"Drake isn't on the album because they gave me the record and when it was time to clear the record, Universal was playing games."
"The industry killed the mix tape circuit. The industry really uses the mix tape circuit to test what record would hit. Before the internet got to the level it's at now, the mix tape and the DJ used to get paid to do promotional tapes. Now it's like the mix tapes are strictly for promotion and ain't nobody making money."
When die hard Hip-Hop fans hear the name Drama King, you automatically think of veteran DJ and Hot 97 personality DJ Kay Slay.
Peep The Interview After The Break As The Drama King Goes IN!!! [More]
After being the first DJ to broadcast the now infamous Jay-Z and Nas lyrical beef and hosting countless battles thereafter, threatening to slap your favorite DJ and being voted “Hip-Hop's One Man Ministry of Insults” by the New York Times, it is no secret why they call him “The Drama King.”
But these days it seems that Kay Slay is on a new mission in life.
After a six year hiatus on the mixtape scene, Kay Slay is back with his new album “More than Just a DJ” and sat down with Hip-Hopwired.com to explain his take on the industry, why he is more than just a DJ, what exactly is Straight Stuntin' and why people need to stop hating on Ray J.
Hip-Hop Wired: First things first, how did you get started as a DJ?
Kay Slay: Honestly, I [have] always liked music. I used to listen to my mom's old records back in the day and once I got a taste, I knew it was something that I wanted to get involved with. What really sealed the deal was when I did a house party for an older guy, named Rodney Wilson. He sat me down and told me, “Yo just change these records one by one.” I was too young to party with them, so I just sat there and when one record was going off, I [would] turn that component set down and when the next was ready to play I turned that one up; so that's really what gave me the knack for DJing.
Hip-Hop Wired: Of course, you're known as The Drama King for a reason. Out of all the beefs you've been a part of, which was your favorite?
Kay Slay: I think my favorite one to date all the way was the Jay-Z and Nas battle. I say that because it never got to the point where they were talking about hurting each other, they kept it Hip-Hop and that's what Hip-Hop is all about.
I don't want everybody to get it confused, I like Hip-Hop battles because that's what the culture is all about and that's what it's been about from day one. A little friendly competition is cool, but when they start talking about what they gonna do to each other's mothers and kids, I ain't with it.
Hip-Hop Wired: It did bring back the essence of what Hip-Hop really was, but at the same time I think spawned a lot of the beefs for promotion. I think the battle was monumental, but the WWE beefs that we see these days where an artist has a beef with everybody, is getting a little redundant.
Kay Slay: True, true indeed. Some people are cut out to be battle rappers and that's what they do, but for the average person that feels like they have to diss this person to get on, it's not it.
Hip-Hop Wired: You have been a DJ in the game for a long time. When you started, the DJ was the party and the MC was there to promote the DJ. Over the years it seemed to evolve around the MC, now it's back to where the DJs are getting deals without the MC. What do you feel is a most important skill or tool that someone who is trying to become the next breakout DJ needs to possess?
Kay Slay: First things first, you have to know how to DJ outside of Cerrado, that's number one. Number two, the main thing that will get you through a door, is that you have to have a personality and have some kind of originality. You have to find your niche and stick to it, you can't emulate what somebody else is doing and expect to be respected as a top DJ. It's not going to happen; you'll be another nameless cat in the mix.
Hip-Hop Wired: It's interesting that you said you need to DJ without Cerrado, what do you feel about the new cats that just know how to mix with the CDs?
Kay Slay: I'm not knocking them because if you mix with the CDs it almost requires the same skill, almost as a turntable except the needle can't skip because there's no needle. At this point they have no choice because the record label stopped making vinyl, so either you're gonna mix with the CD or you're not gonna DJ. Cerrado is a little to the left of me, I say that because it's almost like you're contributing to the death of the DJ. In my opinion, if a guy can get his nephew, cousin, brother or anybody to sit there and punch the songs on the computer and just slide the cross fade in; you got a party.
Hip-Hop Wired: Out of Turntables and CD Mixing, which one is your favorite?
Kay Slay: I love two turntables and a mixer, no Cerrado over here at all.
Hip-Hop Wired: Growing up with vinyl and cassettes, then seeing the ushering in of the CD and digital download; in my opinion there is nothing like the sound of a vinyl. Vinyl to me just sounds a lot more….. it's hard to describe but I'm feeling you on that.
Kay Slay: It's authentic. It's truly authentic.
Hip-Hop Wired: Right. There's something real about that sound, I just love it and I kind of wish that we could have a little of both. I wish the record labels would still make vinyl for some of the classic records, because to have a dope DJ mix something like Mos Def's Black on Both Sides with Jay Z's Blueprint 3, would be ill.
Kay Slay: True indeed.
Kay Slay feat. Yo Gotti, Jim Jones & Busta Rhymes - "Blockstars"
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