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Sunday, April 19, 2020

‘Toosie Slide’ Producer OZ Talks Working with Drake and More in Billboard Interview


OZ. (Source: Billboard)

Emerging Swiss producer OZ has made a name for himself with Travis Scott‘s “Highest In The Room” and chart-topping Drake collaboration “SICKO MODE.” With the current Billboard number-one single “Toosie Slide,” he’s continued to solidify his place in the music industry. He was recently interviewed by Billboard, where the rising star talked about working with Drake, finding inspiration as a producer, and more.

On making “Toosie Slide” in a day:

“‘Toosie Slide”‘didn’t take me very long. I made that in like… a day?, and sent it out to Drake in the middle of January… A week later, he told me he loves the beat and he told me, ‘Yo, this is magical.’ He had some ideas on it and when he sent it back, we all knew it was the single and that this was gonna be special.”

On the difference between networking then and now:

OZ was given Meek Mill‘s email almost a decade ago, and his name grew via word-of-mouth promotion. “People were talking about me in the studio. I’d have a record come out and everyone would hit me, ‘Yo, we need a pack too. We need some beats too,'” he tells Billboard. “Back then, everyone was saying that you have to live in New York or Los Angeles to make it. But now you’re one email or one text message away from a hit.”

On being inspired to experiment with different styles:

“I started making beats in 2005 or 2006… If I had just come up in the past couple years, maybe all I’d have seen and been inspired to make were trap beats. But thanks to that era, like with Pharrell too, I’ve tried my hand at rap beats, pop beats, dancehall beats, all of that.”

On looking up to Timbaland, Scott Storch, and 50 Cent:

“I was making more Caribbean type beats, and even tried more like New York, gangster type beats. Those guys were special — every beat was different.”

On building a name for himself:

“When you don’t have number ones or any name, artists aren’t gonna trust in your sound. They’ll shrug it off like, ‘Eh, I don’t think this is the one.’ But after having different number ones — ‘Highest in The Room’ is way different than ‘Toosie Slide,’ and ‘Sicko Mode’ was different too — I think they’ll believe in me more.”

Read the full interview here.

Related Post: DJ Kwest In The Mix With DJcity’s ‘New and Notable’ Tracks Of The Week

| DJ Culture, Music Industry
Billboard, Interview, OZ,
Sunday, April 19, 2020

DJ Envy Raises Over $106,000 for DJs Impacted by COVID-19


DJ Envy. (Source: Facebook)

The Breakfast Club radio show’s DJ Envy successfully raised over $106,000 for working DJs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The radio host was able to provide 213 DJs with $500 each as the result of an Easter Sunday fundraiser on Instagram Live to support Envy’s “I Love My DJs” GoFundMe campaign.

Over 12 hours, those who tuned in heard sets from DJ Clue, DJ D-Nice, Kid Capri, DJ Will, Tony Neal, DJ Prostyle, DJ Scratch, and Quicksilva. Furthermore, DJ Khaled gave over $45,000 to the GoFundMe saying via Twitter, “Bless up to the DJs! I saw @djenvy’s go fund me post and heard the goal was to raise 50K for the DJs so I put the remaining $45,255 up. We are here to support each other! We are in this together!”

“During this pandemic, you’ve seen DJs step up to the plate and throw virtual parties to keep the spirits up during this quarantine,” Envy told People Magazine. “It’s tough right now for so many DJs to provide for their families with no bars, clubs, lounges, or events to work. Most don’t have healthcare, savings, retirement plans, or have their businesses set up where they can get a stimulus check. So how can they keep food on their table? I knew I had to help.”

H/T: REVOLT

Related Post: Philadelphia’s DJ Ryno Raises $10,000 for Meals for Health Care Workers

| Music Industry
Coronavirus, DJ Envy, The Breakfast Club,
Friday, April 17, 2020

Watch: DJ ND’s Lazer Scratch Tutorial

In this episode of Made From Scratch, DJ ND demonstrates the lazer scratch. While the lazer is normally a faderless scratch, ND takes them to the next level by incorporating one-click and two-click flares.

