Interviews: July 2007 Archives

Mixtapes 101 - What it takes to make a mixtape

The process of making a mixtape is actually a lot harder than it looks. Whenever I'm working on a new cd, the majority of my day is spent gathering music. I have to track down artists and talk to record label execs to see what they have and then I spend hours on the computer. I'm usually on there for HOURS! I'm scoping out all the hot websites and even checking out other DJ's sites to see what they're pushing. Sometimes the entire process may take me 12 or 13 hours to complete.

The process of creating a mixtape:

Mixtapes are about 80 minutes long. The key factor for me is to select the best 25 tracks that I possibly can. Lots of mixtape deejays use snippets of songs to try to "cheat" and boost their tracklist.

Getting the mixtape done is usually hectic and it can sometimes come down to the wire. For example, sometimes a record label exec will call me with a hot song and I have to rework the whole mixtape. I'm usually up all night.

My graphic designer lives in Europe, so our schedules never match up. I'm usually on the phone with him at 2 A.M. trying to get my design done.

The aspects of a successful mixtape:

Getting a good collection of music. It depends on what the artists are dropping. Artists really determine the quality of the music, so basically they can make or break mixtapes. If all the well known artists are dropping garbage, that doesn't really leave much to work with. My formula is pretty simple, the mixtape usually starts off with the most well known artists in the beginning, then there's the freestyles, and then I promote new artists towards the end.

The current state of the mixtape industry:

Right now it's more about quantity than quality and I don't respect that! Nowadays, dudes are just downloading music, throwing them on a CD and dropping every 3 days and calling themselves mixtape DJ's. Good music can't come out every 3 days!

The music industry is falling off because these cats are dropping garbage. They are trying to make a quick buck. It's hard to stay competitive when these guys are flooding the market with poor quality mixtapes.

Then, sometimes the artists are another problem. A lot of up and coming artists are getting lazy. Their not as hungry as before and they're not grinding as hard as before. On top of that, now you'll run into new artists who won't even do freestyles. Not for mixtape deejays or even on their own mixtapes. I don't agree with that...that's crazy!

Who's Killin the Mixtape Game Right Now?

50 Cent has a new joint called "I Get Money," that joint is incredible!

Dipset is making a comeback. The new Hell Rell mixtape is crazy!

Max B just came home like 2 days ago. So, the Bird Gang is gonna come hard.

Of course, my man Stack Bundles (R.I.P. Stack) had the hardest grind in the mixtape industry. For real. These new dudes need to follow suit.

Besides mixtapes...the remainder of my day:

Even when I'm not making mixtapes my days can be pretty hectic. Today, I had to meet with some public officials, promoters, rappers and other deejays to get things finalized for The Northside Classic. Which is a non-profit basketball tournament that I'm hosting in Queens on July 28th.

I also just wrapped up shooting the last video for the new mixtape dvd "Shesus Khryst" that I did with Remy Ma. We were in Long Beach and the cops showed up. They were like "We got a call that a woman was strung up on a cross." It was halarious! The shoot turned out really well and the officers were really cool about it.

Plus, I was nominated for DJ of the Year at the 2007 Underground Music Awards, so I've been pushing the fans to go online and vote everyday.

The website address is: www.hiphoppalace.com

Buzzworthy mixtape artists:

Uncle Murda is killing the streets right now!
Top of Da Lyne is hot.
Storm P has the illest flow.
Jo Jo Pellegrino is also on his way back.

My Recommendations:

DJ Teardrops- I Run This Blend Shit and I'm feelin Big Mike and DJ Thoro's new joint.

My new projects:

Of course the "Shesus Khryst" mixtape dvd withwith Remy Ma is up next. Then Storm P's new joint "Mind, Muscle and Hustle" is dropping after that.

Plus, I'm finishing up a new joint called "Rap Formers" with my dude Big T. It's based on the Transformers movie. It'll feature exclusives from Jeezy, 50, Lil Wayne and Jadakiss.

And I'm working on a new R&B mixtape. It's Mary J. Blige vs. R. Kelly. I'm calling it "Respect Tha Throne, The Queen & King of R&B." It's gonna be hot.They started it all, so I gotta pay homage.

