The Ultimate Thread of a Legend...Dj Slip!

[Que (signing off)]

DJ Slip Spotlight
By Nino Brown
(http://revelation.phpwebhosting.com/wca/djslip.htm)

As one of the pioneers of west coast hip-hop, DJ Slip is an Icon in the rap game. Starting in 1983 rocking house parties and high schools in the Southern California area, Slip was soon one of the most sought after and respected DJ’s in the business. “I was the kid that always was in front of the stage, watching the OG’s like the Egyptian Lover and DJ “Magic” Mike” says Slip. Determined to make his mark in the business, Slip quit a career in football to pursue music full time, leaving San Diego State University and enrolling in a Junior College to study Midi and digital recording.

Using money from his job as a Lifeguard, Slip brought his first pro DJ setup. “I saved all the money I made from my regular 9-5 to get some 1200’s and a couple of Vegas,” “Then I spent the extra money I made and bought a DMX.” At this time, Slip hooked back up with childhood friends DJ Pooh and Fat Jack and formed LA Sound Control Crew.  Sound Control soon became one of the premier DJ crews in Los Angeles, building a reputation for expertise in multiple turntable mixes and battle scratching. Convincing his father to invest in his business,  (after spending all his profits on equipment) the Sound Control Crew grew with the addition of the Music People. “After we got all of Uncle Jams DJ equipment, shit just went crazy.” “We were spinning records up and down the coast, as well as promoting at Skateland, Eve After Dark and World on Wheels.”

It was during this period that Slip found his real calling, engineering and producing. “I didn’t know anything about sound systems when we got into the business, then all of a sudden I’ve got to put on a show at the LA Sports Arena!”  Says Slip. Passing that test with flying colors, he set out to conquer a new challenge. Making records. Compton recording artist Toddy Tee soon approached slip. “Todd was working on his next single after Batter Ram and wanted me to program some drums for him. I jumped at the chance to make a record, and found myself in love with the process” After giving a demo tape of beats to the Unknown DJ, Slip soon was turning out records left and right. “Those were crazy times man, I was making techno, hip hop, scratch and party mix records.”
 

Building a reputation as a beat box wizard, Slip approached Alonzo Williams of the Wrecking Cru about an idea he had. “I wanted to make a compilation album featuring all west coast cats. Lonzo had just lost Dre, Yella, and Ice Cube and he needed talent, I needed a studio.” This proved to be a fateful event, because it brought together the crew that would turn into Compton’s Most Wanted. CMW would record their first commercial release for Lon-Hop entitled “Rhymes Too Funky.” Their contribution to the “Compton Compilation” would earn them a record Deal with Orpheus/EMI records. The commercial success of  “It’s a Compton Thang” LP, along with the hit rap singles “One Time Gaffled em up” and “I’m Wit Dat” established CMW as a cornerstone of west coast gangster rap.

Slip would earn high praises for his production as he teamed up with Unknown to create two more top 20 R&B albums with CMW. Things in the CMW camp were far from perfect though, as the group (despite it’s commercial success) struggled financially. “Man, I had number one singles, gold albums to my credit and was broke as hell!” says Slip. Struggling in the business, the breakthrough of his career was right around the corner.

 MC Eiht was picked to co-star in the Hughes brothers film “Menace II Society.”

Producing the title track to the film, “Streight up Menace” became an instant classic. “After Menace, me and Eiht said fuck recording albums that everybody else profited off of. We started doing our own thing.” Producing artists such as “DFC” “MC Breed” “Spice 1” Slip (with MC Eiht guest appearing) soon had numerous chart topping records.

Ready to strike out on his own, Slip (along with MC Eiht) produced the masterpiece “We Come Strapped” which topped the billboard R&B charts for 6 weeks straight eventually selling near platinum. Slip then struck gold again with Spice 1, Ganjah K, Montel Jordan as a producer, engineer and a songwriter respectively.

After being approached by Del from IV Life Records, Slip joined the burgeoning company bringing his X-Factor production squad with him. “This is a great opportunity for me to be part of something again,” says Slip. “The IV Life Family is going to be bigger than any act/label I’ve ever worked with, and I get to help a lot of talented new cats mature as artists.” With Slip behind the mixing console, IV records stands ready to make there mark in the industry.

