The art of Djing....The Golden Era

Going through my vinyl does bring back some good memories....I've been DJing for over 15 years now...Damm it’s actually been that long.  They say 'time fly's when you’re having fun' and I've definitely had some fun over the years.... With like-minded good friends, who were all brought together by music. In the 90's you could find us climbing through a window to DJ at someone’s house party.  Logging crates of records back and forth (I hated that bit) and carrying humongous speakers up and down stairs (back then you were definitely judged by your speaker size, before you even played one record!). I remember we played at one party and at the end of the night, the ungrateful host showed no remorse or sensitivity when we found orange and lime peel embedded in a beloved record box!!.....Oh the look on my friends face...Priceless, rage.

Back then, we were strictly Hip-Hop DJ's.  We learnt and mastered our craft, as we engulfed ourselves on early 90s Hip-Hop.  We had no idea that the Yo! MTV Rap generation would turn out to be the 'Golden Era' of Hip-Hop.  Congregating at Westwood jams, "Club UN" once a month was compulsory.  Seriously, it was Hip-Hop's pilgrimage via Jubilee line. Cracking jokes in the queue, seeing the same faces (random albino dude with the do-rag) and bumping into the same groupie chicks. Westwood used to come outside the venue and look down the queue to see how many minions turned up yet again!! I could never understand why he didn't mix one record? But he had the all the exclusives, so that’s what made him big at the end of the day (love him or hate him!). When he brought over Funkmaster Flex, now that was 10 pounds well spent...

'Rampage' at SW1 Club on a Friday was another good night.  I saw Dru Hill in there, jumping around the stage like Olympic athletes, when they first came out, girl's were going crazy! I cant talk about 'Rampage' without mentioning 'Boogie Bunch', as both were running the 90's and R.I.P to the great DJ Swing, I had the opportunity to warm up for Swing and learnt so much by observing his skills and showmanship. Samantha's on a Thursday? (someone correct me if I'm wrong) was another big R&B spot.  Filled with groupie love, Swing and the foul odor of Hip-Hop (fell in love far too many times in there). Gass club, Maximus, Players club and Colloseum were also big Clubs making waves in the 90's, there’s probably others but my memory’s fading with old age......Good times nevertheless!!

Back then, when it came to recording your mixtape, radio or getting that quintessential album that you didn't have on vinyl, it was all about cassette tapes.  I remember listening to Dave Pearce- 'A fresh start to the week', a great Hip-Hop show delivered on a Monday of all days!...Sneaking my Dads radio into my bedroom in the early hours of the morning, with my hand on the record pause button, patiently waiting for the next song to occur. That was way before Tim Westwood dominated the airwaves..But I think I must have had hundreds of radio tapes back then. This was my first method of getting music, I never missed a show!! Then there was the 'holy grail format' the beloved 'vinyl'. Every DJ I knew, aspired to have the biggest collection of records and own a pair of 'Technics 1200's/1210's'...the Grandfather of all turntables.  I finally bought a pair in 1996 when I willingly squandered my College fund...Money well spent if you ask me. 

  

Years later, we had the opportunity to DJ at many
different clubs including; Browns, Shh Club, Hanover Grand,
 Opium, Hippodrome,Cirque and Subterania.

In the last couple of years, we put together a Soundsystem to keep the dream alive.  Really, it's just an excuse to make some more noise but we thought, if we can make a little money out of it then why not?

So from Corporate events to private parties and Club nights...year after year, we're still doing our thing and although the quality of music is not quite what it used to be, as a DJ, you have to be able to evolve with the times and changing trends. Now, don't get it twisted! you will always hear some "Old School" on our set, and if you see me rocking a midi controller it's only because my "back" cant handle the crates anymore
and lets face it, this "Old Boy's" getting on......