My Story In the Making.
[In Seattle WA, 21 years old Spring 2001, giving them my "Baller Pose"]
What's my story in a nutshell? What do I keep in, what do I leave out? I think that I should write with the shocking and not-so shocking truths that pretty much got me to this point. I am bound to leave some fine details out, I may get a book or movie deal and would hate to spoil the ending early. I'm gonna keep this brief and basic for now. If you have any questions, ask them in a comment, and I will be glad to answer.
Why did I decide to become a DJ?
Part of it was a necessity, and the other part was a no-brainer. Since a very early age I've been exposed to all kinds of music. My Father was a lead signer and bass player in a touring rock band in the late 60's and though out the 1970's. He had a very eclectic taste in music, Rock, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Classical and even Country. I remember some of my favorite albums when I was just a baby/toddler,
Bob James - Touchdown,
WAR - Why Can't We Be Friends and
Micheal Jackson's Thriller.
It was about 1988-89 when Rap music was breaking though to the mainstream and this is when I fell in love with this new sound and wanted to know more about the science of the DJ. Scratching was the coolest thing and Hip-Hop was the realest movement. I would boldly display my love for it in school and often get ridiculed for it because I'm white. Hip-hop to me was about unity and destroying the ignorance. How else could I learn about the Black man's frustrations with the political and justice systems and learn the new flavor dance at the same time? The first time I heard
Public Enemy is was game over, and I was hooked. I would do just about anything to get my hands on a pair of turntables. In the meantime, I was mixing with tape decks creating my own loops and broke my parents turntable in a fit of scratch withdrawal. I rendered some of their prized records unplayable. Luckily I have replaced most of their collection. Some of the DJ's that influenced me are
Jam Master Jay,
DJ Cash Money,
DJ Premier and Kid Capri.
In 1992, after 2 years of saving my allowance, mowing lawns and washing cars, I was able to get one fully functional turntable and a Radio Shack Realistic Mixer. I was finally able to scratch, well, kind of. It took like 300 psi just to move the cross fader and it didn't always completely cut the sound out. How disappointing! In other words, this thing sucked, but it sure looked cool! One day down at Tower Records, instead of checking out the records, I was in the magazine section. To my luck there was an issue of the Source Magazine (the undisputed bible of hip-hop in the 1990's) and a British mag called the DJ Times. Now I had a treasure trove of information on equipment and advice and they had some awesome records for sale as well.
It wasn't too long after I discovered a pro-dj shop in downtown Portland where they had a huge collection of gear and records. By 1995 I finally had a mixer worth scratching with, a Gemini Scratchmaster. This really helped me get the basics of mixing down and by December 1995 I had my first gig. What really made it special and unique is that A.) It was downtown Portland at the Paris theater off 3rd AVE and Burnside, B.) it was a Punk Rock show with a band of crazy guys that I went to High School with, C.) During the set, I played bass guitar with the band covering an old Beastie Boys Punk Rock track.
[ THIS PORTION HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR VH1'S "DJ PUMA" BEHIND THE MUSIC" SPECIAL]
Since 1995 I've upgraded my gear and techniques. I still buy and collect 12" Records and enjoy the portability or Serato Scratch Live. I've been in a few battles, and can't say I've won them all, but I've always left with respect, and that always feels good. I love rocking clubs big and small. My theory has always been the smaller the crowd, the harder to please. What do you think? I'm a Hip-Hop head at heart, and if you didn't know, that means I love all genres of music. That doesn't necessarily mean I would enjoy your taste in music, it probably sucks.
What does the future hold? I'll keep you guessing, but in the meantime, I'll be dropping some clues along with some limited edition remixes. Now where did I put Kanye's Number?
Too boring? I should keep going? drop me a comment.
