First off, I want to thank you guys for your time. This is my
first interview so you all are popping my interview cherry...haha.
Ms Anita: So the Better Beat Bureau. Who does it consist of
and how did it come about?
Disko Dave: The Better Beat Bureau formed around '98-'99 and
originally started out as a Dj/Turntablist crew. Original members include
myself, Dj Vex, Chief Rocka Abe Ski and Dj Lodamercy. We were all real heavy
into the whole turntablism movement so we joined forces and did a few battles
together. At first we didn't have a name so for our first battle we called
ourselves the Vinyl Four..haha! We would come up with routines (4-6 turntables
and all) or just link up and have extensive cut sessions. I finally came up
with "Better Beat Bureau" after hearing an LMNO lyric and it stuck.
Around '99 Dj Vex went half on an MPC with a couple of his homies (Red I
Productions) and one day he brought a beat tape (an actual tape) to one of our
practice sessions. I remember us being blown away because it wasn't on no
amateur/new jack shit. He was making joints just like the records we were
listening to. Real soulful/jazzy boom bap shit. At that point me and Abe Ski
were like, "Man, I'm tired of playing other peoples records. I wanna make
my own." which is a natural and typical progression for most dj's. I
didn't have the funds to cop any equipment at first because back then, there
weren't a lot of computer software production programs. I didn't even have a
computer yet..LOL! Back then the dopest equipment to make beats on was the MPC,
The ASR 10, SP 1200 and the Korg Triton. Anyway, we pretty much focused on DJing
except for Vex. In 2001 I got my tax return money and finally ended up copping
an MPC and Abe Ski followed soon after. We kinda transformed into a production
crew after a while. Around that same time sometime in '01 my homie that went to
VCU came back home and let me listen to this one tape of a couple of his boys freestyling
at his crib. One of them really stuck out to me. I thought he was spittin'
writtens at first, but my boy was like, "Nah son, that's all off the
top!" It was Antagonist Dragonspit and he so happened to be from VA Beach
as well. I'd ask all my friends from VCU if they knew him cuz I was tryin' to
link and build. One of my other boys finally brought him through the crib and
we started building. I didn't know he made beats at first so when he let me
hear a few joints it was automatic! We kept in touch while he was in Richmond
and in late 2002/early 2003 I invited him along with The Ologist (who also went
to VCU and was from the Beach too) into the crew. I've heard about Ologist from
the same friend that let me hear that freestyle tape of Tag (Big up to Mau!)
and we immediately started building. We had a lot of similar views on
production and hip hop in general. So now the BBB had a good blend of both dj's,
producer/beatmakers, emcees, and an engineer (Markie B). We aren't really a super organized crew where
each person plays a specific role. Everybody handles their own business and can
handle their own on the production tip. Everyone has their own unique style,
but still stay true to that Boom Bap style of hip-hop (for the most part). More
recent members & extended fam include Deejay Mike Rizzy (member of my other
DJ crew Kuya Tribe Productions), emcee/producer Profound from Chicago,
emcee/producer Bobby Blunt, DJ/producer Steve Cife and our NOVA connects
DMV-Sharp and Dublohskytzo. We're looking to possibly expand the brand a little
more and already have a couple people in mind. But for now that's pretty much
the story behind the BBB in a nutshell (even tho it was more like an essay.
HA!)
Ms Anita(for Ologist): I have to say that I have been a fan
of Disko Dave for a hot minute, but I’m just discovering you Ologist. You seem
to stay on the low, why is that?
Ologist: It’s never been my intention to be on the low
so to speak, but I’m not a lime-light guy.
I’ve really been trying to perfect my craft before I step out with an
official solo project. I still feel like
I have a long way to go to get to that point.
Up to now, I’ve mainly done tracks here and there for emcee’s and
singer’s projects, as well as films. I
used to do a lot of beat battles (shouts to Richmatic – old RVA heads know!) and
shows (w/Apriotek) in Richmond,
VA back in the early/mid 2000’s too
– killed it there. That was my home base
for a long time. Richmond really raised me and gave me the
perspective I have now.
Ms Anita: I know both of you all are family men. How do you
juggle the family life, with the music?
Disko Dave: I
Don't even know. It's not easy, especially with my job. I'm a mailman btw. But
every bit of free time I have I try to hit the lab and knock out a few joints
if I’m not too tired..LOL! I think it's safe to say that the production rate
has gone down for me, but the quality is still there! Don't get it twisted! I
got too many hobbies, but it's a good thing I’m not really into video games
anymore cuz I’d never get anything done. haha!
