DJ Strong feature Interview on www.myspace.com/hiphop and www.myspace.com/dj

[HIPHOPWEST.COM]

DJ Strong feature Interview on www.myspace.com/hiphop and www.myspace.com/dj

INTERVIEW BY ROSLYNN:
1. How long have you been djing and what inspired you to start?

Ive been djing since 95-96 when i bought my first set of tables of the homie rickmaster, i just was around a lot of my friends who used to break and some of them DJed, i borrowed my boy albert's turntables for a month or two and started messing around and knew i had to get my own.

my brother had been bringing different musical influences to the house like run dmc, too short, parliament, funkadelic and i used to watch all the bad ass djs on dmc battles and to be honest the song that really got me into the djing before all that was herbie hancock's rockit!

I was into the egyptian lover and the la old school. that was the ish to get down on and practice my scratching mixing etc. but ya know i am no beat junkie or q-bert but i def do my thing on the mixtapes, marketing and all that

2. What do you think makes a good DJ?

originality. there are so many kinds of djs, radio, truntabilists, tour djs, club djs, mash up/hollywood djs, mixtape djs. you have so many different chances to be YOU, you just have to spend the time finding out who that is. For us it was mixtapes, we (cali Untouchable DJs) built a mixtape culture for the west coast that was not existent and im proud to say i was key in pioneereering that. and as a result i got to work with artists like ice cube, lil eazy e, game, tri-star,, kurupt, dogg pound, e-0, muggs, crooked i, west coast kam, akil of J5, j-ro of alkoholiks and many more

3. With the qualities stated in Question 2, who do you think is a good DJ?

hmm, with that in mind id say the DJ Warrior's, DJ Strong's, julio gs, clues, q-bert's, babu, rhettmatic, beat junkies, roc raida, drama, whoo kid, kay slay, kid capri, vice, A.M., Muggs, theres a lot of dope djs out there doing different things in urban music making their mark...

4. What's the most memorable experience in your DJ career?

Having the big name artists that i looked up to and am a fan of their music recognize my talent and reach out to work with me: Kurupt, Ice Cube, Too Short, Daz, Snoop, Lil Eazy E, Game, there are so many good moments.

Feeling that everything was coming full circle....but honestly i haven't nearly had my best moments yet! There's still a long way to go for me to accomplish everything ive wanted to do.

5. What advice do you give to new djs that are pursuing a successful career like yours that you wish you had received when starting out?

I don't know if there's any one thing that i could tell a DJ when they come up to me about being successful, i guess just do you and stay at it consistently and you can't ever go wrong!

6. What are you currently working on?

As you already know, i just got done doing the first ever promotional FREE mixtape for Shiekh Shoes Stores on the west coast. the mixtape features everyone from lil eazy, cube, game to new cuts with kurupt, young dre, tri-star, and so on... Shiekh Shoes check them out they have 90 doors on the West in CA, AZ, NV, and TX that are currently selling 3 of our t-shirts (HipHopWest/StreetWise) Go cop that King of Da Coast W T-Shirt . I have a few albums i am working on but i don't have any updates on that ntil the paperwork is official but count on it being BIG! and i will let you know for sure as soon as i do!

7.When can they see you live? What clubs coming up?

Im hopefully going on tour with some artists that are working on their new albums, possibly Tri-Star to help push his new venture but other than that im concentrating on hiphopwest.com, hiphopwest retail store, and you can hear us on cali untouchable radio show every tuesday night at 11pm on sirius sat channel 40! As always check www.myspace.com/djstrong for the official tour/show dates, thats the best spot to get my up to date shows.

8. Tell us about your local music scene. Who are the top local artists?

Well in So Cal its artists like Young Dre, Tri-Star, Lil Tone, Jay Rock, Bishop Lamont, Taje, Roccett, Kartoon, Mitchy Slick, 40 Glocc, Omar Cruz, Crooked I, Gail Gotti, Pacific Division, Strong Arm Steady, Lil Eazy, Psycho Realm, Murs, Roscoe Umali, Boretta, Self Sceitific, Evidence, man theres so many to name i know im forgetting somebody, but im sure they are gonna let me know so ill update ya on whoever it is lol.

9. What is a song that you hate to love ? (guilty pleasure)

Fergie - The Glamorous Life lol that song is hot.

10. As a stret marketing professional on the promotion side of the music industry, what suggestions do you have for independent or new artists in creating a buzz for themselves? And how can they get to you?

Go Hard! nowadays its all about getting your music/name heard so whatever you have to do to make that happen, go hard with it! if you want me to do up a promotional mixtape or somethign as far as marketing your artist just get at me through www.hiphopwest.com or www.myspace.com/djstrong i listen to most all of the music that comes in front of me...

11. What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

oh man, everyday is a blessing to be able to work and struggle because that's what makes you a better person. Ive had any normal obstacle that any person would have on top of trying to create something outta nothing so you can imagine what types of bullsh-t comes our way but they all make you stronger.

12. Who were your influences growing up?

My brother musically, my mother was a strong influence on me and shaping my outlook on life, my dad, I looked to all the stars and people out there and just picked what helped me.

13. Who would you like to share the stage with? Who have you shared the stage with?

Man, hmmm i don't really know? Presidents? Royalty! why settle for less. Movie Stars thats the next fronteir i would like to be on stage with haha Ive shared the stage with Too Short, Ice Cube, E-40 , Suga Free, Three 6 Mafia, alot of people

14. Websites?
http://www.hiphopwest.com
http://www.djstrong.com
http://www.myspace.com/djstrong
http://www.stronghouserecords.com

15. What else do you do besides DJ? And what are your typical working hours?

Man i work as much as i can so i don't have a set schedule but if im up im working ya know!

Outside of DJing I am starting business ventures so i am always coming up with idea that i put to market or create. I hit the gym and get in the ring sometimes to spar so that i can practice my ill karate chop to knock these haters out lol other than that i am always expanding my mind whether its reading or watching something that has meaning....

Whenever im not working on a project or with an artist or the radio show im basically planing the next move so im all in with what you see.

16.  What has your experience on MySpace been like so far? How did you first heard of MySpace? Is there anyone or group of people that you would like to re-connect with? If so, who?

the first time i had alot of friends on myspace and my account got frozen so i had to start all over but its all good hah.... I first heard about myspace through some of my friends who had switched over from some of the other "friendsites" and nver looked back, myspace has dope features, more to do and easeier to connect with peopel than alot of other sites, since then its been a wrap i should be on my 100 thousandth friend by now but haha that first account got deleted so im slowly growin back to that Make sure to add me www.myspace.com/djstrong and thanks to you rosylnn and myspace for always supporting the DJs doin big thangs and the real cats doing it!

DJ Strong...peace.