DJ LORD
Imagine working a 9-5 job and within two weeks DJing overseas with one of the biggest hip hop groups of all time! That’s exactly what happened to Lord Aswod, better known as Dj LORD, from Public Enemy. He replaced Terminator X in 1999 and has been playing sold-out shows since. On top of that Dj LORD has won numerous turntable contests and is currently on the DJ Lord: Raising Hell tour. MOVEMENT MAGAZINE caught up with one of the hardest working men in hip hop for a chat…
So you joined Public Enemy on their tour in 1999, which is a huge deal. How did that happen and was it a big decision to stay with them? And were you intimidated by P.E.’s legacy when you joined?
It was MAJOR! Basically it happened in what seemed like the course of two weeks. My roommate (Rock Most) was doing production for Professor Griff and was told P.E. needed a Dj because Terminator X had just announced his retirement after The Smokin' Grooves tour. Griff heard of my rep on the ATL Underground DJ battle scene as well as DMC, ITF battles. Long story short, I came home from my 9-5 to find Griff in our living room. We chopped it up about the tour. I met Chuck shortly after. Griff got my passport expedited and I was on TOUR headed to Belgium with NO rehearsal.
The decision to stay was a no-brainer. I grew up listening to PE.. Chuck was and still is my hero.
I was very intimidated by it all but this was my big break. All that blood, sweat & tears plus insane dues paid? it was my time.
How did you get into turntablism?
I first got into turntablism in Savannah, GA, practicing with Dj Jeff Nice, Dj L-Trec, Dj Ally-Al 210 & Katoka. It's a small city so we all would build on what influences we heard on mixtapes, VHS tapes, television, ANYTHING, and basically spar. As time went on we all got better and went on to the other levels. Guess I was the Last Dragon of the clan.
Did your family play records when you were growing up? What are some of your favorite record finds?
My cousin Bernard in Chester,PA, played records as a Dj. He had the setup and all, which of course sparked my curiosity in the first place, which of course would get me punched out every time he would catch me messing around his setup! On Sundays my Mom would always play records while cleaning as well as my uncles throwing basement parties, so I have a unlimited amount of classic, funk & reggae songs in my head from childhood.
Do you remember the first record you ever cut/scratched/whatever?
The first record I skratched was “Rockit” by Herbie Hancock. The video possessed me.
You've won quite a number of turntable battles, how do you go about getting ready for one and what are some of the bigger competitions that you have placed in?
Getting ready for a Dj battle was always a warlike ritual for me. I would practice like a maniac, then back off, do something else like practice Kajukenbo (my Martial Art at the time), watch Animal Planet, eat a bowl of cereal, ANYTHING to re-set, then hit it relentlessly until the routine was tight. Which, of course, is never enough..heh. I've won a few DMC regionals, placed in a few ITF regionals, Kool-Mixx wins, Guitar Center wins. Constantly climbing that ladder
What kind of equipment do you use?
As far as Dj set-up I use two Stanton Str8-150s, an Akai MPD24 Pad Controller (Ableton) & a Rane TTM57 Mixer.
I read somewhere that you're also doing a little bit of dubstep stuff, any plans on sticking with that and do you feel like dudes like Skrillex are kinda watering down the music?
Actually I do a LOT of dubstep stuff. I was a member of Trillbass when I first started getting the feel and now damn near 65% of my gigs are dubstep-laced/requested. I think artists like Skrillex have taken MAJOR steps for dubstep. It's 'everywhere' now and it didn’t get there by a gang of people chiming in on chat boards etc... ranting on how much they 'hate' Skrillex. Cut the bullshit.
Do you feel any commonality with artists like DJ Spooky, Christian Marclay, Aphex Twin… guys with a more experimental, avant-garde take on turntablism?
Yup. We're all fam. They may have a different approach but it started with them playing with records to take the sound further.
Jazzy Jeff honestly doesn't get the respect he deserves but you've cited him as a big influence. Would you elaborate on this?
Simply put, Jazzy Jeff is the muthafuckin' man. I tell him this every time I see him on the road. He inspired me from the beginning- from the sounds to the equipment he used (at least from what I saw on album covers). I would spend countless hours trying to figure out his style
I know you used to frequent Jacksonville, any interesting stories?
Wayy too many to list here… Ask Matt or Steve.
What projects do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
Look out for The Dj LORD: Raising HELL tour (first show kicked off Jan 7th in Mobile, Alabama), my Dubstep cd Essential Kill ft. The Contraverse dropping in April, as well as a few upcoming collabs with Chuck D, Rock Most, Hulk & Dj Sagewondah,
Does Public Enemy have anything coming up?
P.E. just completed Operation Skid Row, a free show in Downtown L.A.'s Skid Row district. The goal of the free show Sunday was twofold: for hip-hop artists to perform gratis for skid row residents, and to spotlight the economic and political plight of L.A.'s homeless. We are dropping TWO albums in 2012, there is the PE exhibit opening on Feb.1st at The Grammy Museum and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and a few world tours lined up. There are also plans in the works to tour with Cypress Hill... Stay tuned.
by JESSICA WHITTINGTON
FOR MOVEMENTMAGAZINE.com
DJ LORD performs TONIGHT
