Clair and Big Lez and people really loved them. I know Tigger had his rough period coming in where people wanted Joe and Big Lez, and then after a while people started to respect him. It’s like everybody talking about Chad Pennington in New York. They didn’t want him but as soon as he goes to Miami and gets in the playoffs it’s like, “Oh shit, we love Chad.” Linx, are you from Tampa originally? Linx: I was born in New York but I relocated to Florida when I was really young so I rep Tampa. I started doing radio there many years ago, before there was a commercial Hip Hop station in the area. The name of my show was The Underground Railroad. It was basically the only outlet for Hip Hop in the city. It wasn’t a lot of distribution, like DJ Clue tapes, so whatever music was in your city [stayed] in your city. When I got the BET show, I made it my main objective to hold it down for the city.
ain’t in it, but he’s really into it. He’s like me, if I’m at a party I’d rather be DJing than partying. When it comes to technical DJing, who do you think would win Q? Q45: Linx is my brother, I love him to death, but when it comes down to the technical side of DJing and tricks, I’d win that hands down. But when it comes down to going into certain markets and knowing the music, Linx is very proficient. Say we went to a place in the U.K., I might be a little lost, and Linx would outmatch me on that. That’s what makes this Face Off thing so great. What have you been doing since Rap City? Linx: I got a lot of experience in the world of television so after Rap City I started doing hosting some stuff with another network called Fuse. Q45: I’m doing [the show] BET Now. It comes on during the day at like 2 or 3pm, it fluctuates times. That’s when you get to see a lot of the rate-it-next videos before they transition over to 106. So Linx, you took the Rap City host position after Big Tigger. Was there a lot of pressure in that situation? Linx: It wasn’t really no pressure. I was like, fuck it. If people don’t like me, fuck ‘em. People always hate you while you’re there and love you when you’re gone. I think Tigger probably even experienced that. He came in after Joe
Where will you be DJing during the Super Bowl weekend? Linx: I don’t have my schedule yet, but for the last ten years I’ve been hosting the EA Sports Madden Bowl. And for last few years we’ve partnered up with ESPN. Me and Trey Wingo co-host the event together on NFL Live. We always do it the Thursday leading up to the Super Bowl. Is there anything else you have going on? Linx: If someone wants to book my they can call my manager Matt 813-728-1131. I’m looking forward to getting this popping. I don’t really think that Hip Hop or urban music has really had the DJ duo team. It’s always a lot more fun when you get to do something with somebody you respect. When you working somebody who’s on point, I gotta make sure I’m on my A game. Q45: ‘09 is already looking good. I appreciate everything the people at BET do for me, keeping me in the loop on television. I have a new business situation when it comes to promoting the 21 and up clubs. We’re about to start a company that just caters to the grown and sexy crowd. We’re gonna rent out different venues all across the country. We’re already starting in Orlando, Gainesville, Tampa, Tallahassee. I’m just keeping it moving. I got a couple of different movie auditions I wanna go for. I don’t wanna say what movies ‘cause I don’t want to not get the part. Shouts out to my team – Malik, Ivory Orr, Point Blank Entertainment, DJ 151, Shawn Don, Roger, the whole machine that’s behind Q45 and 45 Entertainment. // Words by Ms. Rivercity Photo by Malik Abdul OZONE MAG // 23