ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

Episode 96: DJ ZO On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with one of LA’s finest DJ ZO (@Zomanno) with special Co-Host @DJEdMcDonald from @MacAgencyLV. Zo speaks about linking up with @Dumbfounded and his early interests in the battle rap scene like #GrindTimeNow, @KOTDTV, and @URLTV (1:35). @DJCrooked recalls an incident with @IAmMCJin in front @FatBeats in NY (13:45). Zo speaks on tour life with @DumbFoundead and @Anderson._Paak (22:36) as well as meeting @ChefRoyChoi (31:40). He explains the birth of nightlife in K-Town during the early 2010’s with venues like @TheLineHotel and @LockAndKeyLA (34:35). Zo talks about dj’ing Solange’s (@SaintRecords) birthday and gives his take on @Beyonce’s “Before I Let Go” cover (45:20). The fellas rank the top “cook-out anthems”(47:40) and talk about @Awkwafina’s “Hollywood Glo-Up” and her youtube hit “My Vag” (1:17:04). The fellas speak on Korean music in the US market, non-Asian K-Pop fans (1:32:50), nightmare stories while traveling internationally (1:38:25) and Zo’s encounters with @JonFavreau (1:57:25).

On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with LA’s own @DJNitrane, official tour dj for @Bas and @TheFiends (with special guest host @DJMoma from @EverydayPPL). Nitrane & Moma speak about the recording sessions with @RealColeWorld for @Dreamville’s “Revenge Of The Dreamers 3” in Atlanta (2:00) and Nitrane breaks down his time working with @HitBoy and @AudioPush (13:30). He talks about spinning strategically for “instagram moments” (26:38), transplants invading LA and NY (31:48) and his involvement with the @LALeakers and @DrDre’s show on @Beats1Official (39:02). Nitrane shares how he became Bas’s official tour DJ (57:45) and how he started spinning celebrity parties for the likes of @IAmJamieFoxx @KourtneyKardash @KylieJenner and @BarackObama (1:27:02). The fellas close the episode speaking about Nitrane’s upcoming album that he’s currently working on (2:01:15).

Episode 94: SERATO On this week’s nerdiest episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @Serato’s Artist Relations team @Kutcorners and @MrSonnyJames and offer a few solutions to some technical issues that DJ’s frequently encounter with their groundbreaking software (4:27). Kutcorners addresses a rumor that DJ Konflikt (@MyFavoriteDJ) shared on a previous episode regarding #SeratoDJ launching primarily for the “sync” feature (15:20). The fellas discuss Serato’s reasons for discontinuing software updates on #ScratchLive (17:50), the infamous “Wifi Latency Bug” in #SeratoDJPro (23:45) and future software developments like new music streaming options provided by @Beatsource, a new DJ music service merger founded by @Beatport and @DJcity (34:27). Kutcorners remembers @Ztrip initiating the “Practice Mode” feature at @DJJazzyJeff’s @PlaylistRetreat (42:22) and Sonny speaks about his Philly roots (pun intended), coming up with Philadelphia’s own @Diplo and @LowBudget (aka #Hollertronix) and spinning for “True Honey Buns” rapper @QueenBahamadia (54:30). Kutcorners speaks on the Hip-Hop scene in New Zealand (1:06:38) and his appreciation for @ItsTheRub aka @DJAyres and @DJEleven (1:14:42). The fellas speak about DJ unity, the misperception of Social Media representing actual talent (1:16:55), the evolution of club promoters becoming DJs (1:26:27) and the incredible line-up of DJ guests who appeared on Sonny and Kut’s #SeratoUnscripted podcast (1:31:55). Kutcorners shares how he got @Crazearoni and @Atrak to switch over to Serato (1:34:30), touches on the @Roctakon vs. A-Trak situation on twitter (2:02:40) and speaks about the occasional disappointment in meeting your heroes (2:07:40).