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(http://revelation.phpwebhosting.com/wca/djsliphistory.htm)

Objective s Operate the most successful urban record label in the world
   
Experience 1983-1991                     Music People                          Los Angeles, Ca
 
  Manager, Sound engineer, Disc Jockey
   
  Promoted shows, dances and concerts with artists such as Ice Cube, Easy E, NWA, Will Smith, Eric B and Rakim, Too Short, Luke and 2 live crew, Compton’s Most Wanted.
  Provided sound reinforcement for the K-Day Mixmaster’s, the Wrecking Crew, Uncle Jams Army, and KJLH radio station.
  Helped to pioneer west coast hip-hop movement. Tutored DJ’s such as Aladdin, Mike T, Battle Cat, DJ Pooh.
   
   
  1988-1993                     Techno-Hop/Lon-Hop Music     Los Angeles, CA
 
   
  Producer, Recording Engineer
   
  Produced albums with sales totaling over 1.3 million.
  Produced 5 top 40 R&B albums. Striking platinum twice. Three albums occupying the number one spot in the country.
  A major contributor to the west coast g-funk era. Helped to change the sonic landscape of west coast music.
   
   
  1994-2001                     X-Factor Productions               Los Angeles, CA
 
  Owner 
   
  Produced, engineered, recorded mixed multiple gold, platinum albums.
  Operated two 48 track studios, head engineer at Echo Sound studios,
  Managed IV life studios.
   
   
  1999-2001                     IV Life Records Inc.                 Los Angeles, CA
 
  Production Manager, CEO.
   
  Developed artists and Producers,
  Operated Studio.
  Helped designed website, marketing strategy, company infrastructure.
   
   
Education  1983-1985   San Diego State University      San Diego, Ca
 
  1985-1986   El Camino College      Los Angeles, CA
 
   
  Studied political Science and Astronomy.
  Took classes in Midi sequencing, philosophy.
   
   
Interests  Computers, Music, Astronomy, Sports, Physics, Films, Travel, business
 



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(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Slip)
DJ Slip (born Terry Allen) started working with his father, sound equipment business owner Richard Allen, in the early 1980s. The two provided sound equipment at various Southern California parties, clubs, and dances, and at shows for such groups as Uncle Jamm's Army, World Class Wreckin Cru, LA Dream Team, and many others.

Slip soon became more interested in creating music, leading him to start producing West Coast electro-rap beats, and eventually landed a deal with Unknown DJ's Techno Hop label in 1987. Slip and Unknown released a collaboration project under the name The X-Men in 1988. Slip's big break came when he was introduced to Compton's Most Wanted and in 1989 he produced The Compton Compilation album for Alonzo Williams, featuring Comptons Most Wanted's "Rhymes Too Funky". Soon Orpheus Records picked up the CMW demo and signed the group. Slip and Unknown handled most of the production for Comptons Most Wanted and hit it big when the group was signed to Epic Records in 1991. After the success of "Streiht Up Menace", Slip helped produce much of MC Eiht's first three solo albums. Slip now works with Los Angeles CA independent hip-hop label IV Life Records, where he continues to release new material.

