I need to add the mixtape flavor back.
DOC: Well, you know I’m going to be hollering at you when I do this Radio Killers mixtape, you know I need some A-Smooth drops man…
A-SMOOTH: And A-Smooth drops and cutting man…
DOC: Yes, I need you cutting…actually, the last 2 mixtapes I asked you about it, and we never did it…but so yea, I need you cutting and scratching…that’s what I need.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, perfert man, I love to cut man…every artist that knows me, I’m a real cut DJ…like I, my styles….I don’t compare myself to DJ Premier, but when I look at him and, my cuts are very similar to him. He’s a great DJ, but all that stuff he does on his beats are…they pre-produced…but yea, there’s a thin line of what you can do live, and what you can’t so..
DOC: True…hehe, that’s a pretty big name to drop there man….Since we talking about live & radio, well I know a little bit about you, but these people, Toronto, upstate New York, and all international areas…is checking out EP Worldwide, so if yall didn’t know A-Smooth is working 3 radio stations: A-List Radio.net, Hot 97, and Flava 105.5. So tell us a little about how you work each, how exactly you got those jobs, and what do you actually do there??
A-SMOOTH: Ummm, first shoutout to my man, DJ Phat-Fingers, he actually hosted the DMC in New York city…which is a great accomplishment…
DOC: Yes-yes-yes, if yall don’t know about DMC… you ain’t a DJ…DMC is, that’s where they crown the world-best DJ.
A-SMOOTH: I seriously think they need to put that in the Serato manual, hahah, because not a lot of people know about it…
DOC: So wait-wait, am I going to see you in DMC anytime soon??
A-SMOOTH: I honestly don’t think so…maybe, but it’s a lot of work, and I’m in college. But yea, at A-List Radio, my man Phat Fingers made me intern at the station out there. He was saying that I knew everything - I’m a DJ, I knew how to operate equipment, I know how to fix stuff; that I’d be a perfect for them…I get a call like 3 days later saying hey I got the job…so I was almost breaking down in tears, as I’m pretty emotional for this thing, and I wanna make it so far. I interned there…I still intern there…I more work there now, one of the main behind-the-scenes guys there now; and I get to make a lot of things happen. I was only supposed to work for 1 show, but they recommended me, I kinda went all for it, and made a name for myself. So I ended up working like 7 days a week last year. Then when I went to college, that got me to Flava 105 is based out of Worchester where I go to school. And a bigger DJ out there named Jack Frost hits me up…he came to me, like – hey I heard of you, I’ve been watching your youtube videos, I wanna meet up, maybe we can link and start working together. Every since then, we’ve been good friends…and he got me on there a few times, and it was definitely been a good look.
DOC: True, Big shoutout to Jack Frost, he’s a really cool dude.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, he’s really doing his thing, so yea, respect to him.
DOC: Ok, so that’s A-List, that’s Flava…so how did the Hot 97 thing come about??
A-SMOOTH: Umm, Hot 97 actually came from A-List…so after working there, shoutout to my man L-Boogs…he’s a Heavy Hitter, (DJ Enuff’s crew), and L-Boogs is a Program Director at A-List, and I became his main intern, and he really got along with me.
DOC: Well, you once told me a story one time, and I want people out there to know…they don’t know what the word “intern” means…and me knowing you know working the board, running things…but when you first started, what did they have you doing there??
A-SMOOTH: Oh yea, interning is a…interning is the worst word ever created, almost as bad as assistant. Interning is a very broad statement...
DOC: SLAVE maybe!?!
A-SMOOTH: Yea, hehe…At first interning, you’re gonna be there once a week, and start by cleaning and being used. Then they’ll start to know you, and start to use you for everything when they realize you’re good, and so then you’ll end up doing things you don’t wanna do. It’s a mess, in interning, you’ll start out by at least being someone’s bitch at some point, getting them coffee, cleaning toilets…even at somewhere big. It doesn’t even matter. Interning is the biggest bullshit. But you have to intern though, if you don’t intern anywhere in music…you can’t make it anywhere in a record label or radio station…you’ll have no experience.
