DJ SKEE Interview
DJ Skee has lived everywhere from NYC, Texas, Florida, and Minnesota. Growing up, his family was always moving around and at the tender age of 17 he moved out to L.A. to work for Steve Rifkind & Loud/SRC. He then branched out from there, launched his own company, and is now doing a million and one things.
Do you have an earliest musical memory?
My father was a piano player and always played when he wasn’t working, so I guess it just is in my genes. Growing up I played piano & guitar, but DJing really called me and so I dropped everything else.
How would you define your style?
Depends on what aspect it’s for, but I try to do it all. Unlike a lot of other well known mixtape DJs, I can actually mix, cut stuff up, blend and everything. However people don’t always wanna hear that- they want to hear the exclusives and world premiers I get. So I focus on those with the radio show and mixtape, although I try to mix it all together so that the product sounds better than other cats out there. I just look at what the audience is about, whether its radio, mixtape, etc, and put together music that will please them.
What’s a typical day in the life of DJ Skee?
Wake up early, hit the gym, head into my office, check email/return phone calls, then really start my day. Usually I have a bunch of meetings, have to run around to different labels and companies for meetings, handle putting together these marketing campaigns for clients, and also meeting with artists to move forward on different projects. At night, I’m usually in the studio putting it altogether until early in the morning. I get back home late then get up and begin all over again…
How would you describe the DJ Skee’s sound to those unfamiliar with your music?
Real music, real shit, real quality. 
What’s the weirdest place someone’s ever recognized you in public?
Just walking down the street or eating or anywhere really, it’s funny to me. The other day I was paying for my groceries and the person bagging em was asking me about new projects (laughs)
What is your favorite mixtape you have done so far?
Hmmm, I still look back at the Game YouKnowWhatItIs Volume 3. Just because that’s what really set me off into the mainstream, after I put together 300 Bars, and how huge that CD really was, not to mention the shit on there was crazy, so I’d hafta say that.
What is the process from beginning to end for you creating a mixtape?
First off, coming with a theme, and getting the music right. A lotta people don’t realize but I’m actually the one getting the beats, recording the records, and then mixing them before I even think of sequencing the mixtape. So its not like the artist just comes to me with the music and says put your stamp on it, I’m usually involved with every aspect of making it. From there, I burn em onto CDs, throw em in the CDJs and play around with the sequencing before I find out how I want it done…
Your tapes have a concept behind them, what separates you from the rest of the cats in the game?
Honestly just the quality. I have been in the game for a minute, people don’t even realize I was running around with Stretch Armstrong behind the scenes and doing my thing even before that. I just didn’t have that nationwide look yet, so I do know how to construct a mixtape. I have also built the relationships with these artists over the years so I can get the exclusives before other cats and even get them in my studio to record them. In terms of mixtapes, I try to make it a great listening experience for the consumer from start to finish, and I definitely make sure everything flows properly. I’m a perfectionist and will work for hours just to get a simple transition done.
What do you want people to walk away with when they finish listening to one of your mixes?
Wanting more.
Are you getting into more production work?
I’ve always done a little, I have a background in music and can play instruments, read music, etc, but haven’t really had the time to get into it as much as I would have liked to, so definitely look for something in the future though.
How have you grown as an artist throughout the course of your work?
Definitely, I stay learning and keeping my ears open so I always evolve, and you can kind of hear it little by little with each mixtape
When all is said and done what do you want people to remember about you and your music?
Always being a real dude, never fuckin’ people over, and putting out the hottest shit in the streets while helping break artists and getting good music out there.
Do you think that music as a whole is suffering due to the follow the leader type of style?
Kind of, but that’s what people want to hear so you can’t hate on people getting there money….
Any last words, shout outs or plugs?
Thanks to everyone for all the support. Keep checking DJSKEE.com, XLMixtapes.com, and myspace.com/DJSKEE, stay tuned in on Sirius and everywhere else….
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