Episode 93: DJ BUTCH On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew link up with one of LA’s best club rockers @DJ_Butch. Butch breaks down the importance of @YoungCalifornia pushing the Cali sound during the EDM era (4:22) and and explains how instrumental it was for artists like @TyDollaSign @YG @OTGenasis @JoeMosesAOB to show face in the clubs and push their unreleased music (10:05). The fellas discuss gang life in Long Beach (15:10), Butch’s transition from Battle DJ to Club DJ (24:40) and the classification of “Ratchet” as an actual music genre (45:45). Butch speaks about the @MadeNightlife pool parties at @DayLightVegas that would shuttle people from LA to LV and back (1:05:45), the emergence of the 90’s and 2000’s R&B parties popping up everywhere in LA (1:12:55) and the extravagant bottle presentations at @PHDayClubLA on Sundays (1:15:43).

Episode 92: SUJIT KUNDU (SKAM ARTIST) On this weeks episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew link up with Sujit Kundu, owner of @SkamArtist and former Senior VP for @UniversalMusicGroup and @EpicRecords. Sujit breaks down his work with @HitcoMusic (founded by @LA_Reid) and his instrumental role in Record Promotions for artists like @DJKhaled @FrenchMontana @Tyga (4:02). He explains the difference between a booking agent and a manager (17:44) and talks about his transition as a teenager promoting Rave parties to attending @UCSantaBarbara and booking Hip-Hop acts like #MobbDeep, @KeithMurrayRap @RedManGilla (31:00). Sujit remembers the release of his 1st record “Where I Wanna Be” by @ShadeSheist feat #NateDogg (35:50), creating the name for his DJ agency and the marketing plan behind the “I Am A Skam Artist” promotional campaign (42:15). He touches on tour managing for @AfroJack and @Pitbull (57:50), shares his thoughts on “Influencer DJs” (1:03:42), breaks down how DJing is a lifestyle and not a job (1:31:47) and explains representing producers turned DJ’s like @LilJon (1:33:55) and expanding his agency to performers/personalities like @AmberRose @BlacChyna (1:38:09). Finally, Sujit shares his personal thoughts on DJ’s leaving Skam Artist like @Roctakon and @DJVice (1:49:55).

Episode 91: DJ AYRES + DJ ELEVEN aka THE RUB On this weeks episode, @RoadPodcast link up with Brooklyn's finest @DJEleven and @DJAyres aka @ItsTheRub (with special guest hosts @DJMoma from @EverydayPPL and @DJGoldFingerNYC). @DJCrooked reminisces on Ayres and Eleven's iconic party “The Rub” in NYC and their legendary 2004 mash-up mixtape “It’s The Motherfucking Remix Vol.1” (03:21). Ayres explains the origin for the word "Mash-Up" (10:00) and the fellas discuss how different regions of the country develop their own styles of DJing and rapping (15:12). Eleven expands on his stellar and extensive mixtape catalogue as Goldfinger shares his experience selling millions of bootleg vinyl/mixtapes at Beatstreet Records in Brooklyn (36:56). The crew address the changes to New York nightlife in the early 2000's before and after 9/11 (51:29) and how reggae fits into a current DJ set in Brooklyn nowadays (01:35:21). Finally the fellas speak on the importance of DJ’s working together to help support and break new records (01:46:53).

Episode 90: Starboyz On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas discuss the outrage from the Naija Community and Afrobeats Music World when a video clip from a previous episode featuring @CiphaSounds went viral overseas regarding @WizKidAyo (0:53). Crooked calls @DJMoma (founder of @EverydayPPL) to get his take on who “the face of Afrobeats is in mainstream America” (4:40). The fellas speak on the @DayNVegas2019 festival (20:31), the 2019 @NBA Free Agency 2019 and why the @WNBA isn’t as popular as the NBA (28:07)? The crew break down all the new Hip-Hop being played in Vegas clubs right now (36:30) and recap their first event in Las Vegas with @DJCITY and #DonJulio at @BestFriendVegas and @OnTheRecordLV (55:09). They give a brief review on all the new albums that dropped this past weekend from @ChrisBrownOfficial, @Mustard, @DanielCaesar, @JBalvin and @BadBunnyPR (1:01:52) and question if any songs from @DJKhaled’s new album is getting played in the clubs right now. Finally, the fellas discuss the @Netflix series @WhenTheySeeUs as @DJCrooked and @DJNeva share their personal experiences on how the “Central Park Jogger” case effected New York at the time (1:20:24).