DOC: Well that’s the dark side of this, but in your experience at all 3 stations, what would you say is the best thing about working there??
A-SMOOTH: Well at Flava I roll with Frost and he puts me on the air, so it’s not too really interning…but at A-List & Hot 97 where I have more experience at than Flava, is really…just meeting everyone and the people you look up too. And I’m a radio nerd and enjoy it, I can tell you the whole Hot 97 schedule Monday-Friday right now if you want to, hehee.
DOC: No, hahahha, that’s ok-that’s ok.
A-SMOOTH: Ha, I’m not doing that, but I’m just saying, if someone is questioning me I can do that, lol. And you get to know everybody up there, and get to sit in the same chairs that some artists and execs have…really meeting people is the greatest thing.
DOC: True…In checking out your Youtube like I have, and I’ve kinda watched your career grow…but for those that haven’t seen you DJ yet…what would you say your biggest strengths are as a DJ.
A-SMOOTH: Honestly, I would say my scratching and mixing…people say that as a broad term, but my, like my technical ability…
DOC: Yea, you do have a clean mix…and like one thing, I’m 28 and quite a few years older than you, hehe, but I mean that’s one thing I think you’re better than me on. You do have a clean mix, a real technically clean mix.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, thanks I appreciate that, yea, if you haven’t heard of me, and you’d like to go and check me out on Youtube at youtube.com/djasmooth. Yea, umm, that’s all proper English spelling…
DOC: Yea, No-no ghetto-isms.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, no ghettoism, heheh…but it’s whatever, you can check out my videos, please do, and I’d like to hear from you and what you think about my game. Because honestly, I’m the hardest critic on myself, and often think everything about myself sucks…so but yea…
DOC: No-naw people…I’ll answer this for him, hehehe. One thing I like about Smooth is he knows his technique and he knows his equipment. There’s a lot of DJs that I don’t think know their equipment. There’s parts…there’s patches, plug-ins, and effects that they don’t know how to use. With A-Smooth he knows what he’s doing for sure, He’s dope….
A-SMOOTH: Thanks!
DOC: How about Club-wise, I’ve never personally seen you in a Club yet. I mean is there any thing special with you…like for me, what I do, what I’m most known for is my Mic-work. I don’t care if you’re 9 or 99, I’m able to get it jumping. I will pick up people, make fun of them, put spotlights on there, I’ll do what it takes to make people have a good time….so what about you, what would you say you’re known for??
A-SMOOTH: My club game is new…I’ve only been DJing in clubs strongly for a year I’d say. And I mean, honestly, I have a lot of pride for the art… right now, I open up for bigger name DJs, so my opening game…I’d say is definitely one of the best!
DOC: So you’re one of those…”get the place heated” DJs…gotta respect that.
A-SMOOTH: The big thing with opening DJs, openers, is there’s a lot of openers that don’t know what to play. I don’t play a hit record, or anything that’s 2010. I only play stuff that early ’09 and below. Right…there’s also a reason why I’m opening and there’s another reason why someone else is head-lining. That’s how I feel.
DOC: Well, yea, you know you’re role and that’s good. Ummm, let’s talk about A-Smooth, the Andrew side, the real life side…I was joking with you…but you and I in the last couple of years, have put on quite a bit of weight…heehe, that’s not a good thing, but I noticed on your facebook and stuff, you’ve been working out and hitting the gym heavy I heard…but yea, other than DJing and working out, what are some other hobbies that none of us really know about you??
A-SMOOTH: Well, I would say…honestly, I’m a big Mets fan…I’m a big baseball Mets fan. I’m huge, it’s a little sickening…
DOC: Actually people…this interview has been put on hiatus, because this fool has either had gigs or Mets games to sell me out for.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, it’s bad…I really, I really love the Mets…it makes me like a 5 year old kid. That’s the big other side of me – baseball. Ohh, and Weight-Watchers, talking about trying to lose weight….I try Weight-Watchers, and try going to the gym everyday…like I’ve been going to the gym daily at 9am in the morning. Which during the summer, 9 in the morning is Stupid Early!