Releases:
X-Men (12")  Rams Horn Records 
X-Men (12")  Techno Kut Records 
Remixes:
Straight Checkn 'Em (12")  Orpheus Records 
Caps Get Peeled (12")  Big Beat 
Geez Make The Hood Go Round (12") Geez Make The Hood Go ... Epic Street 
One's 4 Da Money / Get Down (12") One's 4 Da Money (DJ S... Virgin Records America, Inc. 
Scratches:
It's My Turn (12")  Techno Hop Records 
Leather & Lace (LP) Get Pumped, Rap At You... Techno Kut Records 
Production:
Quicksand (12")  Kru-Cut Records / City Fresh Records 
Ling-O-Istic / It's Time To Jam (12")  Sutra Records 
Techno City (12")  Techno Kut Records 
The Posse Chapter 2 (LP) X-Men Macola Record Co. 
Compton Compilation Sound Control Mob (LP)  Kru-Cut Records / City Fresh Records 
World Class Mega Mix 89 (12")  Kru-Cut Records 
It's A Compton Thang (Cassette)  Orpheus Records 
It's A Compton Thang (LP)  Orpheus Records 
One Time Gaffled Em Up (12")  Orpheus Records 
Teenage Reporter (12")  Pump Records (2) 
Straight Checkn 'Em (LP)  Orpheus Records 
Straight Checkn 'Em (CD)  Orpheus Records 
Taking Charge (CD) Freak Deaky, I Got It ... Par Records 
Music To Driveby (CD) Hit The Floor, Jack Mo... Epic 
Menace II Society (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Streiht Up Menace Jive 
Menace II Society (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Streiht Up Menace Jive 
Menace II Society (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Streiht Up Menace Jive 
AmeriKKKa's Nightmare (CD) Stickin' To The "G" Code Jive 
B-Ball's Best Kept Secret (CD) Funk In The Trunk Immortal 
Goin' Out Like Geez (12")  Epic Street 
We Come Strapped (CD) Niggaz That Kill (Endo... Sony Music Entertainment (Brasil) 
We Come Strapped (CD) , Compton Cyco, Compto... Epic Street 
We Come Strapped (LP)  Epic Street 
Death Threatz (CD) Ain't Nuthin 2 It, Kil... Epic 
Death Threatz (2xLP) Ain't Nuthin 2 It, Kil... Epic 
Last Man Standing (CD) Compton 4 Death, Tha B... Epic 
Beats & Lyrics 2 (2xLP) Left Hand Side Industry Records 
Beats & Lyrics 2 (CD) Left Hand Side Industry Records 
Section 8 (CD) Dayz Of '89 Priority Records 
Section 8 (CD) Days Of '89 Virgin Music (Canada) 
Co-production:
Unknown's House (Cassette) Revenge Of X-Men Techno Kut Records 
Unknown's House (LP) Revenge Of X-Men Techno Kut Records 
Appears On:
Rap Street (CD) It's My Turn ITM Records 
Tracks Appear On:
Hip Hop Most Wanted Vol. 1 (CD) The X-Men Street Dance 
Space Night Vol. IV - New Frontiers (2xCD) Revenge Of The X-Men Fuel Records 


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Interview DJ Slip (X-Men)
Real name   
Place of birth   
Author Phil Klein
Year 2002
Additional Info Electro Empire Exclusive


What first inspired you to start making music?

I always loved music. I was taking piano and violin lessons in grade school, and when the underground music scene hit in LA I got into DJ'ing.


Musically, what are you doing now?

Right now I'm mostly into Hip hop and R&B. I still make underground hip hop beats, and some trip hop type slow grooves, but people on the west coast are really into the funk/gangsta.


How and when did you hook up with The Unknown DJ and what inspired you both to begin the X-Men project?

I submitted a demo of beats I made on my DMX/808/909/727 hook up. We had a group of DJ's and MC's called LA Sound Control. Unknown offered me a chance to work with him without the crew and I turned him down. After missing out on working with him on the King Tee project, We hooked back up to produce Dezo Daz. (Aka Yomo from Yomo and Maulkie) Don at macola wanted us to do some techno stuff, and I had a bunch of beats I'd done, so we got together and formed the X-Men.


It says on The X-Men - It's more fun to sample, to "Check you record stores in '89 the album Techno Power". For what reason was the name change to Unknown's House and what held the album up another year?

That album was going to be an X-Men album, but we never finished it. At the time I was doing the compton compilation album, and Unknown was working on his solo project. Plus it was time consuming to make those records, trying to work out all the scratch patterns and samples. Unkown pulled some of the X-men stuff, and some of the tracks we started on to make unknowns house.


Now that the Electro Scene is making a strong comeback can you see yourself and the rest of The X-Men Posse taking some time out from producing Hip Hop to start making some new Electro trax?

I'd love too. I plan on finishing at least 2 of these unreleased X-Men cuts I found, and you guys tell me if it warrents a comeback. Mike T already said he was down to do the scratching for it, and a couple of my current production partners want to help.


Did The X-Men ever do any live performances?

Nah, I used to always spin the stuff, but we never did any shows.


Will the classic West Coast labels Techno Hop / Techno Kut & Kru Cut ever release new material?

I just went to Lonzo's house the other day to find out. (plus to find you guys some of these old records) Once I hook up with him and Dre (Unknown) I'll post it in the forum.


Can you tell us the names of all the artists involved in The X-Men project and what they are doing now?

Basicly it was just Unknown and myself. Unknown was running Celeb intertainment and put out a Kid Frost album with Tony G from the K-Day mixmasters. Eiht did the vocals for the E.V.I.A.N song techno city and he just dropped his new album "Underground Hero." I'm working with IV Life Records and just produced a track on Snoops All Star Compilation entittled "Squeeze Play." I also have a cut out on Tray Dee's Generals List album called "4 Life."


