Every month, AllHipHop.com is keeping tabs on the hottest producers and DJs throughout the nation with Real Talk. This month we are breaking bread with one of the hottest producers in Hip-Hop, Rsonist from the Heatmakerz; The best mixtape DJ, DJ Drama; West Coast’s DJ Skee; and the Prince of New York, DJ Self. We have chosen DJs and producers from different blocks, boroughs, cities, states, and regions within the nation. Their specialties are unique but one key factor remains the same, their business formula includes hustling. Each one has expanded their musical talents from the base they sprang into various money-making endeavors. Rsonist’s production is so edgy that Jay-Z fans cannot deny bopping their heads to The Diplomats’ mesmerizing beats. Now, if you’re looking forward to hearing world premiere tracks by the most renowned and up and coming Down South or West Coast artists, tune into Sirius Satellite and check for DJ Drama or DJ Skee. For those of you leaving the club empty-handed, you won’t regret your cover charge after hearing all the energy DJ Self delivers through the turntables. Da Union’s most prominent member has made a mark for himself that not only dubbed him “The Prince of New York,” but also earned him a share of Clinton Sparks’ “Best Club DJ” award. AllHipHop.com: What’s your background? Rsonist: I was a club DJ from ‘94 to 2000. I dabbled in mixtapes a little but that didn’t really go too far. I used to attend Howard University while deejaying at all the major clubs around there. DJ Drama: DJ for T.I., Gangsta Grillz for mixtapes, radio, and a record deal with Atlantic Records. I’m a hustler all around. DJ Skee: Mixtapes, radio, clubs, The Game’s DJ, and a T-mobile marketing deal. Every T-mobile telephone that you see in an urban music video, I put together. DJ Self: Radio, clubs. AllHipHop.com: What’s your specialty? Rsonist: Producing. DJ Drama: Versatility and the quality that a lot of people look for when they see my brand. DJ Skee: Everything I do is my specialty. DJ Self: Clubs. AllHipHop.com: What current projects are you working on? Rsonist: I did a track with M.O.P. on DJ Clue’s album The Professional Part III. We did three tracks on Papoose’s upcoming album. I am working with Usher’s new artist signed to J Records named Rico Love. Also, we are working on some TVT projects, Juelz Santana’s third album and Lil’ Wayne’s [The] Carter III, Juelz and Lil Wayne’s I Can’t Feel My Face, DTP compilaton, I-20 solo album, and my album. DJ Drama: My album comes out through Atlantic records in August and Willie the Kid’s debut drops this summer on Asylum records. I always got mixtapes coming out on the streets. DJ Skee: I worked with The Game on his new album. [I will release] about three or four classic mixtapes before the year is through, commercial radio, Skee music, and Hype Public Relations. DJ Self: An endorsement deal with Adidas. I’m the first DJ with a non-radio deal. AllHipHop.com: What would you say is the most overrated album of all time? Rsonist: Jay-Z’s The Black Album.DJ Drama: Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 2.1. DJ Skee: Most Tupac albums after his death except for the Makaveli album, it was a classic. The Tupac album released and remixed through Eminem were bad. They should let Tupac rest. Old Tupac fans and the new generation of Hip-Hop fans should remember and hear Tupac when he was at his best. DJ Self: Both of Kanye West’s albums. AllHipHop.com: What style did you originate? Rsonist: We didn’t originate boot samples, but we originated taking Soul vocals that were really laid back and creating aggressive soul music. We even took soulful Reggae samples and made that a lot more aggressive. DJ Drama: I changed the mixtape game in the South. DJ Skee: I know how to read the market. My advantage is that I can shift to all modes because the mixtape mode is different from radio, which is different from the clubs. You have to cater to a completely different market. DJ Self: Originality and energy in the clubs. AllHipHop.com: What was your best career moment last year? Rsonist: Two albums that we did went platinum in 2006. Lil Wayne’s The Carter II and Juelz Santana’s What the Game’s Been Missing.DJ Drama: – Putting out Dedication 2 [with Lil’ Wayne]. DJ Skee: Building my brand and launching my car show on July 8, 2006. DJ Self: Getting an endorsement deal from Adidas and actually getting paid for my own sneaker. AllHipHop.com: What was your worst career moment last year? Rsonist: Realizing that my manager wasn’t doing anything and having to fire him. DJ Drama: I didn’t have one. Oh no, I got one. My worst moment was not getting the Outkast tape finished. DJ SKee: I don’t have one real specific moment, but not closing my commercial radio show that has been in the works since the top of the year. DJ Self: I was on commercial radio in New York City, Power 105. I got banned from the station because I played a curse. It was a reggae song and I didn’t know too much of their lingo and ended up playing a curse live on the air. AllHipHop.com: How have these moments shaped your