Grab DJ ND’s scratch tool here and watch the tutorial above.

Follow DJ ND on Facebook, Instagram, Mixcloud, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Twitter.

| DJcityTV, Turntablism, Videos
DJ ND, Made From Scratch, Tutorial,
Friday, April 17, 2020

New and Notable Tracks: Apr. 17

Good Times Ahead

Good Times Ahead
Good Times Ahead. (Source: Facebook)

K CAMP & Quavo – Lottery (Renegade) – Quavo Remix
K Camp’s 2019 viral TikTok smash gets a fresh new remix by the Migos rapper.

Good Times Ahead – Quando Toca Essa
The Miami electronic music duo formerly known as GTA drops a tropical tribal house heater.

DaBaby ft. Ashanti & Megan Thee Stallion – NASTY
DaBaby and Meg update Ashanti’s 2002 hit “Baby” on this standout track from his new LP.

YehMe2 ft. Rome Fortune – Keys To The Jeep
The Chicago producer enlists Atlanta’s eccentric rapper for a heavyweight bass house bop.

Featured on DJcity earlier this week:

– Nicki Minaj – Starships – Stavros Martina & Kevin D Remix

DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Kidd Spin. To receive them via email, click here.

Related Post: New and Notable Tracks: Apr. 10

| Tracks
New and Notable Tracks,
Friday, April 17, 2020

Watch DaLyte’s ‘Bedroom Sessions’ Routine

New Jersey-based turntablist DaLyte has dropped a clever open-format routine for DJcityTV’s Bedroom Sessions. In his six-minute routine, he drops current and throwback hip-hop, funk, rock, and more.

DaLyte got his start as a battle DJ before turning his focus towards the club scene and music production. He has shared the stage with such artists as Lil Jon and Big Sean. DaLyte is also a radio mixshow DJ, with shows on New Jersey’s B98.5 and Amarillo, Texas’ 93.1 The Beat.

Tracklist:

1. Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown Pt. 2
2. Greg Nice – Let’s Take It Back To The Old School – Acapella Loop
3. The O’Jays – For The Love Of Money
4. The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems
5. Lil Dicky – Save Dat Money
6. 2 Chainz – I’m Different
7. Kodak Black ft. Travis Scott & Offset – ZEZE
8. 2Pac – I Get Around
9. Run DMC – Here We Go
10. Billy Squier – Big Beat
11. Joan Jett – I Love Rock ‘N Roll
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop
13. Kanye West ft. Talib Kweli and Common – Get Em High

Follow DaLyte on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Mixcloud.

Got what it takes to be featured on the next “Bedroom Sessions” episode? Send a sample video to brs@djcity.com.

Related Post: Watch K-Fry’s ‘Bedroom Sessions’ Routine

| DJcityTV, Turntablism, Videos
Bedroom Sessions, DaLyte, Routine,
Thursday, April 16, 2020

‘R.O.A.D. Podcast’: Four Color Zack and J. Espinosa on the Creative Freedom of Live Streaming

R.O.A.D. Podcast

On last week’s episode of the R.O.A.D. Podcast, co-host DJ Crooked spoke to Red Bull 3style champions Four Color Zack and J. Espinosa. The two renowned turntablists explained how live streaming could provide creative freedom for DJs to experiment and showcase their talents to a broader audience outside of the club scene.

Zack and Espinosa also shared some stories and experiences from their recent Red Bull tours in Indonesia and Russia.

Watch an excerpt above and the full episode here.

Follow the R.O.A.D. Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Twitter, and YouTube.

Related Post: ‘R.O.A.D. Podcast’: DJ Mell Starr Describes the Exclusive DJ Scene in Harlem

| DJ Culture, DJcityTV, Videos
Four Color Zack, Interview, J. Espinosa, R.O.A.D. Podcast,

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