» Words by Jee’Van Brown DJ Balo has been around for a while and he continues to stay true to the traditional style of being a DJ. Known for his classic mixing, Balo continues to do what he does best while focusing on his up-and-coming artists. What do you have going on right now? Right now I’m a part of Bum Squad DJz. I’ve been with them since 2003. I’m really working on mixtapes. I’ve been working with Short Records trying to get things situated with them. I’ve really been focusing on being a live DJ for artists; the mixtape thing is just something I picked up to gain another crowd. What exactly is Bum Squad DJz? Bum Squad DJz is the core of the Technicians after they broke up. It’s basically a bunch of DJs that break records. We are also affiliated with Atlantic Records and different artists throughout the map. How long have you been DJing? I have been DJing since I was 8 years old so that would be about 26 years.
to be a DJ. I remember when I was growing up all the pioneers would mix and have a certain formula to it, but one thing about Indianapolis DJs, even the ones on the radio, we all mix. We have a formula of mixing and the only ones I hear that still really do it is a couple of DJs in Delaware. I can’t think of any other DJs off the top of my head right now, but it’s really about who you know rather than your skills. That’s kind of with everything, right? Yeah, and it’s the same thing with rap because there are a lot of real DJs all across the world that can really DJ. But there are some, and again I’m not trying to diss no one, there are some who yell all over the mic while they’re DJing. I’m used to playing the records and letting them speak for themselves. But all these programs like Sonar and Lime Wire are making it real easy for DJs. I remember back in the day when us older DJs had to dig through the crates and put a label over the album we wanted to break.
Where do you DJ at? Right now I do a lot of DJing at college parties and I’m trying to get back into the radio and Wow, so how have you seen the DJ game doing more internet shows. But I’m more of Pchange since back then as far as records, to Funk, Earth Wind and Fire era kind of guy. When CDs, and mixtapes? I DJ at these younger parties as soon as I put I’ve seen it change a lot since back in the day on a hype record they start fighting. I’m mainly because I learned back in the Kool Herc days. trying to push my artists through my company I actually learned from my stepfather Shawty, APC 1000 Productions to get them out there and the first records I mixed were Nucleus and and known. We’re kind of like Swisha House; s them on my ky Photo Phun from s by Brand Jamaica »Funk together. way ity I have seen the we’reynot really a label but I put » Photo Riverc s by Ms.The Word game change now is that it’s more of a political mixtapes because they have their own thing game now. Because everybody wants to be a going on too. DJ but they really don’t have the skills it takes 10 | OZONE