Ologist: It’s definitely not easy. Having a family and a 9 to 5 is definitely a
struggle. Plus I’m constantly trying to
learn, take classes, and improve my position to better support my family, so
that’s a strain too. At the end of the
day my son comes first. But music is
what keeps me grounded. The balancing
act usually leads to late nights and little sleep. Example, its 1:30am now and I’m doing this
interview and working on a track!
Ms Anita: So I want you all to brag on yourselves right now.
Who have you all produced for? (both)
Disko Dave:
Nothing on a major scale. Mostly local and within the Virginia borders. A lot of people know me
from producing tracks for Doujah Raze of Trilogy Records who caught a lot of
buzz in the indy hip hop scene. His 2nd single
"Irish Cream" was pressed on wax and distributed by Ill Boogie
Records which was a huge deal for me because I was a big supporter of Ill
Boogie. They used to play it on the "All Rap" radio station we used
to have here all the time. S/O to Dj Strez and Dj Law (R.I.P.)! Anyway, I did
about 5 beats including the intro for his self titled debut album that finally
released in 2005. All the beats except the intro were made in 2001 and recorded
between then and '02 tho. Through him and his manager I linked with Thad Reid
and we made "Top Of The Heights" which is one of my favorite collabs.
It was one of my first beats ever made and paid homage to the Golden Era with a
familiar sample and chopped up horns. We got a few more joints too. From The
757, of course you got Antagonist & Bobby Blunt. Also Yohon, Godchild,
Jhagged and Spunk 1. We put out a 12" called indy 500. Me & Dj Vex
both had the A & B-side. Got a couple joints on a local compilation called
"Independents Day" with Dred Science, Omega Redd & Kevin Lynn aka
Future Brother (they're twins), P The Emcee, Keynote Speaker, Rafeese's
"Redemption", my homie Profound from Chicago, and a bunch of other
cats I’m sure I forgot to mention.
Ologist: I’ve done tracks with Thad Reid, Soulstice,
K-Hill, Antagonist, and Sketch to name a few – mostly VA, MD, DC, NC heads. I originally found out about Thad Reid from
the “Top of the Heights” track him and Disko Dave did. I used to chill rooftop in Richmond (w/ Mau) back in ’03 and rock that
on repeat. When I moved up to NOVA I
linked up with him and we’ve been tight ever since. We did “They Don’t Like Me” in ’08, which hit
#2 on college radio charts. He’s also
the one that linked me with Soulstice and Sketch. Aside from album and project work I’ve also
done a bit of film work, mostly at the indie documentary level – “Dare Not Walk
Alone” a civil rights film, “Walking on Water”, “Heart of a Soul Surfer” the
story of Bethany Hamilton – which turned into a major Hollywood film earlier
this year (the documentary made the DVD!), a handful of other films, and a
PacSun commercial. HAHA! Doing the film work has allowed me to travel
a bit and meet some good people.
Ms Anita: I wonder how those who make beats, learned how to
do so. Who taught yall how to do that or did you self teach? (both)
Disko Dave: Well
when I started djing in '94, my mentor Dj Wikid aka Superfearo got into
production around '95 so I’ve always been around it, but never really took it
seriously. We'd always collab on beats, but I never knew how to fully work the
machines on my own. He always had new production equipment when the next
"hot thing" came out. Still, I focused all my energy on DJing until
the time I got my own equipment in 2001. I didn't know what the hell I was
doing at first and seriously thought I wasted all this money on an MP. Reading
the manual was like reading in a foreign language so Dj Vex finally came
through and showed me just the bare basics of sampling and recording. The rest I
learned from trial and error. I did a lot of experimenting to get the sound I
wanted. We didn't have Youtube back then so you had to learn on your own.. at
least I did anyway.
Ologist: It was all self teaching and experimentation
on the MPC. I didn’t know nada about
timing, arrangement, notes, scales, octaves, etc. I was a newjack that just loved music. I used to go thru and chill with my man DJ
Direc in Richmond
on the regular. He had an MPC, so that’s
where I learned the basics. I used to
hole up in his crib with headphones for hours and make little beats. He lived with the keyboardist (Rudeboi) from
Infectious Organisms, so it was a musical spot, which definitely lead to the
desire to start producing. In 2001 I
took a few month trip to Guatemala,
which is where I got the nickname Ologist. I got hyped on wanting to start producing
while I was there. When I got back I
copped an MPC with my student financial aid check. Thanks VCU and the US Government!
Ms Anita: Anything new coming up on the horizon, new
projects, collabs, what?
