In
the club, there is one guy on-stage who knows how to
hype-up a crowd and keep'em bumping - and that's the
D.J.. Evil-E has been spinning since the ripe beginnings
of Hip Hop, alongside industry pioneers like the 'Original
Gangster' Ice-T & Grandmaster Flash. Publicity Whore
sat down with Evil to see what's coming up with the
new album "Sex, Guns & Money" and his
view on if Hip Hop is really in a state of 911.
P.W:
How did you get into DJ'ing in the first place?
Evil-E:
I started out in Brooklyn, New York twenty-five years
ago, along with pioneers like Grandmaster Flash. It
first started out as a hobby. I played in front of buildings,
but I really didn't start making it a career until I
moved out to California for the tropical weather. When
I moved out to California I met Ice-T in a club where
Uncle Jam's Army and Egyptian Lover used to perform.
It just went from there. I was the DJ and Ice-T rapped.
We were signed by the label Techno Hop. We dropped our
first single “Six in the Morning” into the
market on the B-side of the album "Doggin' The
Wax”. Then we shopped and put out “You Don’t
Quit.” “Six in the morning” was then
picked up by Warner Bros, and the first album on Sire
records came out in 1987, “Rhyme Pays”.
P.W: What are the traits of a successful DJ?
Evil-E:
You have to know when to play a record, how long to
play it and how to keep the music flowing to keep the
crowd going. Some DJ’s will only play a record
if they feel it - to me that’s bullshit. Also,
be sure to be creative and bring new energy with the
music. When you are a DJ you are there to get the crowd
bumping.
"The
Old-School D.J Grandmasterflash"
P.W:
How long does it take to become a DJ?
Evil-E:
It takes a lot of time. You have to learn how to match
certain beats per minute, you cannot just play record
after record. It really comes down to an art form because
there are very precise ways of matching the beats, and
that really cannot be learned without doing it for quite
a bit of time.
P.W:
How is 'trick' DJ'ing different from a normal performance?
Evil-E:
You have to know how to scratch the record like it is
part of the record. Meaning the trick you do must go
with the sound of the record. Also, try to be creative.
Maybe pick up your leg or put your shoulder on the mixer.
It's also a matter of speed to be able to flip records
while doing the tricks. It’s a skill you really
need to work on.
P.W:
How are the DJ scenes different in New York and Los
Angeles?
Evil-E:
They’re pretty much the same, but New York started
it and has come up with some new tricks. But really,
there isn’t as much difference as people might
think.
P.W:
How has it been working with Ice-T on stage?
Evil-E:
It is important to work with an artist who respects
your part of the performance and not have an attitude.
Also an understanding and a direction. Ice-T and I have
been working together for so long now, that we have
been able to build not only a great working relationship
but an understanding on stage on how do to our own part
of the performance.
P.W:
What is a lesson you learned from working with the “Original
Gangster” Ice-T?
Evil-E:
The game of the music business, especially conducting
interviews. Ice-T is one of the best when it comes to
explaining his position on issues and the projects he
is working on in the entertainment business when he's
conducting an interview.
P.W:
What lessons has Ice-T learned from you?
Evil-E:
Be creative and stay down with what you’re doing
and enjoy what you do.
Ice-T and Ron Jeremy-size
comparison?
P.W:
Who are some people that you look up to in hip-hop music?
Evil-E:
I respect a lot of the guys I have played with. Chuck-D
from Public Enemy, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, anyone who has
been in the hip-hop game for a long time.
P.W:
Do you think hip-hop is improving, getting worse or
just the same game with new faces?
Evil-E:
It’s the same game with new faces. There is a
lot of talent out there, but some of these new cats
don’t give the props that the old school characters
really deserve. I believe that everything goes in a
rotation motion, a circle, and that we're just about
ready to make a comeback in the scene.
P.W:
What are some projects you are working on right now?
Evil-E:
I am working on a compilation album with new and old
players in the hip-hop scene. I have drops from Eminem,
Dr. Dre, Westside Connection, Puff Daddy, Method &
Red, Ice Cube even some tracks from my good friend Jam
Master Jay, may he rest in peace. This is going to be
a very interesting album because I am going to have
so many different artists and I am going to include
tracks that are new and unreleased. Look for the album
sometime in the Spring or Summer.
"The hip-hop icons,
Run DMC"
P.W:
What do you think of Eminem?
Evil-E:
I respect Eminem because he speaks on the real. He’s
one of the best MC's out right now because he doesn’t
rap about the bling-bling, and all that silly shit.
He straight out says how he feels.
P.W:
What do you think of .50 Cent?
Evil-E:
He’s another MC I respect. I am glad to see Eminem
putting 50 Cent on Shady Records, he definitely deserves
the props he’s now getting, because he gets the
crowd going, just like Eminem.
P.W:
What advice would you offer to a DJ to get ahead in
the business?
Evil-E:
Try to be as creative as possible. To be a successful
DJ you have to be social and learn to talk to the crowd.
You also need to talk to people at the club and network
so you can get more gigs. But most off all you need
to keep the people on the dance floor at the club.
P.W:
If you could meet anyone from history dead or alive
who would want to meet and what would you ask them?
Evil-E:
I would want to meet Bill Gates and find out how he
became so successful. Computers have got to be the most
ingenious inventions ever created. I would want to know
how I could create an original product so I also could
be just as successful in the music business.
The original "prankster"-
Bill Gates
P.W:
What do you do with your free-time?
Evil-E:
I spend time with my two beautiful daughters. I teach
my daughters to be positive and not to be a follower.
Be a leader and be the best at whatever they do.
P.W:
Where do you want your career to head in the music business?
Evil-E:
I am working on my own record label and entertainment
business now and focusing on stepping behind the scene
in the music business.
P.W:
Any new albums, shows or projects you want to plug?
Evil-E:
Look out for the new Ice-T album, “Sex, Money
and Guns” with Smooth Da Hustler and Trigger The
Gambler, also “Body Count.” We have a video,
“Sex, Money and Guns" with exclusive interviews
and performances by Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Busta Rhymes,
and some hot women getting naughty I have to say this
footage is off the hook so definitely check it out.
Ice-T and I are performing at The Beach in Las Vegas
March 22.
P.W.:
You know we will. Thanks Evil.
UPCOMING
SHOWS
Come
rock out with Publicity Whore,
Ice -T and Evil E.
MARCH 22nd @ the Beach
in Las Vegas
Also, Body Count is at the Key Club
Saturday, March 8th
http://www.thekeyclub.net
You Better get your
tickets now:
SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES
(CLICK)
KNOW
A DJ
WE SHOULD INTERVIEW?
THEN TELL US!
interviews@publicitywhore.com
