DJ
DJ
Dj Fresh
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et’s just be honest: Mixtapes are only poppin’ nowadays if you had a brand goin’ before “the (infamous) raid.” Gangsta Grillz isn’t the only mixtape series that has been makin’ noise. In the Bay Area, DJ Fresh has created what he calls his “franchise” of mixtapes - The Tonite Show. “You have to have a franchise these days, a consistency,” he says. With countless mixtapes to his credit, the Fresh franchise is clearly one of the streets’ favorites. “It wasn’t all easy though,” he admits. “At first cats wouldn’t really work with me, but eventually the artists have started coming to me.” Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Fresh was raised in Oakland, CA and has more than a franchise under under his sleeves. He has a legacy to uphold. One of Fresh’s older brothers, DJ Dummy, is Common’s DJ. His other older brother is a DJ. Their father was a DJ, and for the record, DJ Fresh was ranked the 3rd Best DJ in the Nation in 1999 at the ITF Technique DJ Championships. “All that scratchin’, turntablist stuff, I can do all that, but right now my heart is really in producing,” he says, offering his interest in building directly with the “best of the Bay.” Beginning with the self-proclaimed “Prince of the Bay,” Mistah FAB, The Tonite Show series came about when Fresh was editing Mistah FAB’s first DVD, The Freestyle King. It’s called The Tonite Show series simply because it was recorded at night, and because of its originality. Soon after came mixtapes with Smigg Dirtee, J Stalin and Beeda Weeda, Nump, Mr. Tower and Chris da 5th. “The Bay is steppin’ up their game right now,” Fresh says excitedly. “The digital thing is wassup because the accessibility. Being able to make original songs like I do and put it on iTunes right away is what’s good. And within my camp [PTB, Livewire, Heiroglyphics] there is more unity.” Recently coming off the Rock the Bells and Living Legend Tours DJing for Nas this past summer, DJ Fresh is essentially aiming to combine his East Coast roots with his Bay Area brand. “It’s like I’m the barbershop: everyone can meet up through there,” he reasons. “With my original production [on The Tonite Show Mixtapes], I can link a Common with Mistah FAB or a J Stalin with Nas.” // myspace.com/djfreshh Words by DJ Backside
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