DOC: Hahaa…hey for the people out there that don’t know about DJing jobs…first, for him to squeeze this type of stuff in his daily routine is next to impossible. Cause I mean we dj, then practice, and then dj again…and he’s got college as well. So I mean, much props to him.
A-SMOOTH: Hahaaa, trying man trying so…and I lost like 12-13 pounds, obviously taking it slowly…honestly I’m just taking it slowly, so that’s what I like to do. In high school I coached basketball too. Coached basketball since I was in 7th grade too, I used to be a huge basketball fan. We won a state championship my first year. To end out my coaching career, we won a high school basketball championship with my grade, so yea…crazy
DOC: Hey, I didn’t even know that about you. Man, you know how big a basketball fan I am…
A-SMOOTH: Oh yea, you’re crazy…I asked Doc what his favorite team is, and he said…My favorite team is the NBA, heheh…
DOC: Yea, the LEAGUE…the whole league, hehe….yea, dude, before music…I mean the way I’m obsessed with music, I used to be obsessed with stats, knowing the name of players wives, their family, where they live at, what’s their address…
A-SMOOTH: And you knew all that stuff??
DOC: Yea, I’m not all up on that stuff as now, because I’ve been busy, but especially middle school/high school time, I used to study that stuff like it was a class.
A-SMOOTH: And you know everybody on every team??
DOC: I mean, everyone that was basically…dressed, hehe…maybe not injured reserves, but I’d say the 12 players on the bench, I could tell you where they live at, hehehe, Doc J was a stalker hehehe….Oh man, but naw-naw, shoutout to his Weight-Watchers…You heard it live here first, that it actually works. Weight-Watchers should make a little promotional deal for A-Smooth, that might be a good hook-up.
A-SMOOTH: Please, yea, I’m trying, I’m really trying…holla at me, whatever it is that I could do.
DOC: Well, listen, you and I, one thing that we both do a lot is break great new records, and keep our ear to the street. So currently, what would you say are the 5-6 records that you are feeling and supporting right now??
A-SMOOTH: Oh man ummm…I’m a really big fan of Cam’ron “Speaking Tongues”, I’m a priority…mix-show DJ…I’m very mix-show, so if the record is not hot yet, I’m trying to make it hot.
DOC: Yea, you break the records, that’s what a DJ does…
A-SMOOTH: Yea but…you, you’re a REAL record breaker, you’ll break a brand new damn artist…and I don’t have time for that…
DOC: Hahaa…oh man, well at least you’re breaking something…I know a lot of DJs, not gonna say no names, but if the artist, if they ain’t selling platinum, they ain’t gonna play their record
A-SMOOTH: Yea I know who…but ahh man, I’m a big-big J Cole fan…he did his thing on the Funk Flex show, on some freestyle stuff…that “Who Dat” record is prolly one of my favorite. Let’s see, now after having the Drake album, I’m really trying to get that “Fancy” record out…huge record, prolly the best record on the album in my opinion…I’m a Drake fan…all the music got leaked out, I heard 10 of these 14 joints, but yea it’s a good album…Kanye West, not always the biggest fan…but he’s a musical genius…artistic, prolly going down as one of the greatest artists ever.
DOC: So saying that, you are breaking “Power” with me right??
A-SMOOTH: Yes..yes, Power is the record of the month, yes….Umm, the Drake “Miss Me” when it comes out in the next few weeks, it should’ve been the single of the album. There’s a Tony Yayo record “Pass The Patron”…oh there’s a Fat Joe/Trey Songz record “If It Ain’t About Money”…I’m with it.
DOC: Yea, ahh, I’m gonna give a shoutout to some dude I’m really supporting down here…TJ’s boy, BOB…I’m really breaking A LOT of that album, I’m loving that album…that’s prolly on my short list of Top 3 this year.
