M.I.A. DRUM N BASS COLLECTIVE. NOTORIOUS CHICAGO BASS HUSTLAS. WE SPECIALIZE IN DRUM N BASS MUSIC. 773 888 1MIA BIG UPS TO ALL JUNGLIST AND DRUM N BASS HEADZ WORLD WIDE!
M.I.A:: sum up your drum n bass background for us.
I started playing Jungle in '99 after I saw Aphrodite,
DB,DSL, Dara, and a few others play at Woodstock in the air hanger raves there.
My mind was blown away by the sounds they were putting out and the vibe
they brought to the show. Shortly after that I met up with my now longtime friend,
Odi. He's a true DJ and showman. Everything I know about making crowds move, I learned
from watching him. I bought my first set of decks from him as well and from there the rest is
history. Since then I've played at historic venues from Government and Big Bop in Toronto to
Konkrete Jungle NYC's nights at Pyrimad, Love, and Sullivan Room, expo centers, clubs, and
nderground venues around the world. Some of my latest releases have been getting air time
on Sirus Radio as well as XM Canada.
M.I.A.:: what kind of drum n bass do you favor in your sets and why?
Ragga Jungle mainly; anything really with an island vibe, hip-hop roots, or urban sound.
I've been known to jump from some Ragga into some old school DNB and all the way through
to current hardstep hits. It's really whatever the crowd is feeling that night. Luckily, 9 times out
of 10 they're digging what I want to play which is always nice.
M.I.A.:: So yourun several operations can you please fill us in on the projects you operate
(label, booking, writer)
Currently I own and operate the Warlord Dubplate imprint which is on its 15th
release now and distributed by the legendary JungleX. I use to run/co-run a
few other labels in the past (Guerilla Recordings, Gun Recordings) but that
Ragga sound has always ran true. I'm also the owner of Relief Records which put out a 5
volume EP set that benefited Doctors Without Borders. I'm currently talking with Krinjah
to possibly combine Relief's efforts with his own charity effort,
Foodclef (www.foodclef.com). Aside from the labels I'm also a contributing writing
for Knowledge Magazine and the main writter for the Ragga section over there, On A Ragga Tip.
M.I.A.:: you have released several tracks on various labels, can you touch on these releases so our
readers know what you have done as far as production.
Another Champion – Hum Fi Drum 006
Gun Shot Blast – Hum Fi Drum 006
Shot Gun War VIP – Warlord 006
Another Champion VIP – Warlord 006
Sick With It – BadDog Jungle 003
Californium – Bludclot VA EP 001
Vibezolence – Relief Records EP 001
JAH Provides The Fire – Warlord Digital 008
Dub Assassin – Dubpride 005
Even Robots Get Lonely – Dubpride 005
Machete Dont Text – Warlord 011
Kill Streak – Warlord 011
Mash Up Your Limbs – Unjustified LP 001
From The Dubplate EP (Ragga Scum, Direct Feed, RAW(6Blocc), DJ K) – Dub Chamber 18
Crack King – Murda LP – Combat Recordings 45
DJ Fresh – Gold Dust (Ragga Scum rmx) – EOB001
Jah No Dead – Hum Fi Drum 18
Bombaclot Go Boom – Hum Fi Drum 18
Dubplate Original – Junglexpeditions 100
Face Down – Junglexpeditions 100
A Walk In The Darkl – Junglexpeditions 100
The Eleventh Hour- Junglexpeditions 100
Dem Ting Fi Dem – HumDruma EP002
Serial Killaz & Run Tingz Cru w/ Tenor Fly & Blackout JA - Murder Ya Sound (Ragga Scum remix) -
Run Tingz EP
M.I.A.::. what producer are you feeling at the moment?
I have a ton of respect and love for what Marcus Visionary has been
putting out over the last few years. It's not hard and in your face but its
fantastic dance music with a great reggae vibe. His production is always tight,
clean, and on point. On the other end of the spectrum though is HoT from Russia.
His mashup, thrown down style is gaining a lot of momentum and I see more and
more producers trying to mimic him.
M.I.A.:: you live in KC, what do you feel needs to be done in your city to
improve the drum n bass scene.
Kill Dubstep! It's taken over here. There are no more DNB shows. Everyone has been
brainwashed. Every show I play here in KC is me in a dubstep room headlining and
it's awful. I've stopped accepting bookings here as of late or ask for double to
triple my normal booking fee just for the headache (literally). I use to throw DNB
events here but just got tired of constantly dumping money in to top quality,
worldwide acts to have no one show up. Kill the Dubstep!
M.I.A.:: how hard is it to be a drum n bass dj? and what keeps you motivated to stick to
your guns and stay true to jungle drum n bass when so many have moved on.
I don't know.. It’s not hard I guess. If you want instant fame then you should play
Dubstep but if you want to play at some killer intimate shows with some of the
nicest people you'll ever meet then play Drum & Bass. I guess my motivation is not
to play shit music. Not to say other music is bad, it's just not my thing; I'd play
punk if I could play a guitar, but I can't. Jungle music holds my roots and love.
To quote The Lords of the Underground, 'cause from the hood I came and to the hood
I must return'.
EXCLISIVE MIA MIX BY RAGGA SCUM
Conquering Lion - Code Black feat Beenie Man
Remarc - In Da Hood
Krinjah - Bust Pure Shot
Capital J - The Throwdown
Capital J - Diss Da Program
The Archangel - Anthem
Junglefever & Stivs - Tempo Riddem
Epeak - Fighting
Animal & DLF - Mad Jungle
Jacky Murda - Jungle King
Enduser - Dubplate #12
Capital J & RAW aka 6BLOCC - Boom Stick
Ray Keith - Terror Wars (Blade Runner VIP)
General Malice - Original Nuttah VIP
Dirty Cash - Get Your Freak On
Diamond Geezer - As A Man
Ragga Scum - Face Down
Aphrodite feat Lisa - Wishing On A Star
Photek - UFO
Nasty Habits aka Doc Scott - Shadow Boxing
Lords of the Underground - Tic Toc
