Variety, as the saying goes, is the spice of life. And no up and coming DJ exemplifies these words more prodigiously than DJ Souljah. Born on the Kyu-Shu island of Japan but currently based on the Lower East Side of New York City, turntable technician boasts an acclaimed mix-CD series (appropriately enough, subtitled “Spice of Life”) that runs the gamut of musical styles from contemporary and old school hip hop to reggae, reggaeton, Latin, house, and R&B. “You name it!” the spin doctor says good naturedly about his diverse tastes. But beyond an affinity for different musical genres, the variety that characterizes Souljah’s work extends to his craftsmanship. His mix-CDs are neither strictly exhibitions of turntablism nor previews of exclusive new and unreleased material, but programs that encompass all the disciplines of DJing and fuse them into compulsively listenable, party-oriented affairs. Tellingly, Souljah takes much of his inspiration from the legendary mix-tape master and crowd pleaser Kid Capri. “I think the number one party DJ is Kid Capri,” says Souljah about his most prominent DJ role model.
“’Cause he can rock the house. How he cuts, blends, and mixes all those records is just amazing. I believe that being able to do a little bit of everything is really important. It’s good to have a basic scratching technique, but making people dance is as important as having skills.” Souljah’s most celebrated mix-CD effort to date, 2003’s “SOL: Spice of Life,” very ably demonstrates this philosophy, utilizing his strong studio production techniques, programming savvy, and cutting skills to create a seamless collage of old school breaks, sample sources and hip hop hits. Upon its release, “SOL: Spice of Life” was met with immediate accolades. The Source magazine hailed the mix-CD as “a crate digger’s delight,” while Urb magazine declared it “a brilliant thematic mix.” Follow up projects like the Puerto Rican themed “After the Parade,” the club hit-laden “Live In New York,” and Souljah’s Jay-Z Black Album remix CD are similarly impressive and infectious. Like all of Souljah’s mixes they’ve all immediately sold out back in Japan. Souljah is grateful for the support he still receives back home, and recalls the important musical moments of his formative years with fondness. It was in Japan that he was first introduced to DJing while messing with turntable at his local record store in Kyu-Shu where he worked during his high school years; he still remembers the first record he learned to DJ with (Gang Starr’ s “The ? Remainz”,) and the first mix-tape he ever made (a decade ago for his then-girlfriend). Despite his roots, however, Souljah embraces the way DJs are perceived in his adopted home of the U.S. as opposed to back in Japan.
“Unlike the States,” he observes, “people in Japan think DJ-ing is so serious. They tend to be more technically conscious as opposed to trying to make people happy.” Between a consistent flow of mix-CD projects, his internet radio show (“Prime Cuts”on www.djsouljah.com which just celebrated its one-year anniversary), and his weekly DJ residency each and every Friday at the Rain Lounge (216 Bedford Ave @ N.5 Street in Brooklyn) DJ Souljah is obviously making a lot of people very happy these days. Though the enterprising selector considers his mix-CD projects as much a practical necessity (“I think a mix-CD is a DJ’s business card,” he says) as a creative outlet, his commitment to his profession is as strong as ever, as is reflected by his passion for every DJ’s favorite pastime, record digging. “I dig for records all the time – I mean, ALL the time,” He boasts.“One of my jobs is buying records here in the U.S. and shipping them to our stores all over the world. But it’s something I’d be doing even if it wasn’t my job. “That’s just the foundation of what DJs do.”
Spoken like a true Souljah in the game.
CHAIRMAN MAO |
