Interview with DJ Rod

Tags: Interviews with DJs

Starting off as a BBoy in Los Angeles, DJ Rod aka The Doc of Style has been spinning and giving back to the Popping and Locking community for years. DJ Rod is known for spinning his hard G-funk and rare 80’s Funk Jams at most Southern California Popping events and battles. Understanding his audience and style of music has made DJ Rod a one of a kind DJ in the scene.

Whats your name?

The Doc of Style

How old are you?

23

What kind of music do you spin?

Style of music…funk, electro funk/house, new school

How long have you been a DJ for?

Off & on for last 7 yrs.

When did you start and how did you get into it?

As you know originaly I was a b-boy competing in different comps & I injured myself & i was put on the shelf for a few months so i shifted my energy to dj’ing influnenced by great dj’s that i met while dancing like Mark Luv, and my teacher DJ Abel.

What is your opinion on the current scene?…

Its just like hip-hop there is to many people in it just to make the dolla’s and not in it b/c they acutally have a passion for music, i can care less if i’m making 400 – 0 dls. At a show im there b/c i love the people and the music dont get me wrong the money is nice but i love music period.

How did you get your name?

I try to stand out as a DJ not only with the name but with my style of music and wear so thats how the Doc of Style was born.

What equipment are you using at the moment?

2 Techs, pmc vestax 05-3 pro, sony valio lap top, serato, mpc 1000

What was your very first setup like?

Oh man it shitty’s ever, I had the DJ in the box lol, that thing sucked, the needles broke the first month. I had it, and the mixer’s fader was bleeding after the first week.

Any projects/new releases that you are working on?

Im working on producing a all funk style album with sum new hot tracks for the poppers and sum nice remixes of classic funk tracks should be done with it by dec.07 so keep an eye out.

Where do you get your gigs? What is your favorite spot to spin at?

I get my gigs thru the dancers they like what I play and they know that I’ll keep the energy up so they request me and i thank them for that, thats why I love spinning at spots like Homeland and the JVC its like a different energy than any other big events, people are there for the dancing its like a family when u get 2gether.

How did you hook up spinning at popping jams?

Coming from a background of being a dancer they tend to show me alot of love and they know that Ii bring the funk everytime. So in short dancers like j-smooth, & kid-boogie, put the word out for me to get me on the shows.

If you could throw a popping jam of your own, what would you have? What would you play?

I dont think ya’ll ready for that one yet, in time you’ll c first hand how that will play out.

Where do you find your tracks/records?

Trying to be slick huh i cant give that data away!

What are some of your major influences (artists, djs, etc.)?

My major influence have to be prince, his funky style, the bass his drumbeats u cant mess with em’, thats a artist that Ii really like to model myself after. Guys like DJ abel, Mark Luv, Qbert, all play a big part why I am a DJ.

What is your most memorable moment while spinning (at an event/club, etc.)?

Most memorable moment has to be the first yr. I DJ’d at Rock the Bells, it was hot Ii’ve been up for 26 hrs straight and Supernatural walked over to me and said, “for your first time u held it down with the big dogs”. That really meant alot to me comming from a guy like Supernat.

Why do you spin…what do you get out of it?

Ii spin because I love music Ii keep doing it to feel the rush i get when I hear the reaction of the crowd when I play their fav track. Bascially I do it to rep for the funk styles.

Do you have plans for the future as a dj?

Yea I hope to in the next few yrs. Open my own bar and nite club so all the dancers could come and get down.

What direction do you think the scene is headed in?

I hope in a positive one where we can go back to the roots of music and the reason why we started doing it not for the money, but for the music.

Where would you like the scene to be?

I would like the scene to be more respected not treated like where we are some kind of circus act and more respected as artist and dancers.

What makes a good dj?What are the key elements? Do they need to produce their own tracks?

Style and carisima w/out either of those u have nothing u need to have the energy to move the crowd, timing is everything, if u dont have timing you can easily lose a crowd i’ve seen so many DJ’s do it, u need to know how to read a crowd and know what they want and when they want it. And most importantly got to know how to blend and know all styles of music you cant be limited diversity is the key.

How do you feel about the dancers that come to listen to your music? Does the dj and the dancers go hand in hand in the scene?

The dj is the heart beat of the dancers it gives them life.

For a beginner, what do your recommend they do to get their skills up?

Take your time dont rush. Learn how to scratch it all falls into place just know your music

Any other comments or shout outs?

I want to give a shout out to all my people at homeland, my fiance & my baby on the way, & to all the guys that help get me started dj abel, mark luv, and to all the dancers thank you.