ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

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Episode 289: The History Of Hip-Hop In Las Vegas Aug 09, 2023

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Episode 289: The History Of Hip-Hop In Las Vegas On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome an important collective of influential Las Vegas locals who helped bring Hip-Hop to the Las Vegas Strip: DJ Franzen (@FrandalayBay), Jonathan "Shecky Green" Shecter (@SheckyGreenLV) and DJ Warren Peace (@Warren702). Warren speaks on Hip-Hop in Sin City during the ’80s and ’90s with iconic clubs like Utopia and All Star Cafe (9:50), talks about an altercation with #Tupac at #SugeKnight's "Club 662" (27:50), confirms that "RA Nightclub" had the first official Hip-Hop night on the Strip (29:00) and recalls terms like “Open Format” and “Upscale Hip Hop” being used by venues (1:02:20). Franzen speaks about the "OPM / Poetry Nightclub" days and creating a strong presence for Bay Area Hip-Hop in LV ( 1:18:02). The crew credit @Victor_Drais for taking a chance opening the first "All Hip Hop Nightclub" (1:30:01), commend Franzen for staying in the Hip Hop genre during the EDM boom (1:35:01) and discuss nightclubs never championing their resident DJs (1:58:55). Finally, Shecky asks @DJCrooked about his personal thoughts on some of the offensive comments made from a previous episode with #ClintonSparks (2:25:02).

Episode 288: JERMAINE DUPRI Aug 02, 2023

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Episode 288: JERMAINE DUPRI On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome Grammy award-winning record producer, songwriter, rapper, DJ, and Atlanta’s finest @JermaineDupri. Jermaine speaks on coming to Vegas in the early 2000s as a celebrity open format DJ (2:03), reminisces on his close relationship with Biggie (@TheNotoriousBig) (9:01) and explains why he has a New York accent (15:09). He addresses #SugeKnight’s escalation of the East Coast vs. West Coast rap rivalry at the 1995 #SourceAwards (22:01) and explains how his records “Damn” by YoungBloodZ (@YoungBloodzATL) and “Never Scared” By Bone Crusher (@TheRealBoneCrusher) changed the landscape of New York radio (27:22). Jermaine talks about his upcoming #Freaknik Documentary (35:01), gives his opinion on why Hip Hop artists aren’t successful in 2023 (50:23) and reflects on creating iconic tracks with @MariahCarey on #TheEmancipationofMimi album (58:01). He reacts to his music catalog being the soundtrack of all the current 2000s themed R&B parties (1:04:26), reveals that “Money Ain’t a Thang” with #JayZ is his biggest record (1:09:28), and talks about who his biggest competition is (1:29:40). Finally, Jermaine explains writing R&B songs like Rap records (1:31:17) and speaks on his personal favorite top R&B songs of all time (1:51:40).

Episode 287: DJ KONFLIKT “Don’t Get Robbed By DJ Agencies” Jul 26, 2023

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Episode 287: DJ KONFLIKT “Don’t Get Robbed By DJ Agencies” On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome back Miami’s finest DJ Konflikt (@MyFavoriteDJ). The fellas speak on Konflikt’s misunderstood cocky attitude (00:45), reflect on the controversial last time he was on the podcast with @JoeMaz (5:45) and explain out-of-town DJ booking terms (35:38). The crew discuss how to deal with DJ agencies undercutting pay to their talent (46:41) and Konflikt talks about the new DJ agency he’s founded @MyFavoriteDJAgency (58:11). Finally, the group discuss why the new generation of DJs haven’t taken over yet (1:18:01) and debate the origin of the word 'Open Format' (1:38:01).

Episode 286: CLINTON SPARKS Jul 19, 2023

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Episode 286: CLINTON SPARKS On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew welcomes Grammy Nominated Producer, Mixtape Legend, Radio/TV Host, Author, and Boston’s finest @ClintonSparks. Clinton speaks on his famous tagline #GetFamiliar (00:45) and breaks down his lucrative and illegal mixtape operation in the 2000’s (12:43). He reflects on helping Q (@QWorldStar) launch @WorldStar (24:12) and reminisces on his troubled childhood, breaking and entering and being molested (30:21). Clinton shares his work expanding the #ESports market with Hip-Hop investors (50:01), explains how he’s the “first DJ to bring Hip-Hop to the Vegas Strip” (55:37) and debates on whether he abandoned his Hip-Hop roots to pursue EDM (1:04:00). Finally, he shares an encounter with the “Suge Knight of Boston” #Benzino (1:19:00), explains how he avoided prosecution for illegal mixtape distribution unlike @DJDrama and remembers collabing with the late great @DJKSlay (1:24:00).