A-SMOOTH: Yea, it’s a great album, he did his thing though…he had a big record “Nothin On You”, it really got crazy, it prolly got bigger than he ever expected. Then that “Airplanes” record came out, and tackled every city, every state, except for New York…cause if it tackles every other state it doesn’t NY…it doesn’t make any sense.
DOC: Let’s move from the music, and talk about events…to date, what would you say were your top 1-2 biggest events that you’ve been part of were??
A-SMOOTH: Umm, opening for Lloyd Banks was crazy…that was a month ago, back in May. It was crazy for me, I opened the whole entire night. People walking in, a very late crowd…but by the time I got off and let my man Frost get on…I had that place pounding like moving. It was great, a great experience for me. And then….I opened up for DJ Yonny, who I really look up to, before I got to A-List…he’s an A-List radio DJ…7-8pm Wednesdays, check him out, he’s a great DJ…he made it cool to cut on House records, so I’m letting you know, just watch him, cause he’s crazy. The Yonny experience was crazy, it was a very industry party, I got to open up for a lot of radio DJs, and people saw that I wasn’t just some intern just trying to make it through connecting…and just showed people I had a lot of skills.
DOC: Hey, tell them about the Miami gig down here, because that’s what I know you big from…
A-SMOOTH: Oh Remix Hotel…I guess that really got my Youtube name out there I gotta say…Remix Hotel was from a magazine called Remix, which is now out of business…defunct. It was a great show, but then later years they needed money, and they started charging people it was never the same. It’s really a shame, because that show really made me a DJ….but who knows, there could be….maybe EP Worldwide one day might have one.
DOC: Yea, I wanna travel to Toronto too with you man…yo-yo Spreez, if you listening to this now, man, you got a DJ that’s willing to come up there hehee. Well, it sounds like you got a lot of motivation to do a lot of things…so let’s talk about artists here, cause you know I got the database with over 240 artists…so I know I’m pretty they itching to ask in what kinda ways are you capable of helping artists and what do you have to offer??
A-SMOOTH: I would say…I know I may not be a big player right now in the radio game, but I know the right people…and knowing the people for artists is always important. Your work has to be hot, and if it’s hot, I’ll support it so…
DOC: How about hosting or scratching on mixtapes, kinda like what I want you to do for me, and I’m sure the artists want that too??
A-SMOOTH: I’m not the kind of DJ you come to for a hosting thing…like talking all over it, it’s kinda pointless for me…I’m a turn-tablest…that can do clubs and talk on the mic there… I recommend, if you want me to do something with you…I’m down to do cuts, scratches on your records, and ya know, like actually mix your mixtapes…heheh, mix your mixtape, I never even heard of people mixing mixtapes anymore…that’s kinda ridiculous right now.
DOC: Haahaaha…I would tell you this though, don’t get the words mixed up - Mix & Sequence… a lot of DJs, I’m not gonna say any names of some DJs you and I both know…but sequencing a mixtape…I mean, if you’re a good DJ, you should have no breakage in the music, and should joggle cleanly…and some of these cats have like a downloaded hit list…so I mean, and one thing A-Smooth will not do is…he won’t let that shit, like the music stop.
A-SMOOTH: yea, honestly though, if you’re willing to work with me, it’ll prolly take a little longer than you would want it to, but honestly…yea, a perfectionist…but the good thing with being a perfectionist is that you could never be perfect or try to be…
DOC: That’s true…Well, speaking of trying…if an artist does want to reach out to you…how does an interested artist contact you? What type of things do you look for? What type of things do you not look for??
A-SMOOTH: Honestly, ummm I’m a very personal person, so you know, just don’t bother me all day about me playing your record…because it’s…or be…you know…
DOC: ANNOYING?! Heeheee
A-SMOOTH: Yea, it’s annoying…like you don’t come to my club and support me…honestly, it’s like the phone; a phone works two ways. It’s like: Breaking Music + Helping One Another. I can’t just break music for you…You can’t just bother me about breaking your music…why don’t you come to my club and promote for me?
