Welcome to the the DJ given the most props I have ever, and and I mean ever been given during an interview with other DJs, a true superdupaststar…
I have interviewed many, many DMC champions recently, DJs from America, Japan, France, the UK – I could go on and on, when I ask them who they
think is the best ever DMC Champion… it’s always you – and I mean always you! How does that feel to get props from your fellow spinners…?
“Well, I find that a very flattering thing to say, and I feel as if you say that same thing to every champ you interview, you have had some incredible World Winners though true?”
What was the best DMC Title/Year you won, what was the most challenging?
“I would have to say that winning the US title in 1991 was incredible because I thought that no one was interested in seeing a set that had no body tricks
involved, plus I was doing stuff that was predominantly sound only. Not to mention the USA was the dominant land from where most great DJs came from at that time. At that time, everyone had some sort of body trick and such… but I give props to New York’s Steve Dee, because he was all skills and his
routine went over everyone’s heads – but not the DJs. All of us DJs were in awe of his new style at that time! So in 1991 in Chicago, The USA DMC championship was a big one for me because I got to go to a world arena right after getting over the USA hill! Nowadays, it doesn’t matter if you’re from the USA or not, because there is talent all over the world and great DJs can come from anywhere nowadays!”
Why is the DMC Turntablist Comp so important to the Hip Hop world?
“Cuz it is pure originality and a very much slap in the face towards all the stupid commercialism that makes us turn our radios and TVs off and concentrate on a creative energy that is deep in our souls. If you want to witness the craziest forms of hip hop, then you need to watch beatboxers, MC cyphers, B-Boy/B-Girl battles, poppers, lockers, graff artists, and these DJ competitions! You will for sure find many things interesting in this world of underground true school hip hop that you will not see on mainstream radio or tv! The internet is growing stronger all the time and TV and radio is just not where it’s at anymore. The world is becoming more enlightened and the DMC for a long time has been a true source for things that people of our nature vibe towards…”
What was the first ever DMC comp you entered like – nervous?
“Yes, very nervous, until I saw that all the good guys were on vacation the day I battled for the Bay area title, ha ha! Actually there were a few good
guys, but for the most part, everyone was just playing records and mixing 2 songs in 5 minutes, so…”
Biggest hip hop dude you’ve hung with?
“Chad Hugo from The Neptunes! He told me he watches Turntable TV! That was cool!”
What tunes did you grow up grooving to, like, who was your inspiration – musically??
“I used to get all into The Sugarhill Gang Records when they came out in the late 70’s! Then I got into Jimi Hendrix because I wanted to scratch like the way
he played and be free with the instrument…then I got into Louis Armstrong and Jazz like Miles Davis, Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Pee Wee Russel…
Beyonce or Leona Lewis for dinner?
Beyonce only because I like her in the stupid funny movie “Pink Panther”.
How do you think the UK and US Hip Hop scene differentiate?
“I think the UK scene is not as hypnotized by the mainstream music that Hollywood has on the US. There are some hard core diggers in the UK! But
don’t get me wrong, there are monster diggers in the US too! Just ask B-Boy lean rock!”
What are your biggest 10 tunes in your box right now?
Crystal Bowl ‘Healing Sounds’
Gong ‘Meditation’
Delta Waves ‘For Sleeping’
Ultramagnetics
Big Daddy Kane
Percee P
Mozart
David Wilcock (Scientist)
J Dilla
Madlib
What do you think of the Election of Obama?
It’s business as usual for the powers that be, so it really didn’t concern me. But then I’ve been hearing from inside sources that Obama is being guided by
higher spiritual forces that are for the good and he will help the human race move forward towards the ascension process of 2012! So we’ll see. All you need is love, and through a mass consciousness of loving people, then that energy will be felt and the earth will heal. We are going through a process of the solar system heating up, not just our planet as Al Gore says, but a solar system as a whole will pass through galactic center of our milky way Dec 12, 2012 – and we will all move to the heavenly 4th dimension if we simply just have love in our hearts! Anyways, I got off subject there, but I had to mention that, check out David Wilcock – he’s a scientist who talks about the end of the Mayan Calendar and all the proof that there is no crazy disaster in 2012, but a golden age of peace coming real soon! So don’t be fooled by the fear that these Hollywood movies and our media try to bring upon us. Just have a good time with your god given creative powers and continue to make the world a better place with your skills! who knows, maybe all this is not true, but having a good time being in the creation process sure is a way out of the matrix!
How has the art of Turntablism changed over the last 10 years? You perform an amazing show, – where is it all going…
“In 1999, all the skratchers were tearin it up on vinyl, and now there is the digital technology that kinda takes away from the rawness of pure vinyl. But
then you’ve got the real heads that know this and still keep the progression of analog skratching alive and do both. I do both too, but I still find the
subtleties in vinyl still can’t be copied, so I still press vinyl for certain main skratch sounds that I’d like to use. It’s always getting better and new techniques and styles are always coming forward. The things in our heads are coming out more and more as everyday moves forward. The digital technology helps a lot also with being able to manipulate any sounds that we find or create. In the future, we’ll be able to just simply be telepathic and hear what goes on in our heads just by doing nothing but projecting our thoughts to everyone. It’s gonna be like when a guest comes out on the late show, or like a fighter enters the arena and you can hear their theme song play! That’s where it’s going… but even then, I’d still love to skratch on vinyl!
Best ever Hip Hop artist?
“You know I can’t just say one! Rakim, Kool G Rap, Eminem, Biz Markie…”
Where has been the best ever club you have played?
“In my home town, Club “1015”! An incredible sound system!”
What other turntablists do you rate? Who has been the guys who nearly knocked you out?
“Everyone knocks me out! Every man will know something more than the next man… here’s what comes to my mind as to which DJs influenced me:
Mix Master Mike, Yogafrog, Shortkut, Disk, Flare, Apollo, D-Styles, Rafik, Vajra, Teeko, Mike Boogie, Scratch Perverts, X-Ecutioners, Ken-One, Kouji,
Miyajima, Steven Flex, Handroids, Ant-One, Primo, Gelo-o, RPM, Packo, Deadfoot, Rickie Rucker, Toadstyle, 5th Platoon, Allies, A-Trak, Klever, Craze, Fly, Netik, J-Rocc, Babu from the Beat Junkies, C2C, Birdy, Nam Nam, Jazzy Jeff, Joe Cooley, Cash Money, DJ Man, Mr Mixx, Magic Mike, Egyptian Lover, Lobcat, Cut Dcreator, Marley Marl, etc, too many to name – and all the champs.”
Best record ever made?
“For scratching, I would say “Superseal”! I still use it for some reason, there’s a Superseal 3d that is coming out right now as well!”
Best hip hop films ever made?
“I liked Wild Style because it was a real movie made at the time Hip Hop was still ridiculously underground, then there’s style wars because it was the
first documentary, then there’s all the popping and B-Boy videos like Freestyle Sessions and Mighty Four! Wave Twisters because it was an animated
graffiti movie for B-Girls and B-Boys who were into the same vibe as US true school heads!”
What can we expect from you in 2009?
“Lots… check out www.thudrumble.com – but as of this moment, we’ve just finished our online DJ school: Q-Bert skratch university! People from all over the world can have a one on one video exchange with me and we can learn from each other on how to get better! Also, I would love to do another movie like maybe a Wave Twisters 2.
Peace out Dan…”