Episode 285: SHORTKUT Jul 12, 2023

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Episode 285: SHORTKUT On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome the Bay Area’s finest @ShortKut. ShortKut sets the record straight on how many DJ crews he’s in, including @thebeatjunkies @ispiklz @triplethreatdjs (00:34) and explains the renegade “Sound System Crews” that shaped the Bay Area’s DJ culture (7:45). He talks being friends with legends like @DJQbert and @MixMasterMike (13:01), reflects on his early 2000s @Gap commercial with Rob Swift (@Brolicarm) and @ShanSossamon (23:02) and speaks on his favorite foreign cities to DJ in (31:01). The fellas debate when DJs started getting excluded from Hip Hop records (45:30) and Shortcut talks about falling in love with his girlfriend @Lokanalynn through DJ’ing (57:20). Finally, the crew discuss “biting” or stealing mixes (1:17:01).

Episode 284: A-TRAK Jul 05, 2023

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Episode 284: A-TRAK On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome World Champion Turntablist, record label executive, 1/2 of @DuckSauceNYC, and DJ/Producer @ATrak. A-Trak talks about being a child prodigy winning the DMC World Championship (@DMCDJChamps) at 15 years old (5:10), speaks on the discipline it takes to win a title with only 2 years of DJ experience (14:20), and opens up about his big brother relationships with @Dave1, @DJQbert, @Crazeroni and the late, great #RocRaida (28:01). He explains why he started @FoolsGoldRecs (32:30), reflects on his viral debate with @Roctakon on the plight of the “working DJ” (41:55) and explains how he became #KanyeWest’s DJ (49:40). A-Trak speaks on how his album @Mr_Camron came about (1:19:49) and talks about how he makes no money off his triple-platinum remix of the @YeahYeahYeahs’ ‘Heads Will Roll’ (1:31:00). Finally, he states his frustration with the current DJ climate (1:40:01) and addresses past backlash he received for replacing #DJAM (@DJAMLives) in his collaboration project with @TravisBarker for #TRV$DJAM (1:51:01).

Episode 283: DJ LADY SHA Jun 28, 2023

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Episode 283: DJ LADY SHA On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome LA’s finest @DJLadySha. Lady Sha talks her early years connecting with DJs at @DJCheapShot’s “Fire Poo” events (5:19), speaks on her current LA residencies (9:45), and the crew debate on playing music from "canceled artists" like @ToryLanez and @WizKhalifa (14:23). @DJCrooked praises Sha’s quick mixing (32:01) and they debate the difference approaching New York and LA sets (39:01). Finally, Sha gives her advice on how to tap into the LA "private events" market (1:05:10) and her thoughts on no "Women DJs" being absent from Road Podcast’s "Top 5 DJs of 2022" last year (1:29:10).

Episode 282: CHARLIE "CAPTAIN DISCO" ANZALONE Jun 21, 2023

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Episode 282: CHARLIE "CAPTAIN DISCO" ANZALONE On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast welcomes Buffalo's finest, New York Disco DJ Charlie Anzalone aka "Captain Disco" (@DiscoDJ53) with special guest host @EddieMacLV. Charlie remembers when "beat matching" first emerged in the 1970’s (6:30), speaks on the "Disco Sucks" era leading into the 1980’s (20:21) and reminisces on some crazy stories with @RickJames (36:20). He reflects on attending #Studio54 (46:10) and talks about breaking classic records like ‘Disco Inferno’ and 'Planet Rock' (58:10). The crew question if Hip-Hop, like Disco, is nearing a nostalgia phase (1:16:00). Finally, Charlie explains why he rejected a Vegas DJ Residency (1:24:41), gives some life advice on transitioning thru the later years in your career (1:32:04).

Episode 281: KNOWPA SLAPS FROM “R&B AND RIBS” Jun 14, 2023

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Episode 281: KNOWPA SLAPS FROM “R&B AND RIBS” On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the crew welcome Bay Area’s finest @KnowpaSlaps (Founder of @RnBnRibs). Knowpa admits to feeling the pressure when DJs fly in just to attend #RnBnRibs (1:44) and speaks on collaborations with other parties like @HickiesandDryHumps in SD (4:40). He reminisces on being a professional chef before DJ’ing (8:20), starting his own party in a restricted San Francisco nightlife scene (17:02) and fulfilling his dream of booking @DJJazzyJeff for #RnBnRibs (23:45). The crew speak on how special the venue @ElRioSF is for #RnbAndRibs (29:40), ask Knowpa the secrets to a successful party (35:20) and debate on proper DJ etiquette when in the booth (51:40). Finally, Knowpa speaks on where he would want to see the party in the next few years (59:10).

Episode 280: DJ TAY JAMES Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode 280: DJ TAY JAMES On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome the DMV's very own @DJTayJames, day one DJ, and A&R for @JustinBieber. Tay breaks down the difference between “Baltimore club” and “DC club” music (4:17), shares his early aspirations to be like @ChrisBrown’s DJ @BabeyDrew in college (12:34), and explains how he became #JustinBieber’s DJ after graduation (23:23). He admits that being a popstar's DJ doesn’t always guarantee club gigs (29:10) or getting paid fairly while touring (35:40). Finally, Tay addresses the 'cultural appropriation' accusations regarding Justin singing on @WizkidAyo’s ‘Essence’ and @LuisFonsi’s ‘Despacito’ (1:07:07) and discusses his LA party @DayHangParty (1:20:23).

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