Arabian Prince
Arabian Prince Talks ’80s DJ Scene, How DJs Can Adapt in Lockdown: The 20 Podcast
On Monday, Beatsource launched its long-awaited music streaming service for DJs, Beatsource LINK. So, it seems fitting to have the legendary rapper, producer, and DJ Arabian Prince on this week’s The 20 Podcast episode.
A self-proclaimed “technologist” and “futurist,” Arabian is best known for being a founding member of N.W.A. and helping pioneer electro music. He has since worked extensively in the tech and gaming industries as an investor, consultant, and animator.
In the interview, Arabian discusses the early ’80s DJ scene, how DJs can adapt during the COVID-19 lockdown, his involvement in the tech and gaming industries, and more.
Watch the interview above. An audio version of the podcast is also available on all major platforms.
Hosted by DJ Spider, The 20 Podcast features conversations with influential DJs and music industry professionals. Spider and his guests begin each episode by going through Beatsource‘s weekly list of must-have tracks, The 20.
Related Post: Kayper Talks Growing Up on Dance Music, Being Labeled a ‘Female DJ,’ Goldie Awards
Meet the Producer Who Left N.W.A Weeks Before ‘Straight Outta Compton’
Arabian Prince in the late 1980s.
Kim Lezan, better known as Arabian Prince, was a pioneer of west coast hip-hop and one of the founding members of N.W.A. The Los Angeles rapper/DJ/producer recently spoke with VICE’s EDM network thump about his involvement in the group and current projects.
Here’s five things we learned from the interview.
1. He met Dr. Dre through the local scene.
Arabian Prince: “Me and Dr. Dre met just hanging in the scene. There was a small circle of DJs on the West Coast in the 80s. Dre was with the Wrecking Crew, I was with Bobby Jimmy and the Critters at the time, and we just clicked. We lived in the same area, South Central, Compton. We would go to Skateland in Compton, go to the beach, chase women.”
2. He produced N.W.A’s first single, “Panic Zone.”
thump: “Arabian Prince was a founding member of N.W.A and a major creative force before the group underwent their sharp turn from street-savvy electro funk into the hardcore gangsta rap icons they’re known for being. He wrote and produced their first single ‘Panic Zone,’ while also rapping and producing on their first two albums, but you won’t see him in the new hit movie Straight Outta Compton.”
3. He says he left N.W.A for the same reasons that Dre and Cube did.
Arabian Prince: “I was making records as Arabian Prince and banking, but now that I was in a group that was selling millions of records, I was making less? How are we supposed to be hardcore gangsters, yet we getting screwed out of our own cash? People say I’m stupid for leaving N.W.A. so early, but eventually Dre and Cube left for the same reasons. I was just first.”
4. He wasn’t asked to be in the Straight Outta Compton movie.
Arabian Prince: “If the reason we are not in this movie is because [Eazy E’s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright] has some kind of vengeance against us, man that’s f#cked up. She wasn’t even there to see any of that. I know she’s the executive producer and she has rights over most everybody. Probably Dre and Cube’s hands were tied, but no one has reached out to me, so I don’t know. In the end, the people that know the real history, the truth will come out.”
5. He’s currently working on an EDM album.
Arabian Prince: “I am working on an EDM album with some big names as we speak, some top-secret sh#t. I Love electronic music and I really respect the guys who are doing it now. Respect goes to Flying Lotus, I have met him a few times, he’s real cool. You know, some people say that gangsta rap killed electro funk, but I think it just evolved into pop and EDM. A lot of the beats we were doing back in the day are resurrecting, it’s just the artists that are different.”
Related: Watch the Theatrical Trailer for the N.W.A ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Movie
Popular
-
May 23, 2023
The Best Remixes for Wedding DJs 2023
Wedding season has arrived! DJcity’s Remix Director Sir Marcus has put together a list of wedding-friendly tracks guaranteed to freshen up your DJ sets and...
-
December 22, 2023
Our Biggest Sale of the Year: Join DJcity for $1 🚨
We just launched our biggest sale of the year! Get 90% off a DJcity membership and join for just $1 (regular price $10) for the first month when you check...
-
February 15, 2022
New DJcity Pricing Plans Now Available
Here at DJcity, customer satisfaction is crucial, and therefore we always take input and feedback from our customers and DJ community very seriously. Due t...
-
April 12, 2024
New and Notable Tracks: Apr. 12
New tracks that DJs should know about.
-
December 18, 2023
Top 30 Remixes, Bootlegs, and DJ Edits of 2023
ATCG. Last Thursday, DJcity revealed its most downloaded tracks of 2023. Today, we dive deeper to uncover the most popular remixes, bootlegs, and edits of...
-
July 6, 2022
Afrobeats and Dance added as Main Genres on DJcity
At DJcity, we are always working to make sure that the way our record pool functions reflects the needs of our users. Therefore in our latest update, we sw...
-
June 29, 2015
Skrillex and Diplo Drop ‘Where Are U Now’ Video Feat. Justin Bieber
Some fans were skeptical when they discovered that Skrillex and Diplo's debut Jack U album includes a song with Justin Bieber. "Where Are U Now" has...
-
June 4, 2020
50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ Remixed by Mr. M!X: DJcity Exclusive
Mr. M!X. (Source:Instagram) Dutch DJ/producer MR. M!X has delivered a remix of 50 Cent's birthday anthem "In Da Club." The moombahton-inspired flip is avai...
-
December 20, 2022
Top 30 Remixes, Bootlegs, and DJ Edits of 2022
GRAYMATTER. Yesterday, DJcity revealed its most downloaded tracks of 2022. Today, we dive deeper to uncover the most popular remixes, bootlegs, and edits o...
-
March 24, 2020
Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Push It’ Remixed by Safety First!: DJcity Exclusive
Safety First!. (Source: Safety First!) Veteran Manchester-based DJ/producer Safety First! has released a DJcity exclusive remix of Salt-N-Pepa‘s hip-hop cl...