Ask Tha DJ:
Send me your questions. Wanna know about the mixtapegame or the music industry? Hit me up at: superstar.j@gmail.com. Put "Ask Jay" in the subject line.

Mixtapekings.com breaks it down with DJ 31 Degreez, the man making temperatures rise nationwide:

31 Degreez, where are you from and how long have
you been making mixtapes?

I was born In Bronx, New York. I lived there 'till I was 13 years old then I moved
down south. I had dreams of making mixtapes because I felt like I had a good
ear for what was hot and what was wack. At the end of the day, I had been fiending to be making mixtapes since I was a kid but I didn't get my jumpstart until 2004. I came out with like four CDs that were like doo-doo but I kept trying harder n harder each time. My joints weren't really connecting with the streets and I wondered was it the track, the covers, or the CD itself? My mentor, Pete said all 3. I took that into deep consideration and he said, 'Think what's
hot right now' and he said those Texas boys running it right now. That's when I dropped my first classic mixtape, Texas Massacre Pt.1. That mixtape turned my whole career around basically. [It] was so major; one of the biggest DJs from the south at the time even jacked my mixtape title and made my series even bigger because I was the original innovator of it.

Tell me something about The Forecast mixtape
series?

Well the previous series I had was Down South Delivery Man & South Star General series. I sat back and analyzed what I was doing. Thought to myself; I listen to music from everywhere, so what's something that represents nationwide and that was the forecast. No matter where you from you got a forecast of the weather, what's poppin' for the day, or even what is the agenda for the day. So forecast represents a slang word I use on the daily, in and outside my community, for what's going on basically. People love something new and fresh when it comes to [mixtape] titles. Titles mean a lot in this mixtape game and I definitely take pride in making something good.

What separates The Forecast mixtape series from all
the others series?

My Forecast series is based off of nationwide [music] with a majority of southern representation. Really, with my series I can play whatever from wherever and don't
have to boil it down to just one coast. Also I can go outside the southern bracket and play music from the west or east, which is great for my fans and my listening pleasure.

Have you always concentrated on Southern music?

My music is basically is what's hot and what I feel my fan base wants to hear. On a personal level I listen to music from everywhere. No discrimination, if you hot it doesn't
matter where you from if you ask me.

How has the Drama situation affected the mixtape
industry? And how has it affected you personally?

It made you think like damn if that can happen to him it can happen to anyone. It was a shock to me when I first heard 'bout the story because that's something you hit street kingpins with. It also made me realizemixtapes are for the streets and still isn't accepted in corporate ways as of yet. Unless it is promoting a big company or even urban clothes I will say. The mixtape industry was most definitely affected it. There was definitely a drought for a while there, but I feel the streets always will have a voice through mixtapes. Some of the biggest selling rappers are legends on mixtapes: from Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, T.I., Jadakiss, Nas, Notorious B.I.G., Young Jeezy, Eminem, Fabolous and the list goes on and on. Those artists' voice was heard through streets first. First time I heard Big was on a DJ Clue mixtape.

So at the end of the day mixtapes represents power, it just got to be a way to channel that power in a positive light. Mixtapes let people from all over experience that raw talent.

Is there anything you would like to tell the Mixtapekings fans about yourself and your mixtape
series?

I appreciate the support most definitely first and foremost. Definitely ride with 31 every time you see 31 Degreez because if I'm not feeling it, it damn sure won't be on my CD. You definitely could expect more classics out of me like Weezyaveli aka Weezy F Baby PT.3.

Also watch out for my homey Kiotti, we got some big things in the kitchen. Just stay tuned for all that.

Definitely want to thank Mixtapekings for this interview, it's definitely a pleasure to be
on the site. I remember when I had dreams of being on Mixtapekings.com and I use too buy the newest mixtapes off here.

I'm definitely a fan of the music first and now I'm on mixtapekings.com doing my thing. That's what's you called 360 Degreez ladies and gentlemen. Peace and remember, don't matter the weather outside when I drop its always 31 Degreez.