career decisions this year? Rsonist: Actually, as far as my success, I’m am just goin’ to do what I’ve been doing. As far as my failures, I’ve decided to take my career into my own hands as opposed to looking to management for help. DJ Drama: I completed an Outkast tape and the jury is still out on Dedication 3. DJ Skee: Right now, TV is my main focus and we are already talking to several major corporations who are looking to come in and buy into it or form strategic partnerships. I’m trying to make it the biggest site of its type in the world DJ Self: When I get back on the radio this year, I’m watching every edit. And that will make great radio, because I’ll be on it! AllHipHop.com: Favorite track this year… Rsonist: “Buy you a Drank” by T-Pain. DJ Drama: “Taking Pictures” off my album and the runner up song is “What a Job” by Devin the Dude featuring Andre [3000] and Snoop. DJ Skee: Gotta support a fellow DJ, Khaled killed it with the “We Takin’ Over joint,” ever since I got that it’s been burnpin’ up the streets, radio, and clubs! DJ Self: I’m really feelin’ “Wipe Me Down” by Lil Boosie AllHipHop.com: Who is your favorite new artist? Rsonist: My R&B artist, Marvin Moore a.k.a. Money Harm (Product G&B). DJ Drama: Willie the Kid. DJ Skee: Theres a bunch of new dudes out the West that are about to kill it. Omar Cruz, Problem, Topic, Bishop [Lamont], Jay Rock, G Malone, etc. Pick any.DJ Self: My new favorite artist is Uncle Murda. AllHipHop.com: Recently, which artist did you expect more from based on their single? Rrsonist: I expected more out of Kingdom Come just because Jay usually has a crazy album: DJ Drama: I expected more from Jay-Z. I expected that he would put out more singles besides “Show Me What You Got.” DJ Skee: I was a little disappointed with Jay’s last album [Kingdom Come]. It wasn’t bad, it just lacked the excitement and replay value I usually have with a Jay album. It’s his fault because he always sets the bar so high, so when he comes with a three or four star album its a disappointment where for other artists it would still be a solid album DJ Self: I expected more from Rich Boy, it was somewhat boring to me. AllHipHop.com: Name something you learned from another Producer or DJ at any time in your career. Rsonist: Honestly, I learned a lot from Buckwild, but nothing really from a technical state. Most producers want to get all over an album and they try to block other producers from getting their work on there. They don’t realize if other producers come with hot tracks, that track can help the album sales increase, which can help your project on the back end. The bottom line is that it’s not about locking a whole project for yourself; it’s about bringing other people to the table and bringing in just as hot, or hotter tracks, which will help you out in the long run.DJ Drama: How to make a mixtape, which I learned from many DJs. I learned how to put a mixtape on CD from DJ Clue. DJ Skee: I learned a lot from DJs in general. Getting out there, branding yourself, building a team and audience. I Learned the importance of playing what the people want to hear versus what you want them to hear. It’s all about them. DJ Self: Kid Capri showed me everytime you DJ to have lights. Bring your own lamps because it makes you look like a bigger person and a bigger entertainer because you have the spotlight on you. AllHipHop.com: Name another Producers or DJ’s style that you don’t use but admire. Rsonist: Dr. Dre. DJ Drama: DJ Jazzy Jeff can cut his ass off. I am okay, but he’s “the magnificent.”DJ Skee: What DJ Whoo Kid does on the mixtapes. I admire him because he is making a lot of money. DJ Self: I like Green Lantern and DJ Dirty Harry’s style when they blend. AllHipHop.com: What is the most exciting thing about your profession? Rsonist: The spontaneity of it. Anything can happen at anytime. You don’t really know if you are hot today that it guarantees that you will be hot tomorrow. Because of that, you have to work just as hard today as you do tomorrow. DJ Drama: There’s a lot of them; traveling, performing live and making money. DJ Skee: Music is always changing, there is something always new and you can’t miss the opportunities. DJ Self: Getting paid. Getting paid to do what you like and getting nice checks and free clothes. AllHipHop.com: Who is the best artist that you ever did a track for or worked with? Rsonist: Juelz Santana. I think he is the most creative artist that I have ever worked with. Juelz adapts to any track that I ever gave him. DJ Drama: I don’t have a best artist. I like a lot of them. My top three are T.I., Young Jeezy and Lil’ Wayne. DJ Skee: The Game. I was exclusively given “300 Bars” and other tracks for my mixtapes. DJ Self: Busta Rhymes did very good hyping the crowd with the mic. I threw his record on and he performed in the booth. A lot of rappers come to the club and don’t show DJs love. I feel that is weak when they don’t say what’s up to the DJ whether they know them or not. I think if you’re an entertainer you should show the DJ love because they are the center of the party.
