DJ Whut It Dew
Our country’s economic setbacks have everyone feeling the effects of the recession. Some of these DJs had to adjust their game plan, WHILE others say the recession has actually helped their business. “I don’t think it has affected the streets as much as it has the industry. It seems like the labels are reluctant to spend sponsorship money for major DJ events and conferences, but it’s all good now ‘cause we’ve got Obama.” – 03 “Clubs aren’t making as much money as they used to, so a lot of new DJs are starting to undercut just to get their foot in. I’m talking about 60% under average rate.” – 360 “I don’t feel that it has had an effect at all. If you’re a true hustler and good at your craft, then getting money shouldn’t be a problem for any DJ.” – Ames
(Bunkie, LA) Winner of the 2009 Southern Ent. Awards Best Mixtape Duo with DJ Scrill, Whut It Dew is a respected mixtape DJ in the Lousiana/Texas area and beyond. He was a 2008 Justo Nominee for Best Chopped and Screwed DJ and received several other award nominations recently. Be on the lookout for his new podcast coming soon. djwhutitdew@ gmail.com, Twitter. com/DJWhutItDew, Myspace.com/DJWhutItDew Mailing Address: 40071 Branca Dr., Frederick, MD 21702
DJ Woogie
(Scranton, PA) A representative of the Shadyville DJs and an official mixtape DJ for Soulja Boy and SOD Money Gang, DJ Woogie puts in noticeable work. In 2008 he won the Justo Mixtape Award for Rookie of the Year and Best Canadian DJ. Woogie spins part-time at 97 BHT and can also be found at The Colloseum Nightclub and Club Evolution. Twitter.com/DJWoogie, Myspace.com/ DJWoogie Mailing Address: 1840 N. Main Ave. Ste. 204, Scranton, PA 18508
DJ Wreckineyez
(Atlanta, GA via Ludlow, MA) Wreckineyez is a tour DJ for Asher Roth and holds club residencies at Utopia, Sutra, Via, Sabor, and Django in Atlanta. An all-around DJ, Wreckineyez also spins on Sirius XM Radio Hip Hop Nation during DJ Jamad’s Afromentals Show. wreckineyez@gmail. com, Twitter.com/ Wreckineyez, Myspace. com/DJWreckineyez
“Hopefully it has made the DJ take on a debt-free attitude. The recession should have also made DJs take their craft more seriously.” – Bigg V “We are business men and women too, so when people cut back or don’t want to pay you what you deserve, that’s a blow to the pockets. On a lighter note, it can be positive as far as people resorting back to music as a means to escape and be entertained when things too much for them and they need a break.” – Class
“The recession has made people want to drink more and forget their troubles. It hasn’t necessarily hurt my DJ gigs. The last big event that hurt DJ gigs was 9/11. No one was going out, period. Even Vegas was empty. It was sad.” - Funkdaddy
“The recession is all propaganda. If you feel like “In my case, not much has changed. I have the there’s a recession, stop being lazy and push honor of working in a nightclub that’s been harder. It’s gonna take more than a word to stop doing well. But now more people want your job. me from eating.” – Ike G There’s way more competiwould say tion and sud“Being primarily a mixtape DJ, I’ve seen “I[the recession denly you got a major decline in how many artists has caused] these wannabe or labels contact me to mix and host promoters to DJs that have hire $50 DJs, their tape. Last year, I had probably never touched but they were 4 or 5 projects lined up at any given vinyl before doing that that will work time. So far this year, I’ve only been before the for almost free.” hired to do a small handful of projrecession, so it – Element hasn’t affected ects.” – Blurray me.” – J-Flex “Club owners and promoters aren’t paying DJs as much, but “It’s given the new kids an opportunity to unthey’re also not spending money for radio prodercut big dogs. To be honest, a lot of big dudes motions either, which opens up the door for DJs had it coming. There are a lot of lazy crappy DJs who are connected with promotional companies that get gigs based off their name. It’s made who can promote for a fraction of the cost of me stronger. I found new revenue opportuniradio ads. In the end there’s more money for the ties. For example, I spin at a lesbian club on the DJs.” – Enferno weekends and they love it. You gotta put that personal BS aside and get money.” – JT Quick “The DJ game is recession-proof. People are gonna party whether they’re happy or sad.” – J1
“It’s hard for a real DJ to get the pay he orshe deserves because either somebody will do it cheaper, or they just use iPods, mixtapes, or some other bootleg way to do a party.” – KTone “I haven’t felt any effects of the recession. Shit, I was broke before the recession. (laughs) In corporate America you have to learn how to multi-task. They wanna know if you can see the bigger picture. In the streets they wanna see if you getting money.” – Mic Tee “Well, I’m allergic to the recession, so I wouldn’t know.” – Scrap Dirty “Big radio companies are cutting budgets for mixshows. People still [go to the] club though.” – Shawty Slim “I think Young Jeezy said it best on his album, ‘It’s a recession, everybody broke!’ We’re not getting paid to do as many things and the prices [we’re paid] are going down, but equipment and what not is going up.” – Whut It Dew “This is a promotional-use-only game and people aren’t buying [albums with] artwork like they used to. They tend to just download off the net and aren’t spending a lot of money. Mom and pop stores are closing due to rent not being paid, you know.” – Woogie
OZONE MAG // 55