the lost art of the dj & mixtapes

this is a subject that clearly transends the net & this is definitely a subject dear to my heart.for those that don't know, my name is DJ TNT.I am writing this blog cuz I truly believe the dj is the CORNERSTONE OF HIP HOP.the dj is the foundation that built the house, that allows some one such as young jeezy to push USDA2DAY, which in turn allows neighbors to promote themselves as rappers & producers.that allows someone like 50 cent to make an investment in a company, that is purchased & in turn makes him 400 million for his sale of stock.as we all know by now, hip hop is BIG business.the dj being the music selector, facilitated this.for the longest, after initially being in the forefront of the movement, the dj played the back to the rapper.[& later the producer-all the while still being the taste maker & the sound provider].this would change eventually, but in the interim, the dj's role has splintered into all type of other areas.going into 2008, the dj has created his own lane to have the spotlight on him/her.nowadays, alot of dj's are more like glorified on air personalities, clamoring for the shine & the notoriety.they do this by talking, yelling, shouting out, having corny ass catch phrases & anything they can do on the mic to make you feel like they are stars.another thing that has taken place, with the advancement of technology, anybody with a damn computer program can now call themselves a "dj".and with photoshop & a cd burner, this imposter is now putting out "mixtapes".more concerned with their swagger & having NO real dj skills what so ever, these people cheat the game to the point where they dj parties with laptops.hahaha.and have the nerve to strut like they are the authentic.and the days of who's the best have faded.now it's about who you know.so it goes without saying, they are my enemy, in the dj sense.the enemy of any REAL dj that is.[that's like someone claiming they play the drums to a drummer, cuz they program a drum machine or someone who says he's a producer when he uses fruity loops tot do demos.or someone who says he draws to an artist, when he traces out of a book or copies another's drawing].some of you reading this are fake ass djs with no skills.alot of you so called djs don't even have media posted,[which blows mind mind in itself].and the ones that do, got some studio dubs going.hahahaha..wack.I would call out names of these neighbors, but there's no need.if they have dj in their name, go listen..and you'll know off top who they are.[I'd like to add-even tho I am saying this & stand behind it firmly, this is by NO means an attack against one personally, nor one's character, cuz I don't know anyone on here in that sense-this is strictly in the dj lane].to you that claim "dj", how can you call yourselves "djs" & not shop in the record store for @ least an hour, searching for wax.spending your last dollar on a 12".bringing new records home to the arsenal & feeling the vinyl on your fingertips as you play your new pieces with your old ones.for me, finding pieces I have wanted or that are new, opening my new pieces & playing them is like how I felt about christmas & my birthday as a child.everytime.

mixtapes are important tools for promotion these days.between the labels & the bootleggers, mixtapes are an affordable way of getting all the latest & greatest shit.but back in the day, djs did them, not just for the $, or the street fame, but for the LOVE of the music.for the LOVE of the skill.I'm from the old school where there was a code of ethics,[even as a dj]-you had to be good to even call yourself a dj.[if you didn't have that respect, you were liable to get your equipment stolen] and if your tape was good, the $ came, as did all the other accolades...cutting, scratching, blending, mixing..mixtapes where going off! a time capsule as well as a platform for a dj to show his creativity & promote for party bookings.now what do you have? people putting on the hits..cuz thats what they heard others do.or worse, rappers rapping over all the flavors of the month, calling it a mixtape, when it's nothing but a glorified demo.[and please don't t get me started with all these westcoast djs playing anything but westcoast music...smh,I might as well be in new york!].no home training.....no wonder kid capri still makes hella $$$ touring year around, working cats in a frenzy with the skill.I remember feelings of excitement upon hearing tapes from kid capri, doo wop & ron g, as well as taping shit off the radio on wbls & kiss in nyc.hearing the jam pony express & the ghetto syle djs in florida, dj screw [r.i.p.] in h town, my homeboy the wizard on wjlb in detroit, dj jelly in the atl and of course, dr.dre & crazy toones, & old school kday out here.as well as hundreds of lesser knowns coast to coast.regional flavors helped me know what was crackin there..and they all had SKILLS.so there was always a level of respect that came with the tape, from me anyway, as with those of us that were into them.maybe that respect, led to the power djs had/have.

now, I said that to say this: you suckas on the net calling yourselves djs, ought to be ashamed of yourselves.cheating the game.tsk tsk.getting on sites like this one, with the dj monicker & you are nothing more than a music lover or small time hustler.I have a neighborly challenge for you all,[for smiles as grittz would say]: put some of your skills up on your media section-let's all hear what you got & why you call yourselves "djs".and I would like to ask you as the consumer: support real djs mixtapes in your cities, whenever you can.you can always download all the latest hits for free, but to hear someone have skill & creativity & love for the music is a rarity now a days..support that.that support keeps this part of the hip hop culture living, breathing, growing.[that $ you spend on a real djs work means alot, cuz whether you know it or not, it COSTS to be a real dj].now, back to the "djs", I don't care if they are on the radio or not-if they are famous or not-[if they are, I aint knockin the hustle @ all, trust & believe..BUT]-I ain't heard NO ONE on net coming harder than me.pause.if there is, please tell me, so I can hear for myself.none of you studio mixers can fuck with me.period.all the blends on my playlist can be redone live.dont let me start splicing shit together, [like on "message to this p.a.n."].hahahaha.I will terrorize each and every one of you fake ass wanna be djs with your own lame style.[and don't take this personal & start net beef; see, another thing about hip hop is, it's very competitive..in the gap, you either handled that or you fell back].I'm merely calling out all the so called "djs" on here, and all you who have neighbors on here that are "djs", to have them make some shit & post it.and really, what's wrong with some friendly competition? the listeners will ultimately benefit the most. .we don't need a judge either, the streets is watchin', so let USDA2DAY say whose tightest.and this really ain't no contest, cuz if you have love for the art, you are djing daily anyway. as for me, I go fed.all the time.regardless. "competition is none"-rakim you know, maybe those that are interested, could contact the admin about allowing us "djs" the opportunity to have our mixtapes available for free download to USDA2DAY friends, in the same fashion as the jim jones "harlem's american gangster" mixtape was.[if they would allow that, I personally will take as many neighbor requests as I can lace & put one up asap.anyone down? just a thought.


if you haven't put an ear to my stuff, let me extend an invitation to you to check out my playlists..I have some stuff on there.feel free to critique & let me know what you think.some neighbors even have my blends on their room media players as well..you can check them out there too [& a very special shout out to all of you neighbors showcasing me in your room like that..much appreciated, much love & much respect!!!] all you contenders & pretenders take notes, I cover all frames of the game...and if you are reading this & you think you are tighter than me or my skills ain't all that, get @ me.[but have something on here that can be heard to support your claims].if you are a dj getting your $ & ain't trippin off what I'm saying, keep getting it neighbor! I'm trying to get like you someday..and you used to be djs, with your old war stories about what you used to do, need not respond: if you still had it, you'd still have it crackin.hahaha..also be on the lookout for DJ TNT on these internet mixtape sites in 2008-I'm pushing this line & it will be interesting to see the progress made thru the year.




props to some PIONEERING [in their own lanes] REAL DJS:
KOOL HERC, AFRIKA BAMBATTA, GRANDMASTER FLASH, JAZZY JAY, KID CAPRI, BOBBY KONDERS, THE WIZARD, JAZZY JEFF, DJ JELLY, CRAZY TOONES & DJ SCREW [R.I.P.] keep vinyl alive.