DOC: Ahh…Yea, a favor for a favor…if you want something from A-Smooth, help him out a little bit too. How about in presentation? I know you and I are pretty sticklers on that, what do you not like artist to do or have when they approach you??
A-SMOOTH: You must have a good graphics designer. The first thing I will do, and it’s very stereotypical of the music game, but the cover art for me is the most important. If I don’t…If you’re cover work sucks, then I’m not gonna even look at it, I’m prolly going to trash it. But other than that, artist presentation is so important because I care so much about what I do, since day one I’ve been getting good graphics…so if you’re gonna come out with something that’s trash, or looking like 3 different things that’s it’s not supposed to be, then I can’t take your project on because I feel like you’re not serious about what you do.
DOC: Presentation also goes on to contacting us too…I know A-Smooth is like me…we like the PHONE. If you bother us on facebook or shit like that…
A-SMOOTH: Trust me…yea, if you hit me up on Twitter now about music stuff now, I block you.
DOC: Yeaaaa man, but ok, let’s move onto some advice now…what type of advice or suggestions do you have for people who want to consider a career into DJing??
A-SMOOTH: Umm…you need a lot of time, and a lot of money. I did not know what I was getting into when I was doing this. Honestly nobody knows, until you see it. No one ever tells people about Time & Money, but I will tell you…it’s prolly the two most important things in life…Time & Money.
DOC: That extends to even being an artist…Ima tell you, for my database people listening, if you don’t have a job of your own already or something to fund your music - you may have the hottest shit in the world, but if you cannot fund it and get it out there, then it’s not gonna get out there…so listen to A-Smooth, you gotta listen to that.
A-SMOOTH: It’s not happening…Honestly, maybe 10-20, maybe 10-12 years ago, if you were a hot artist, a hot DJ – you were gonna make it, but there’s so many now…the market is saturated.
DOC: How about artists? Do you have any advice for artists trying to approach us DJs and trying to beg us to break their records – what advice for you have for them??
A-SMOOTH: The presentation part again – very important…you need to have good covers, you need to have printing on your CD or whatever you do…maybe even having a manager. Even though, a “manager” is the 3rd worst word ever created; because managers…like, a manager to me is someone to control your money, etc…
DOC: Hahaahaa…One thing bad from the artist side, like in running the database, and you know I used to go to tons of conferences and now I panel some too, so it’s like I see both sides of this…but the word “manager”; people think their brother, or their uncle, or their father…can be their manager. And the thing is…If they don’t have degrees nowadays, or they don’t have experience…just because he’s there propping your music…he ain’t a manager. They gotta know what they’re doing, they gotta have connections, and they gotta have experience in doing this. Yo, me and A-Smooth ain’t working with these people, and if their your manager, if we’re not working with them – then we’re not working with you.
A-SMOOTH: Not at all…yup…true.
DOC: Well, I hate clichés, I’m not going to ask you the Where-Do-You-See-Yourself…in 15 years type of question. But uhh, let’s just be more logical, what are your goals realistically that you want see or what to achieve by let’s say 2011, within the next year??
A-SMOOTH: For me, it’s always something different. What I mean different, to me, usually I like to add a scratch in my catalogue of what I can do. Umm, like skills for me is a catalogue thing, so if you wanna add something, you put it into the catalogue so you can offer it…
DOC: It’s like your resume, you’re adding a new skill every year.
A-SMOOTH: Right, Yup…so I definitely wanna add a scratch or a new of mixing every year; but besides that it’s getting my website up, like a real website that I wanna get done professionally.
DOC: True, do you have a date on that yet or naw??
A-SMOOTH: Ummm, the end of 2010.
DOC: Hey, I’ll be the first to bookmark it, just let me know man.
A-SMOOTH: Thank you brother, appreciate that…supporter since day one baby.