Disko Dave/Ologist: We have a really big project in the works for 2012 with
2dopeboyz! We’re still ironing out the
fine details, but as of now you can expect a collabo beginning in January. BBB x 2DBZ!
Look out for future beat tapes, Antagonist's "The Ugly Truth" LP,
BBB production on the new Thad Reid ‘Tyme Flys’ EP sponsored by DJBooth.net and
KevinNottingham.com on January 17th, and a new website. Dave has some joints on Profound's upcoming
project alongside w/ Chicago
legend Dug Infinite, an EP with Keynote Speaker, and an EP with P The Emcee,
Omega Redd & Kevin Lynn (R&B singer).
All around it’s going to be a more productive year from the BBB.
Ms Anita: If you all were to press play on your iPod, music player,
or what have you, what would start playing?
Disko Dave: Well
right now I’m in my R&B mood so it would probably be SWV's
"Co-sign" at first. I'm amped they're back and didn't deviate from
their signature sound. LOL! other than hip-hop, I’m an r&b and dancehall
junkie. Anyway, you'd hear a lot of the classics. You know, the usual suspects
from the 90's. Dj Mike Rizzy podcasts (do yourselves a favor and peep
www.mikerizzy.com for a good blend of mixes for everyone) Torae's "For The
Record" still, Action Bronson, Common's new album that drops tomorrow!,
Anything Dilla, Freddie Joachim for those lazy Sunday afternoons, various
Breakbeats, my own damn beats, beats and songs from the crew, anything from the
Bookshelf Riddim...i'm not even gonna go into reggae right now cuz I can go on
for days..lol. But mostly classics. I’m old and out of the loop for what's hot
now. That’s why we got blogs like yours!
Ms Anita: Thanks Dave. And we have something in common
because I’m a reggae lover is well. Brrrrap! And what about you Ologist?
Ologist: Currently playing, Electric Wire Hustle
“Waters”. (Potholes in My Blog initially
turned me on to them). There an electro-soul-r&b-boom bap band out of New
Zealand.). Also in the deck is the new
Freddie Joachim ‘Patiently’ EP, Elzhi ‘Elmatic’, Phonte ‘Charity Starts At
Home’, Arthur Verocai ‘Self Titled’ album – hands down one of my favorite
albums, Donny Hathaway ‘These Songs For You, Live!’ – best vocalist in my
opinion – the raw emotion in his live sets in unparalleled. I never leave home without this (his cover of
Grady Tate’s “Sack Full of Dreams” written by Gary McFarland is ILL! puts me at ease no matter what sort of day
I’ve had), Disko Dave beats, Antagonist
‘Back on the Map’ LP, the rough draft of Thad Reid’s new project ‘Tyme Flys’,
Bush Babees ‘Gravity’, DJ Spinna ‘Compositions 1-3’, Gil-Scott-Heron ‘Winter in
America’, Roy Ayers ‘A Tear to a Smile’, Torae ‘For the Record’, and Reks
‘REKS’. A wide mix.
Ms Anita: Very eclectic I see, like myself. But I will definitely
have to check out Electric Wire Hustle, that sounds interesting.
And my last question, which is my Sydney,
brown-sugar-when-did-you-fall-in-love- with-hip-hop question is………….drum
roll………. What is your hope for hiphop?
Disko Dave: Maybe
it's just me being old, but I’d like it to go back to when it was more pure.
When it was fun, but not soft at the same time. It's a whole culture that these
kids aren't even educated on because of what they hear on the radio or see on
TV. Less swag and more skill! At least the ones that flossed back in the day
had the skills to back it up. The general public needs to stop accepting subpar
talent period! But there's always hope. Every once in a while you'll hear a
joint and be like, "okay, it's coming back!" Hip Hop's not dead,
never was. Only on the radio! We just gotta focus on getting it to the masses!
Ologist: My hope….that talented emcees and producers
continue to find the shine they deserve, and that these youngins learn about
hip-hop as a culture. Nowadays these
kids don’t give a damn about nothing but trying to swag it out. Eff outta here with that!
Ha! That's whats up. Big up to you alls 2dopeboyz feature,
DiskoDave vs Ologist youtube video btw. I want to thank yall again for your
time and for being my first. This was awesome!
Make sure to hit them up on Twitter: @ologisbbb @DiskoDavebbb @DragonspitJones @vexinpa AND make sure to check them out on YouTube so you can see first hand how it goes down. youtube.com/user/DiskoDaveBBB
Til Next time, Ms Anita
