“We played a big part in breaking ‘Get Silly’ by V.I.C. I called in a few favors and the Hood Hard Movement DJs promoted it.” – Aaries “I can honestly say my whole crew Young Voice of the Streets and I were the first in New Orleans to break ‘Independent’ by Webbie. We broke it in this spot called Perkins. It went down every Thursday with Money Fresh and DJ Poppa and every Saturday with DJ Money Fresh and I. I would get on the mic and say ‘I love my niggas, but it’s ladies’ night’ – that actually became a key slogan for me – then I’d slam it on them.” – Bomshell Boogie “On the air I may bring a record back 3 or 4 times to make my listeners pay attention. I’ve broken records from various artists such as Trey Songz, Raheem DeVaughn, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Keyshia Cole in the clubs and Hip Hop artists like Red Café, D-Block, Grafh, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, and even Soulja Boy on the radio as well as the clubs. I believe I was the first to play the Soulja Boy’s ‘Crank Dat’ in DC just because I was hearing such a strong buzz on it from my friends and family in Atlanta.” – DNA “Blacc Jacc’s ‘Hustle Mean Hard Work’ featuring Lil Keke. I played it 3 or 4 times a night in the club and put it on all my mixtapes.” – Dre “I broke [Young Dro’s] ‘Shoulder Lean’ in November of 2005 on Deep N Da Game 6. I never got the credit that’s due, so Jason Geter, where’s my plaque?” – Folk
“David Banner’s ‘Get Like Me’. If I’m feeling the record I endorse it. I bring it back several times and put my seal of approval on it. I play it more than once. It’s all about convincing the masses.” – Wrekk 1 “Shawty Lo’s ‘Dey Know.’ My boy DJ Scream shot me the song way before everybody else was on to it and I just played the shit out of it at all my gigs.” – Frogie “Collie Buddz’ song ‘Haters.’ I started putting it on mixtapes and playing it in clubs, then I put other people on to do the same. Now I’m working on Grind Mode’s ‘She’s so Fly.’” – Gloss “My nigga Rocko the Don’s new shit ‘Tomorrow.’ I put it on my new mixtape Holiday Season and went hard in the clubs with that one.” – Holiday “Lil Chappy’s ‘Rollin.’ We got it to all the club DJs and played it at all the clubs and shows that I host. We also did a Myspace and internet campaign.” – Hot Girl Maxximum “The last record I broke was ‘Haterz Everywhere’ by B.O.B. I brought it back to Virginia from Atlanta and broke it in the strip clubs, and on my mix CD months ago. Now it’s being played everyday on the radio, the same for ‘Umma Do Me’ by Rocko.” – Joe Pro “I know I was one of the first people, especially in my area, spinning that V.I.C. ‘Get Silly.’ When I get a new record I usually spin it early in the night and see how they feeling it, and double back and spin it again in the peak club hours if the record is that strong.” – JoNasty “Gorilla Zoe’s ‘Hood Figga.’ I was DJing at Club Crucial when it was handed to me. I played it
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that night and had it on a mixtape and radio that week. Dirt Law was on it long before most DJs had it.” – Judge Mental
“Rick Ross’ ‘I’ma Boss.’ It wasn’t too hard to break ‘cause when the streets heard it they could relate.” – Drizzle
“Only one time. Rihanna’s ‘Pon Di Replay.’ Look at her, what would you do? Glad the song was fire.” – Aaries “Nope, because I know that even the most wellkept artist can make whack music.” – Averi Minor
“I played the shit out of Hurricane Chris’ ‘Ay Bay Bay.’ in the clubs and on the radio.” – King Arthur
“Yeah, once or twice. It was a local artist from Louisiana; I don’t remember her name.” – Chill
“The last record I broke was Lloyd’s ‘Get It Shawty’ before the mixshow lists existed. I played it on my show and people started calling in to request it.” – Peachez
“Honestly, I can’t say that I have. I’m pretty leery on who I work with. If the record is wack it’s not getting played no matter how you look. If the record is a hit, but you look like Craig Mack or Khia I’ll play it, but it’s because the song is a club banger, not because of how you look.” – Civil Rightz
