MikiWAR: Were you a turntablist first when you became a DJ?
I-Dee: I started out first as a mix DJ in '97. My older brother was a DJ, so I learned mixing from him. About a year or two later I saw my first DMC video. Battling really sparked my interest. It became a hobby at first, then it became something religious; I would go to school, do homework, and then lock myself in the bedroom to practice scratching and whatnot. I went behind my brother's back for a couple years until I saved up enough for my own setup.
Dainjazone: Give us a rundown of your placing in the DMC and all major battles.
I-Dee: My first goal was to make it to a regional so everyone could see my set. I was fortunate enough to make the US Finals two years in a row, won the DMC US Supremacy in 2005 and I won Roc Raida’s (RIP) first Gong Battle in 2006. Thanks to him I was fortunate enough to have a lot of opportunities come my way.
MikiWAR: How old were you when you were competing in all of this?
I-Dee: I entered my first battle when I was 15, made US Finals when I was 17, won DMC US Supremacy when I was 18, and now I’m 23.
Dainjazone: How has the transition been from the battle world to the clubs? Do you still keep up with the practicing?
I-Dee: Yea. I still try to make a juggle or two once a year. There’s not too many heads that still do that. I know Craze and A-Trak will cut in between their sets but no one is coming out for the turntablist aspect anymore. It’s something I enjoy and I’m doing my best to try to preserve it outside of the competition realm. It definitely hasn’t been the same. A part of why the battle scene is whack now is there’s not enough funk; too much technicality and not enough practicing. It’s hard to transition out of that when you’re trying to make a living. If you’re trying to do a two hour party rock set, then at the end showcase some cool stuff, the crowd won’t know how to digest a triple-click orbit-flare-crab combo. So you just got to keep it simple but effective.
MikiWAR: You’ve also taken on some production; an album that has already dropped and you have another one in the works, right?
I-Dee: Yea. "Solitude" came out in 2008 and I have another one coming out this year. It’s probably going to be the worst album ever made. I have Eli Porter….
MikiWAR: For those who don’t know, Eli Porter is the original 50 Tyson.
I-Dee: Haha. I have Jean Grae from DC. My first album was a turntablist album. On the new album, I’m rapping for the first time, but I’m poking fun at myself. The first half is pretty funny and the second half is pretty serious. My goal for the album is to show the listener that DJs have feelings too. We’re not just people who play music. The funny part is the gimmick to get listeners intrigued. The second half is super serious; I touch on domestic violence and drug addiction. There are certain things I haven’t been through, but guys like Roc Raida and DJ AM (RIP) have. No one [outside of the DJ community] really cares what AM did off the decks. He helped a lot of people. Roc Raida was a family man. All he wanted to do was play his music and go home to his family.
My goal with the album is to show what I’m interested in and the stuff I’ve been affected by. There hasn’t been a turntablist album that you’ve really listened to and said, “Ok, I know what that DJ has been through,” as opposed to a rapper or singer. If we’re going to try to preserve turntablism, it’s critical that stuff like this has to be made.
MikiWAR: Tell us the story about you and Justin Bieber.
I-Dee: I was chillin’ with Asher Roth last year. Him and Justin Bieber have the same manager. His manager was looking for a DJ to go on tour with Justin. This was before Justin even blew up. It sounded like some bubble gum, teenybopper stuff. I said, “No.” Who would have thought he’d be the biggest pop star in the world (room laughs)?
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