Episode 89: DJ YODA On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas sit down with UK’s very own @DJYodaUK. Yoda speaks about spinning 90’s Hip-Hop parties while attending the @UniversityOfWarwick (6:27), his early days working at @FatLaceMagazine and his “How To Cut & Paste” Mixtape Series (19:00). He recalls making a lot of American Music Industry contacts from his club residency at “Spread Love” (24:44) and expresses how huge the 90’s reggae/dancehall music is in the UK to this day (30:00). Yoda explains why he refuses to play Drake (@champagnepapi) or Rihanna (@badgalriri) during his sets (41:15), how he acquired opportunities to DJ @StarWars movie premieres because of his DJ name and how he knew @Banksy before the fame and actually got paid with an original piece (44:40). He speaks about using the @Phase_DJ (58:50) and helping design for @pioneerdjglobal but preferring turntables over their CDJ’s (1:08:02). Yoda shares his love for collecting breakfast cereal boxes and trading with Hip-Hop legend and notorious collector @OfficialBizMarkie (1:15:10). Lastly he talks about recording his new album “Homecooking” at the infamous @AbbeyRoadStudios as well as @IAmMarkRonson’s studio (1:32:50) and expands on the UK Grime music scene (1:44:10).

Episode 88: CIPHA SOUNDS + ROCTAKON + STEVE1DER On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas sit down with an eclectic and immensely talented group of DJ’s @CiphaSounds @Roctakon @DJSteve1der! Cipha explains a comedy bit he performs with @SNL’s @CheThinks involving White people singing the “N” word (4:11) and introduces a new method of speech called “Loose Talk” (6:44). They explore @DJJEspinosa’s tweet regarding the Eastcoast/Westcoast definition of the word “cock” (34:48) and speak about The Bay’s reaction to @LilJon’s new single with Mac Dre “Ain’t No Tellin” (45:27). Cipha blames Drake (@ChampagnePapi) @DirectorX and Vince Carter (@Vinsanity25) for “ruining” Toronto’s biggest secret (55:06) and sheds some light regarding the feud between Tyler The Creator (@FeliciaTheGoat) and @DJKhaled (1:07:20). @DJNeva brings up @Hot97’s lukewarm line-up at this year’s #HOT97SummerJam and asks Cipha if he remembers the @RealGhostFaceKillah saying “Fuck Hot97” in 1997 (1:31:50). The fellas question the original members of @WuTangClan and discuss if “Watch The Throne” helped Jay-Z out of a writing slump (1:50:53).

Episode 87: DJ MELO D On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with LA’s legendary @DJMeloD of the @TheBeatJunkies. Melo-D speaks about @Jrocc210 initiating the inception of the Beat Junkies (7:03) and collectively launching multiple business entities like their successful DJ School “Institute Of Sound” @BeatJunkiesIOS and Online DJ School @BeatJunkies.TV (18:34). He reminisces on spinning at 92.3 “The Beat” (48:15), auditioning for @QuincyDJones to be the official DJ for the @VIBEMagazine TV show on UPN (54:17) and explaining how the Eastcoats vs. Westcoast beef between Biggie and 2Pac effected LA (1:01:13). Melo-D breaks down the hip-hop club scene in the 90’s with fellow Beat Junkie @DJIcyIce’s infamous party at Club Unity (1:17:07) and how their 20 year anniversary showcase in 2012 helped them re-appreciate the legacy they created and expand the Beat Junkie brand (1:32:00). Melo explains how he teaches the up and coming DJ's and what troubles he runs into (1:52:49).