I write this with the self-awareness that I very may be a DJ snob. And, working 100s of hours to produce a set of original music, not easily susceptible to the cult of personality that can surround DJ's.
I was at Panamas last Saturday to see Kid Kameleon drop his set, talk to him, get his business card, see what all the hype's about, dance, get inspired, hear beats I haven't heard yet, enjoy drinking alcohol and to keep my fingers crossed in hopes of seeing Holger Honda.
Riley played a crazy set of amazing tracks and I was driven to dance in front of a big loud speaker like a person who is more concerned with the moment than the frequency range of his auditory faculties.
I heard some things that drove my music mind into new places which is always deeply appreciated. She had a great sense for the subtleties of the mix and I thought she was a pretty good DJ.
CONFESSION OF DJ SNOBBERY:
I, BASIC, AM A DJ SNOB. I WAS INTRODUCED TO TURNTABLISM BY A SUPER BADASS HIP HOP DJ WHO HAD 1200'S IN HIS BEDROOM SINCE THE AGE OF ELEVEN. WE USED TO MAKE FUN OF AND TALK RELENTLESS SHIT TO DJ'S WHO SPUN HOUSE BEATS TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON DRUGS AND COULD BARELY MIX 2 TRACKS TOGETHER THAT SHARED EXACTLY THE SAME BPM VALUES. MY FRIEND POSSESSED TURNTABLE MASTERY THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE AND WAS VERY SPOILED AND TOOK HIS SKILLS FOR GRANTED. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER DJ MIX OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP TRACKS WITH UNDERWORLD WITH OUT USING HEADPHONES AND GOD FORBID A LAPTOP. NOR HAVE I SEEN A DJ SEAMLESSLY BEAT JUGGLE 2 COPIES OF BILLY JEAN WITH A COPY OF EGYPTIAN LOVER ON THREE TURNTABLES. I'M NOT EXAGGERATING. I AM SERIOUS. IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. AND THEN THERE'S THE SCRATCHING...
anyway I'm a snob thanks to my gifted friend. My gifted friend is the single reason I never got into dj-ing, there was no room for me. My friend was too good. Our little posse had a dj that Badrock could barely keep up with (remember badrock?)
My gifted friend was with me and he asks, "What's up with the laptop?" I had to explain the latest software to him - the guy who can mix any of his vinyl with out headphones had to have it explained why some people need the latest software. And he goes, "Wow, that really has a lot of potential. Too bad that guy isn't doing anything with it. But the music's amazing."
That's kind of how I felt but I didn't want to say it. I was having fun dancing to somebody's music.
I'm not a dj, nor do I want to be, but I love good ones. Next DJ I see who beat juggles Billy Jean gets a present.
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