What are your thoughts on sampling?

Give credit where credit is due. Back in the day we never cleared samples because everybody sampled/scratched everybody. Now it's different. There are too many lawyers involved. If you rip somebodys stuff you should pay them. If we released it's more fun to sample today, I'd make sure Kraftwerk got theirs, but back then it was kind of a joke. You know? It was more fun to sample somebodys beat. We did that as kind of a tribute to the Gods of techno. Hell, wait till you guys hear the X-Men track "Money."


What are you up to now?

I'm Producing, Engineering and doing a bunch of other stuff for IV Life Records.


What is Unknown DJ up to know?

Do you still have contact with him? Like I said before, he was running Celeb entertainment. I haven't been able to catch him in a few months.


In your music you used a lot of Kraftwerk samples, so I guess they were one of your biggest examples. Who else was influencing your music styles?

All the other guys doing Techno especially Juan Atkins. Kraftwerk was (Still is) an influence on my musical style and the way I mix and engineer. I still reference the MIX album to clear my head after a long night in the studio.


What was each members' role in the X-Men?

My role was to program the beats and do the scratching. Unknown did most of the vocals and would bring more samples and scratch ideas to the track. Plus he generally did any keyboard work, but we didn't use a lot on that stuff.


The voices on your tracks were always low and dark. Which device created such a fantastic sound?

We used the Roland Vocoder. sometimes we'd run it through a spx-90 to change the pitch. The vocals on X-men revenge were done live. We ran out of time in the studio, so unknown did the vocals to dat as we mixed the track down. that was pretty cool.


Finally can you list us your all time Old School Electro Top 10?

So many favorites. Ok I'll try. No particular order
1. Clear
2. It's Time
3. Planet Rock
4. Numbers
5. Tour De France
6. Nightdrive
7. Egypt Egypt
8. Electric Kingdom
9. When I hear music/lookout weekend
10. Jam On It

End of Transmission…
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Quoted from Dj Slip:
http://www.4liferecords.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=djslip;action=display;num=1105463263
I did this when I first got my sp 1200. I didn't have my records with me, all I had was an old Rolling Stones tape, so I sampled that. Added a little Kool and the gang and made this beat. Never used it though, but I did use the Kool and the Gang sample on "Compton Cyco".
 
http://s34.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=18W7XB34Q16K00N3AW6N2X493X
 
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=04Z6QF3L

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Currently producing for IV Life Records, Hannibal Leq (AZ) and Crisstyle (Cali).

He schooled MC Eiht and is about to do it again with another new new act . . .

[Wild_Elmo]

Damn, I'm gonna have to read this a little later. But looks dope, I just skimmed through it really quick. DJ Slip is dope as hell and definately doesn't get the props he deserves.

[Maxin in the Shade]

good thread!

DJ Slip is one of the most underrated West Coast producers out there.

Id love to hear him team up again with Eiht to produce an album. 'Hard Times' off 'We Come Strapped' is one of my fav all time tracks

[Maxin in the Shade]

ive never heard any X-Men stuff

can someone tell me what its like and where its available?
can someone post any snippets?

[West Coast Veteran]

His signature style of production is amazing. The keys, horns, basslines, etc. are all incredible. Him and Eiht made a classic with We Come Strapped. Top notch production.

[westside159]

yeah there supposed to make a new compton's most wanted album this year or next year from what eiht said in a interview its called neighborhood watch  & is producing a couple tracks on mc eiht's new album called " once upon a time in the west " it should be dope well see  !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Acgrundy]

slip is dope as fuck.  we come strapped is in my top ten fav records of all time, straight classic.

[Westcoastfanatic]

Good article, thanx!

[Diggfinger]

Damn slip has been in it a looong time!

Not one of my favourite producers though, but props to the man

[CRAFTY]

That was a nice read

[Diabolical]

Props.

[DonCorleone]

DJ SLIP is def. one of my favourite producers. My favourite beat is N 2 Deep - Comptons Most Wanted with Scarface, Love that beat.

[Lucien]

 

[ExZit]

that so called Slip-Funk is something special... he really created his own style and became succesfull with it, he is def among the greatest producers from the west!

[soopadoopaflykid]

DJ Slip gets my propz