DOC: Yea…so that’s what I have for questions – is there anything that you’d like to ask or if not, is there anything you’d like to promote??
A-SMOOTH: Monday through Thursday, check out A-List Radio.net…that’s ALISTRADIO.NET…Monday-Thursday, 3pm to 4pm, “I Love The 90’s”…Monday’s Hip-Hop; Tuesday’s R&B; Wednesday’s Reggae; Thursday’s House…all 90’s music, all for an hour!….Ahhh, I have a mixtape coming out, it’s again a street mixtape, but we’re giving it out to record label A&Rs…everybody just, look I talk a lot, if you haven’t realized yet, I can talk. Yeaa, I like to talk to everybody. Umm, so trying to get this out to everybody…trying to get people to buy it. You know, the other side of it, is getting it out to everybody else that’s important in the industry. For bookings, yall can contact my guy Tito at thepowermovementsgroup@gmail. That’s it for projects right now I would say.
DOC: What I’m doing…my big project is “Radio Killers” in Orlando…so you know I’m going to be calling you up for that, so I wanna get in your schedule man.
A-SMOOTH: Oh let’s go baby, that’s nothing, you know, come on Doc.
DOC: Well, before we get out of here, and I let you go and get some sleep. I do want to say, is there anyone out there that you’d like to thank or give a shoutout to??
A-SMOOTH: YES...definitely you…Doc is, Doc is definitely…you’re a hidden gem in the game man, and I wish more people knew about you. So, I know you’re big out in Florida, but I wish more cats knew about you out here in New York……Ummm, I wanna shoutout my man DJ Angel, who I met at Remix Hotel in 2005 in New York City where it all started for me, he took me under his wing and taught me how to mix, and I’ll never forget that guy ever. I went to a Met game with him about a week ago, a great guy. I remember giving him money after ya know, and saying thank you so much - and he looked at me like I was just crazy. He was like I don’t want money from you, just pass all this information on later on to other people…..Ummm, to my man DJ Shy, from Denon DJ, who I met that same weekend back in ’05 who also took me under his wing……My man L-Boogs, who made this all possible at Hot 97, A-List Radio.net….My friends on DJ forums such as Pro DJ forum: DJ Gudda…my man Miami Kaos who taught me that networking is the key to this music stuff and anything you do in life....Shoutout to my man Jack Frost, huge, he put me on the map in Worcester, much love for that dude, he’s a good guy….Umm, all my college friends again in Massachusetts; Sabina, Max, David, Dena…all the people that support me, and also all my high school friends, they were there for me first; shoutout to my man big Jack, Andre, Kelly, Bradley, my man Doug, and that’s about it…I don’t want to forget anybody but yea…shoutout to my man Ted Smooth, who let me rock out this old school jam last week in East Harlem; he made my catch-phrase the young Yamaka a legend out there. Yea, honestly the shoutouts to me are very important, ya know…shoutouts to my man DJ Create, good guy…ohhh yes, shoutout to my man DJ Phat-Fingers – I have to, he brought me up to A-List Radio and made that shit all possible for me to meet L-Boogs…all that stuff….honestly, I hate forgetting people….so I could be here for like weeks.
DOC: Word, I just have 2 shoutouts, 1- I wanna shoutout EP Worldwide for letting this go down…and I wanna just shoutout you for finally getting the time to do this man.
A-SMOOTH: Oh thank you…I love what you guys are doing for the music industry. But yea, as with any artist or dj that’s grinding out right now, it’s just been reallll busy.
DOC: Yea, you know me man, I’ve been trying to do this, ya know, help everyone out, for as long as you’ve known me.
A-SMOOTH: Yeah, you peoples Doc – the industry needs more people like you, so…
DOC: Damn, I mean, I appreciate that man so much…Umm, yea, last shoutout to Spreez, the owner of EP Worldwide.
A-SMOOTH: Yes! – Spreez, holla at me, we need to get this Toronto conference going! |
