ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

Episode 313: DJ RIZ + DJ ECLIPSE "30 Years of Hip-Hop & Friendship" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome New York Hip-Hop Legends DJ Riz (@DJRizNYC) and DJ Eclipse (@DJEclipseRSC) with special guest co-host Brooklyn’s Finest @DJGoldFingerNYC (From #BeatstreetRecords). They discuss their 30 years of friendship (1:27), the importance of New York underground hip hop college radio shows like @StretchAndBobbito (8:10) and explain why HomeBase in the 90's was Riz's favorite club to DJ in NYC (12:30). Eclipse speaks on @FatBeats being the mecca for underground hip-hop (15:10) and Riz talks about his infamous ‘Live From Brooklyn’ mixtape (41:30). Riz explains how the @CrooklynnClan party breaks were developed from his quick-mixing DJ sets (1:02:10) and the fellas share how their @SiriusXM show @RapIsOuttaCntrl started 15 years ago with @DJPremier (1:38:01). Eclipse believes @Serato is a retirement package for DJs that have paid their dues (1:49:10) and explains how 9/11 was the turning point in NYC for @FatBeats and New York nightlife (2:19:40). Finally, Riz and Eclipse share what they have enjoyed most about DJ’ing throughout their extensive careers (2:33:00).

Episode 312: DJ R-TISTIC “The Millennial D-Nice" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome LA’s finest @DJRtistic with special guest host DJ Spydatek (@Spydatekzilla). R-Tistic speaks on mega nightclubs in LA disappearing (1:22) and being called the millennial @DNice (7:10). The fellas debate R-Tistic’s previous tweet about Hip-Hop Mixers vs EDM Mixers (12:55) and @DJCrooked clarifies ROAD’s reel about DJs missing canceled artists’ music (39:20). Finally, R-Tistic speaks on his past experience DJ'ing #Diddy's large celebrity events in LA and getting denied access to Puffy's private “Club Love” room (50:01).

Episode 311: RICK WONDER “The Hardest Working DJ in NYC” On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome New York’s finest @RickWonder (with special guest co-host @ChachiOfficial + @MartyRock). Rick speaks on getting his start in DJ’ing 22 years ago (1:45) and talks about being a one man band with his social and digital marketing skills (18:00). @DJCrooked expresses his belief that editors are saving DJs when it comes to new music (30:00) and the crew debate whether open format is dying in the clubs (43:00). The group share past horrible gig micro-managing stories (59:00) and finding spaces where they are valued for their talent (1:06:00). Finally, Rick shares his favorite rooms to DJ and nerve wrecking situations during his sets (1:27:01).

Episode 310: JCU3 "How The Kardashian Curse Affected Latin Music" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome LA’s finest @Jcu3. Jcu3 speaks on growing up Salvadorian in South Central Los Angeles (01:45), DJ’ing while being enlisted in the United States Army (@USArmy) and wishing he could play more Eastcoast Latin Music on the Westcoast (14:00). The fellas talk about how new music in Hip-Hop and Reggaeton aren’t in high demand (16:20), debate Spanglish microphone game at Latin Music themed parties (24:00) and discuss Jcu3 being typecast as solely a Latin DJ. Jcu3 credits the @BadBunnyPR #KardashianCurse for a decline in Latin parties (50:00) and insists that Latin people don’t buy bottles or like spending money at the club (52:00). Finally, the crew discuss some current trending reggaeton crossover songs (1:14:15).

Episode 309: DJ NEIL JACKSON: "Most Likable DJ On The Eastcoast" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome New York’s finest @NeilJackson. Neil speaks on being from LA and living in NY (1:57) and DJ’ing cypher battles in Pomona running into Will.i.am (@IAmWill), @ThePharcyde, and @DJVice in the early 2000s (6:45). @DJCrooked talks about record lugging problems (13:55) and the cab driver racism issues that plagued NYC in the late 90s (18:55). Neil remembers being the “On Call DJ” early in his career (32:01), speaks on New York being busier post-pandemic (46:00) and breaks down the difference between the Manhattan and Brooklyn nightlife scenes (56:01). The crew discuss how the younger generation of DJs are playing in a true open format style (1:04:00). Finally, Neil talks about his coffee company @BRLCoffeeco (1:26:01).