“I break records every day. The last record I broke was Lil Wayne’s ‘Lollipop.’ I broke every record in the last two years in MN.” – Peter Parker “Rick Ross’ ‘The Boss.’ I played it like every 15 minutes.” – Rage “I’m constantly playing new music on my mixshow before the FM stations and mixtapes play it. I’m not going to take credit for breaking a particular record; I just do what I’m suppose to do as a DJ which is play the new shit. We stay with the exclusives on satellite radio. My show is not called Iregula Radio for nothing.” – RNS “Ryan Leslie’s ‘Diamond Girl’ and Mavado featuring Jay-Z ‘I’m On the Rock.’ I played them at clubs and on mixtapes religiously. Same with The Dream’s ‘Shawty is da Shit’ and ‘I Luv Ya Girl,’ and Trey Songz’ ‘Can’t Help But Wait.’” – Spontaneous “Some records you can’t break; they are destined to be hits. You might be the first to play it, but you ain’t breaking it. To break a record, it’s gotta be an artist that people aren’t familiar with or a song that’s not impacting radio or doesn’t have a video in rotation. With that said, in Tallahassee I’ve broken Treal’s ‘I’m Not Locked Down,’ Young Ralph’s ‘I Work Hard’ and I’m working on F.a.s.t.’s ‘I’m Good.’” – Storm “Webbie’s ‘Independent,’ Shawty Lo’s ‘Dey Know,’ Rocko’s ‘Umma Do Me,’ B.O.B.’s ‘Haters Everywhere,’ V.I.C.’s ‘Get Silly,’ and ‘Get Like Me’ with David Banner, Yung Joc, Chris Brown, Jim Jones. I broke all those records on a mixtape I did in August ’07. People didn’t understand those songs back then, and now it’s the wildest CD out.” – Tab D’Biassi “The last record I broke was ‘My Dougie’ by Lil Will. I broke it in the club on a college night. It went hard due to the fact some hometown Houston folks knew the record and started the dance trend.” – Unpredictable One of the most common phrases in the music industry is “Sex Sells.” But are DJs really buying into that concept? Surprisingly, most of them aren’t: Have you played a record from an artist strictly because of her/his looks? “Trina. I don’t care how good or bad the song is I always support her records. That’s why she’s da baddest bitch.” – 31 Degreez
“Damn, I’m busted. Gloria Velez.” – Bedz
“Well, after I saw the issue of OZONE with Polow Da Don on the cover, that made me kinda get behind whatever he’s doing.” – Hot Girl Maxximum “No, but I’ve avoided listening to a record because the person on the cover looked like a donkey!” – Clinton Sparks “Nah, you can’t really do that in Hip Hop. The women get cleaned up so the fellas go for it. There are a bunch of ugly, hugely successful male rappers, so I haven’t even had the opportunity to play the ‘just cause he’s fine’ card.” – Cristal Bubblin “Yeah. Afroman’s ‘Because I Got High.’ That was a crazy looking dude with a funny ass record!” – DNA “Nah, I’ve never been down this road.” – Ekin “Nah, but you know I had to cop those Game records with the Hip Hop Honeys on the cover back in the day.” – Flatline “Naw. How the artist looks doesn’t mean anything when people are walking off the dance floor cussing you out.” – Frogie “Nope, not to say that I wouldn’t though. If Trina or Diamond or somebody like that wanted me to spin a record that was wack and they were right there in the club, I’d probably spin it. But their records ain’t wack so I won’t have to worry about that.” – JoNasty
“I’ll play any song for Mya!” – RO “No, I only play records based on relationships.” – Jo-Ski Luv “No, what the hell does looks have to do with how a record sounds?” – Judge Mental “Naw, I don’t do that. This is business and you know what they say: business before pleasure. Plus, if it was that easy then I would have my own label with 25 fine ass girls making millions.” – Lil Steve “Naw, but I’ve watched that Deelishus video a grillion times.” – Spontaneous “Nah, I don’t even watch TV, so I have no idea what most of these artists look like. But if Denzel ever came out with a record, hell yeah, I would play it!” – Storm //