ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

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).

In our more recent Episode #86 with special guest @BoogieBlind from @TheXecutioners, @DJCrooked played a few audio snippets from a demo tape he made in 1999-2001 with Blind and a collective group of unknown rappers from East/West Harlem called LTG (Lyrics To Go). With very little resources and equipment, Crooked made beats and manually looped them on a Gemini 24 Second Sampler and recorded the songs on a Tascam 8 Track Cassette Recorder. Boogie Blind, having never owned turntables of his own, would be at Crooked's apartment frequently practicing on his Technic 1200's and collaborating on almost every song being made. At the request of our curious listeners, who were impressed by Boogie Blind's innovative and progressive scratches and shocked by Crooked's rapping/producing, we decided to post some of the songs from their demo tape (also knowing how much this embarrasses Crooked was an added bonus lol). Please disregard the some of the sound quality as all of the music was recorded on cassette tapes over 20 years ago. TRACK 1 (0:00) "INTRO" Scratches by @BoogieBlind Produced by @DJCrooked TRACK 2 (0:19) "CROOKED FREESTYLE" Performed by @DJCrooked Contains instrumental from "Keep It Thoro" by Prodigy (produced by The Alchemist) TRACK 3 (3:08) "ROCKSTEADY PARK SHIT" Performed + Produced by @DJCrooked Scratches by @BoogieBlind TRACK 4 (5:22) "WHAT YOU WANNA KNOW" Performed + Produced by @DJCrooked Scratches by @BoogieBlind TRACK 5 (8:12) "KEEP IT MOVIN INTERLUDE" Performed by Philippe Milord TRACK 6 (8:24) "KEEP IT MOVIN" Performed + Produced by @DJCrooked Additional Vocals by Brooke Evans TRACK 7 (12:24) "BEAR HUG" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Spank Kink (@Sis_Son) of UTR (Uptown Residaz) Additional Vocals by Deedle Green (@Deedle_Green) of UTR (Uptown Residaz) TRACK 8 (16:24) "DOIN THEY THING" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Dal J-Ones (@Jonesie001) Additional Vocals by @BoogieBlind TRACK 9 (20:26) "EASTSIDE WESTSIDE (PUT IT IN THE SKY)" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Spank Kink (@Sis_Son) and Dal J-Ones (@Jonesie001) TRACK 10 (24:35) "OVERREACT" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Deedle Green (@Deedle_Green) Additional Vocals by @BoogieBlind TRACK 11 (27:48) "J-ONES" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Dal J-Ones (@Jonesie001) Scratches by @BoogieBlind TRACK 12 (30:21) "GREEN AIRLINES" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Deedle Green (@Deedle_Green) TRACK 13 (33:13) "ROAD CALL" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by @BoogieBlind, Omiz, Deedle Green (@Deedle_Green), Don Fedi (@_Fedi2070) and Dal J-Ones (@Jonesie001) BONUS TRACK (38:39) "ASK YOURSELF" Produced by @DJCrooked Performed by Dal J-Ones (@Jonesie001) Additional Vocals by Spank Kink (@Sis_Son) For more tracks and music by Crooked, Boogie Blind and LTG: https://www.mixcloud.com/djcrooked/crooked-presentslyrics-to-go-harlem-all-stars/

Episode 86: BOOGIE BLIND On this week’s episode of @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with Harlem’s Finest @BoogieBlind of @TheXecutioners and @TheHeavyHitters. The fellas talk about Blind djing for @DJCrooked back when he was rapping/producing and performing at colleges in the early 2000’s in NYC (6:11). Blind breaks down Eastcoast vs Westcoast scratching and shares his experience winning the @Vestax.Professional World Championship in 2001 (29:09) and going on @Eminem’s “Anger Management Tour” with the Xecutioners (45:00). Blind explains the history of the “Pause” and “AYO” game (50:01) and talks about dj’ing in different boroughs in New York (59:30). Crooked tells a story of him and Blind having beef over speakers (1:25:30) and Blind shares some memories and speaks on his close relationship with the late and legendary turntabllist #RocRaida (1:58:01).