Episode 308: MOJAXX "The Bill Nye Of DJ Tech" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome UK’s finest and one of the most recognizable voices in DJ tech for @DJCity @BeatsourceOfficial, @Mojaxx. Mojaxx opens up about his incredible weight loss journey (2:10), explains why @PioneerDJGlobal launched #AlphaTheta with their wireless, bluetooth #OmnisDuo controller (7:10) and shares his honest opinion when reviewing tech (15:23). He expresses his disdain for early "Stems" programs (24:00), his take on the worst piece of DJ equipment (51:00) and challenges the worst era for DJ technology (1:00:00). Mojaxx talks about taking pride in being a great local resident DJ (1:17:00), explains why he started creating DJ tech review videos (1:21:55) and his process for creating videos out of the @DJCityUk offices (1:30:00). Finally, he speaks on the poor economic climate of the nightlife industry (1:37:00) and the current rate problem for UK DJs (1:53:01).

Episode 307: DJ CHACHI "Artist Management vs DJ Agencies" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew welcome New York’s finest DJ/Producer and co-owner of @4AMNYC, @ChachiOfficial with guest and CEO of 4AM @MadBack. Chachi speaks on his career in the early 2000s with residencies at mur.mur Mondays in Atlantic City and Stereo and Tenjune in New York City (02:55). He explains how he followed his Father's financial advice as a young DJ and invested in @ShrineFoxwoods (23:01). Chachi remembers learning from other older DJ’s mistakes (33:55) and discusses the unstable financial income of being a DJ (1:03:00). He talks about @TheChainsmokers being on the original #4AM roster and taking over the operations at the company with @MadBack (1:12:45). Chachi discusses wanting to do the right thing for DJs with #4AM (1:41:55) and breaks down the difference between his artist management company vs other DJ agencies (2:00:00). Finally, Chachi addresses never having “the cool factor” to get booked in certain cities (2:03:24).

Episode 306: MAD SKILLZ "The Go-To Voice For Hip-Hop" On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew bring back Grammy nominated-songwriter, ghostwriter, rapper and DJ, Mad Skillz (@SkillzVA). Skillz speaks on @BustaRhymes’ encouragement during his @BETAwards ‘Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Wrap Up’ (8:45), explains ‘Sync Approval’ in the music business (13:55) and warns young writers and record producers of predatory publishing deals (22:01). Skillz speaks on partnering with @Nas & @MassAppeal for the “Hip Hop Till the Infinity” installation currently in LA till March 18th 2024 (29:20) and breaks down his current projects including his EP ‘The Bop Gods’ and his spoof group “Nodeci” (35:56). Finally, the fellas debate when R&B changed from ‘I Love You’ energy to it's current ‘F*** You!’ toxicity (48:00).

Episode 305: ESENTRIK On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome famed New York Remixer, Editor, Producer & DJ @Esentrik. Esentrik speaks on his early career, getting his 2011 ‘Over’ Drake edit (@ChampagnePapi) featured on @OVOSound’s blog (2:01) and being inspired by #TheNeptunes’ @ChadHugo, a fellow Filipino-American producer/musician, to start DJing (9:21). He talks about his love for early 2000's pop music (25:55), how he met @DJBenzi (33:02) and formed the EDM DJ duo @WeAreTWRK (40:36). Esentrik gets candid about producing his viral remix of @Beyonce’s “Cuff It X Wetter” (48:55), encountering another "DJ" attempting to claim his remix (1:00:00) and getting the call from #Beyonce’s camp to make the remix official (1:06:20). He remembers feeling famous while #TWRK was touring all over the world (1:20:00) and recalls his “dark days” feeling lost after TWRK ended (1:30:00). Esentrik explains how he regained his confidence after seeing DJs playing his edits on @Twitch during the pandemic (1:34:16) and gaining support from celebrities including @SnohaAlegra @JanetJackson @SZA (1:53:54). Finally, he speaks on the nick name “Ego-sentrik” ( 2:17:01).

Episode 304: BRYAN-MICHAEL COX On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome Grammy Award winning record producer, songwriter and DJ @BryanMichaelCox.Bryan speaks on the excitement of @Usher landing the @NFL #SBVIII #AppleMusicHalftime show and how he predicted #Usher being chosen (04:32). He reflects on his early career from making 20-25 songs with Jagged Edge (@Official_JE) in 3 weeks (12:55) to his iconic first year working with @Aaliyah, @ToniBraxton, @JermaineDupri and @MariahCarey (17:00). Bryan remembers working with a young @DestinysChild @Beyonce in high school (30:10) and states that he believes church is missing from R&B music nowadays (50:01). He talks about being on @Diddy’s #MakingTheBand helping form @DanityKane and @Day26 (1:04:12), the process of writing Usher’s #Confessions album (1:13:01) and how 2001 was a fun "party year" that inspired records like Jagged Edge’s ‘Where the Party At’ and Nivea’s (@ThisIsNivea) ‘Don’t Mess with My Man’ (1:33:04). Finally, Bryan opens up about feeling pressured to make EDM records during the EDM era in the early 2000’s (1:41:00).