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Friday, December 11, 2009

Opinion / Mike McCray / News Hey DJ! Update your set

Posted By on Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Some people genuinely live by the policy, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Problem is, if that person is a DJ and you're in the club, chances are you'll be the one suffering through this guy's once "winning formula."

Attention DJ's! If you haven't updated your set since Jamie Foxx's "Blame It" came out, you're whack. If you still play Ron Browz "Arab Money" or any portion of your set is entirely too auto-tune, excuse my corniness, but you're 2000-late (thanks Fergie).

No one is expecting you to be scouring the streets, hopping the Lynx and digging for records like Q in "Juice" but as a professional iPod playlist, (that's essentially what people think you are), it's kind of your job to be current. Non-vinyl DJ's especially have no excuse for being behind on music.

Who cares if you don't listen to the radio? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that even the most stubborn of music snobs couldn't help but enjoy Soulja Boy's "Turn My Swag On," even Jay-Z endorsed with a low-key, "I like that record." And being in Charlotte you should know that anything Gucci Mane, I mean just about anything Gucci Mane, will be well received. So, go ahead and play "Wasted."

When you rock for yourself and not for your crowd, it begs the question, who are you doing this for?

It's like the guy who brags now about never getting a high-top fade in the '90s. Sure, you ignored one fad but we're all supposed to kiss your ass now because you didn't follow the crowd, when the real reason was your hair didn't grow fast enough.

Is anybody going to care in ten years if you played Waka Flocka's "Oh Let's Do It," one time?

Older DJ's are repeat offenders of ignoring popular demand. I'm a huge Jay-Z fan too, but I know that every album cut isn't a club banger and more importantly, kids that are college freshmen right now, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! Trust me, it hurt my heart too.

For DJ's that believe current music is trash. Cool, but don't take gigs where people are expecting to hear Lil Wayne and you're dropping the needle on Kwame the Polka Dot Kid. Sure, everybody loves the old school part of the set but when it goes being nostalgic and fun to a full on "A Different World" episode because you played one too many Wu-Tang record, don't be surprised if you aren't rockin' that venue again.

Creativity is a gift and a curse. That same energy you took to create, scratch and blend that set that kept the ladies dancing all night, the dudes pointing at you in agreeance and your calendar full of dates, can be done again, you just have to try.

Even if that means setting up the table in your house, working out the kinks at home and getting feedback from someone other than your homeboy that's just gonna sideline and say, "that's dope bruh."

The same way regular people think rich and famous people owe them an explanation for what they do, i feel like anyone who pays their rent and bills off music owes the common courtesy of giving a fuck.

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