Episode 85: The Great Yellow Hope On this weeks episode the fellas recap their Memorial Day Weekend in Vegas and share the inside scoop regarding the recent @MeekMill and @Cosmopolitan_LV incident (4:52). They speak on @NipseyHussle’s @TheMarathonClothing grossing $10 million (32:00), review @YG’s “Go Loko” single (40:21) and analyze the first week album sales of @FeliciaTheGoat and @DJKhaled (49:21). @DJCrooked speaks on the @NBA finals and attributes the @Raptors winning streak to @JLin7 (1:06:32). The crew discuss the new 2018 International Music Summit Report which states a 60% decline in Night/Day Club attendance, a 12% decrease in DJ rates but the rise in demand for Women DJ’s and increasing marketing value (1:17:23). Finally the fellas review the new @WuTangClan documentary, rate their top 3 Wu-Tang solo albums (1:45:32).

Episode 84: ELI ESCOBAR + DJ GOLDFINGER On this weeks episode, the crew are honored to have 2 New York trailblazers, the multi-talented and gifted DJ/Producer @EliEscobarNYC and the legendary @DJGoldFingerNYC (along with ROAD’s favorite @DJMoma from @EverydayPPL assisting as co-host). Eli Escobar reminisces about growing up in the same building as @DJCrooked and @KoolBobLove near the G.O.A.T. Park in Manhattan (01:50), hiring Bobbito to host his college parties, working at Bob’s Record Store (13:25) and later DJ’ing for the @StretchAndBobbito show on @Hot97 (42:20). Goldfinger speaks about working at the iconic Beatstreet Records and growing up in Brooklyn in the same building as @OfficialEcstacy of Whodini (15:20). The fellas talk about NYC Nightlife in the 90’s/2000’s and share how Goldfinger’s club sets and music selection shaped and molded a new generation of DJ’s in New York (50:10). @DJNeva asks Goldfinger about @FunkFlex calling Goldfinger his biggest competition in the clubs (1:14:15). The fellas speak about DJ’ing on the road, Eli preferring to spin longer DJ sets (1:21:05) and the 9/11 tragedy impacting NYC nightlife (1:41:02). Goldfinger addresses Moma’s claims about Biggie having a ghostwriter (1:43:33) and Eli explains the history of his wildly famous @TikiDisco dance party which is celebrating it’s 10 Year Anniversary (1:57:49). The fellas touch on racism and spinning for different races (2:10:01) and banning artist’s music in the clubs (2:33:33). Finally, Eli explains his love for @Madonna and how she attended his and Moma’s amazing Wednesday night party at @LebainNYC called #DanceDanceDance (3:00:09)

“Sway In The Morning” on Shade 45 While recording interviews for the podcast in NYC, the crew made an appearance on #SwayInTheMorning on @Shade45 (Sirius XM Radio) with @RealSway and @DJWonder. The fellas kicked it on air with Sway and @DJDMiles spun a guest set for their Mix Show portion. Many thanks to DJ Wonder and Sway for the invite!

Episode 83: DJ BIG BEN On this week’s episode, the crew flew out to NYC to sit down with Brooklyn’s finest @DJBigBen. The fellas discuss Ben’s quick mixing style, resetting the energy in a room (3:15), going on tour with @AngieMartinez tour DJ and owning a bodega (18:05). He speaks about getting management from @JRosenblum1 (41:20), DJing at @Hot97 for over 10 years and working with the legendary @DJMisterCee (48:50). Ben explains how he broke the @RonBrowz record “Pop Champagne” (01:08:20), @NipseyHussle’s impact on the Eastcoast and @6ix9ine bringing a new energy to New York (01:15:25). Finally Ben recalls an uncomfortable situation where he was asked to play @RKelly at a wedding (01:22:50) and elaborates on his early beginnings as a DJ (01:46:00).

Episode 82: DJ J. ESPINOSA On this week’s episode, the crew sits down with the new 2019 @Redbull3StyleMusic World Champion and Bay Area’s finest @DJJEspinosa and reminisce about his first meeting with @DJCrooked which resulted in a heated argument about Eastcoast vs Westcoast DJing (10:10). Being the official DJ for the @Raiders, Espinosa speaks about the new move from Oakland to Vegas (04:42). He speaks about growing up in the Bay listening to @FrandalayBay (20:24), his journey competing in the Redbull 3Style and battling longtime friend @DJChrisVilla during the US Finals in Philly (29:30). Crooked asks Espinosa about his experiences DJ’ing along side DJ legends @DJJazzyJef and @DJQbert (1:00:43), the possibilities of creating a new movement in SF with fellow Bay Area native and 2017 @GoldieAwards DJ Battle Champion @MilesMedina (1:56:30) and his DJ set at the @BoilerRoomTV (2:06:00).