Yo Rob, you first got into DJing by watching your father and brother DJing…what’s the story here, Salsa, Merengue, cheekily using your dad’s equipment to learn to scratch on?
“Well, yes, my first true example of the roll of a DJ was my Dad. He immigrated to New York City from Cali, Colombia in the 1960s. He brought over his love for Colombian Salsa and Merengue and began DJing on the side to make extra money. My older brother and I would tag along when ever he was hired to DJ at parties. We’d help him carry all of his equipment, crates of records etc. I was also fortunate to have a brother who was into Hip Hop. Not just the music but all of the elements – Graff, B-Boying, MCing and of course, DJing because of my Dad. My brother would take me to Block parties, house parties, even night clubs. I was a little kid amongst older teenagers being exposed to Hip Hop culture. So unlike kids today who get their Hip Hop from Youtube and such, I was witnessing it first hand, live and in the flesh. My dad didn’t allow us to use his equipment, so my brother would wait ’till we had holidays from school and invite his friends over whilst my dad was at work all day. I would sit in the living room couch and just watch my brother cut it up on the turntables whilst his friends would kick raps. The rest is history.”
You decided to go down a different route from most Turntablists – Hip Hop flavas weren’t so much an influence…Funk and Jazz dudes were important to you – who?
“Unlike today’s Hip Hop’, I grew up listening and watching DJs create Hip Hop out of all genres of music; Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock…thus, as a young kid, I fostered an appreciation for artists like James Brown, Bob James, and Aerosmith. I learnt how to scratch and mix on songs from such artists. So naturally, their influence came out of me when I recorded projects like my first mix tape ‘Soulful Fruit’ and my first album ‘The Ablist’.
You have worked with some of the kings – Linkin Park, Herbie Hancock and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers – revolutionary artists – how did you adapt to playing with such diverse artists.
“Whether it was touring the US with Linkin Park, recording scratches for the legendary Herbie Hancock, or remixing songs from my favorite Rock band of all time the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, adapting to these diverse selection of artists was fairly easy because again, I grew listening and appreciating many different genres of music. I’m thankful for that because it went on to help me as an artist now. I think the key to my ability to adapt is being opened minded. Welcoming all forms of music. Learning how to pick the best qualities of each genre and incorporate these qualities into what I do as a DJ.”
Big 10 tunes you are playing right now rocking the dancefloor?
“To be honest with you, my 10 tunes don’t reflect any of the new stuff you hear on the radio nowadays. I resort to classic tunes. Music that’s timeless will always move an audience, any audience for that matter.
1. ‘Choice Is Yours’ by Black Sheep
2. ‘Dwyck’ by Gangstarr
3. ‘Back to Life by Soul II Soul
4. Melting Pot’ by Booker T. and The MGs
5. ‘Immigrant Song’ by Led Zeppelin
6. ‘Right On’ by Ray Barretto
7. ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain
8. ‘Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter’ by Nina Simone
9. ‘Out On the Coast by Larry Willis
10. ‘Cavern’ by Liquid Liquid
Finest piece of Hip Hop vinyl – ever?
“Wow, that’s a hard one. I would have to go with the original copy of ‘The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash’ on Sugar Hill records. It was the first record ever composed of just scratches.”
What are you most looking forward to at DMC – World Final and the 25th Anniversary in London?
“Meeting all of the new, young talent from the rest of the world. Getting to spend time with my peers. Talking to the people who come out to support the event and all of the DJs. It’s gonna be a memorable event for me, I’m sure of it!”
Tell us more about the performance you will be doing for Rane at the World Finals?
“I’m gonna be using the Rane TTM 57 along with the Serato Scratch Live software throughout the majority of my performance. For those vinyl purist out there I will break out one routine which I plan to perform with only vinyl. Overall, expect to see me do what I do! I don’t plan on trying to do anything “out of this world.” I’m simply gonna be myself and showcase my style of DJing!”
Best ever DMC Champion?
“I really don’t believe in the classifying any DJ as “the best.” I believe all of the DMC champions have something unique they’ve brought to the world of DJing.”
Who that you have battled against, did you think uh-oh…I am finished here!?
“I never go into a battle with the mentality of “uh-oh…I am finished here.” Naturally they’re have been battles where I took mental notes of certain DJs style, tendencies, weakness, strengths, etc. But one should always be confident in their abilities when in a battle.”
Give us three tips for up and coming DJs to smash it…
“1. Be original
2. Be well rounded – try and do a little bit of everything
3. Have fun!”
Are you the best Beat Juggler we’ve seen?
“Again, I don’t believe in the term “the best.” Although, I would like to think I did my part to help elevate the style of ‘beat juggling’.
You enrolled at Baruch College in New York City and in 1995 graduated with a degree in Psychology – so why did your love of music overtake such an amazing career/college choice that you studied for so long?
“I guess because I express myself most effectively through music. Before anything, DJing helped give me an identity. DJing gave me a purpose. DJing helped me develop my character. Thus devoting myself 100% to DJing after a graduated college was the most obvious decision for me to make.”
Who in a battle would win – Grandmaster Flash vs GrandWizzard Theodore?
“With all due respect to Flash, I would have to go with GrandWizzard Theodore. The man invented scratching! What else is there to say?”
Best thing about New York?
“The diversity! I love my city. When I die, I wanna be buried in Jackson Heights, Queens!”
What does it take to be a dope DJ?
“Determination, focus, faith, belief, fearlessness, open mindedness, and probably one of the most important things…a willingness to continue wanting to learn, even when you think you’ve accomplished it all!”
Tell us all what every member of the X-ecutioners brought to the table…what were your skills…
“Each member of the X-ecutioners brought something special to the group. Roc Raida brought that battle mentality. He was always ready to battle anybody at any time. That kept us all on our toes. Total Eclipse contributed his youthfulness. Eclipse kept us young and hungry, wanting to learn what new things we could do on the turntables to become better. I feel I brought a cerebral take on DJing. My approach to Djing helped emphasize the idea that it’s not always about being flashy or fast. That using the turntable as an instrument, the way John Coltrane played the Sax, could be just as affective and penetrating if done the right way.”
What has been the highlight of your DJ career and also, the most embarrassing…
“Man, I’ve had so many highlights. It’s hard to just pick one. Appearing in a Gap Commercial, shooting the video to “It’s Goin Down” with Linkin Park was amazing, performing on MTV ICON for Aerosmith with the X-ecutioners, my first show with Bob James at the Knitting Factory in NYC, I can go on and on. I wouldn’t say there’s a most embarrassing. I get frustrated when I make a mistake or when there are technical issues like poor sound etc. That’s as close to embarrassing as I would say.”
How do you think the art of Turntablism has evolved since you began kicking the decks?
“It’s evolved in so many ways. From the technology companies like Rane offering DJs like myself to advance the actual skill level amongst DJs. The art form continues to evolve over time.”
You skipped shop and went solo…what are you most proudest of production wise that you have brought us?
“Out of all the work I’ve done with the X-ecutioners and the three albums I’ve released, ‘War Games’ is definitely the work I’m most proud of because of its content. Not only did I succeed in showing why DJs like myself consider the turntable as a musical instrument, I also managed to create an album which made a social/political statement through the art of scratching. A first for DJs if I may say so myself.”
Best ever MC you have ever DJ’d with?
“I would have to say Akineyle. Arguably on of the most underrated MCs of all time!”
Thanks Rob, see you in London…
“Thank you! I can’t wait!”