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 | | DJ Kut |
 DJ Kut
Morning Show Mixer
WWPR
NYC
Did you fall into DJing or is this something you chose to do?
I purposely chose to be a DJ. It's something that I always wanted to do. I was into music throughout my childhood. I never played an instrument though. My turntables are my instruments.
Why turntables?
I was always intrigued by DJs. Even before scratching, I just wanted to play records. At my mother's parties, I'd gravitate to the man playing the records. I'd check out the album covers. Also, my father owned a record store, so I got into collecting and playing records early on. And I'd take whatever little money I had then and buy more records.
In the clubs, do you play for the women or the guys?
I personally play for women because if the ladies are not dancing, there's no party! Guys don't dance with each other, so I have to play music that gets women on the dance floor. And men, seeing all these women getting hot and sweaty on the floor are naturally gonna want to dance with them!
What's your secret to get the ladies to dance?
It's not a secret. Most DJs play for themselves and their boys. But if the ladies are not enjoying what you're doing, you're playing yourself! You know what the ladies like. You can also try different records out just to get a response from the ladies. But its all about the ladies in the club!
Is that the same philosophy doing a radio mixshow?
Radio is a little different. In the clubs, there's some stuff that the guys like that the ladies will also like. Since I have several million radio listeners, I can play for everybody. I treat music like entrees at a buffet. I put out a little bit of everything for everybody.
Kut, give an example of a lady's record and a guy's record?
Lil' Mo's "Forever" or the Brat's "In Love With You." A guys record is Nas' "Made You Look" or Bonecrusher's "Never Scared."
Prior to NY, you were in St. Louis MO. Are Midwest radio listeners different from NYC listeners?
Very much so. In all the years I've been DJing, I'd get Luke's stuff from Miami, or Master P's music from the Dirty South, I'd get music from everywhere. Being geographically right in the middle, my St. Louis listeners wouldn't have a hard time accepting new music from new places.
On the east coast, its harder to break anything that's not from New York. Take Bonecrusher or Nelly. They are getting so much major play but it still took New York a long time to accept them.
Why do you think New York is a tougher market to break? Is radio unwilling to play new artists or are New Yorkers close minded to new music from other regions?
It's a combination. In radio, you have to play everything for people because you never know what they'll like. Lil' Jon and Ludacris blew up from radio play. But it's hard to get people to accept new artists without radio airplay. On the flip side, there are millions and millions of New Yorkers who never leave New York and all they know is New York music.
And that's the fine line battle I fight every day as a NYC DJ. I try to put other things in there that are not necessarily from New York because people will eventually warm up to it, like David Banner or Bonecrusher!
Besides radio and clubs, you tour and know first hand all the crazy stuff that happens on the road. Why do groupie man and women want to get down so bad?
I performed with Nelly on the MTV TRL Tour in 2001 and went out with Cedric The Entertainer in 2000 so I've seen it all. I can understand that now. These people in smaller markets never get any shows. And for them, it's a life-long dream to meet a celebrity like Cedric or Nelly. Just to even get close to them means a lot. In New York, people see artist everyday so it's no big deal versus their counterparts in smaller markets who only see celebrities on TV. And the women will do any, and I do mean anything to get close to these artists. Just to say I fucked this artist or I fucked somebody in the crew is an accomplishment to them!
Can proper parenting change that?
No. You can go back to any genre of music. Pop, blues, jazz, it don't matter. Groupies are groupies! And a lot of them are parents (laughs). That is something that will never change. Never.
Speaking of parenting, what's the hardest thing being a single parent working in the entertainment industry?
It's a bitch now! But if I was a single parent in St. Louis, it's wouldn't be as hard because I'd have my family to pick up the slack. When I go on the road or fly out to do a gig, I have to figure out who can watch my 12 year old boy Keith. I'm lucky because good people like WWPR's Ed Lover and mid-day personality Deja Vu help me out. Or Keith stays with DJ Jus over the weekend while I do what I have to do. My other son, Tyler, is 5 and still stays in St. Louis.
Any other difficulties?
I really have to stay on top of my kids on what they do and who they hang with after school. It's very hard because at the same time, I have to focus on my job. I can't lose my job but at the same time, I can't lose my kids. So I just have to find that balance.
Are you concerned about your son's education in New York City versus St. Louis?
I'm very concerned. I'm not crazy about the school Keith's in now. Not at all. But I just have to have relationships with the teachers, principal. I show them that I'm really concerned about my child in the hopes that they pay more attention to my boy. I'm like that regardless if its St. Louis, New York, where ever.
Parents have to be more active at the schools to let these teachers know that they are concerned about their kid's education. I give teachers my number and tell them to always call me if there's a problem.
Any plans being an on-air personality?
I never had an on-air shift. My only real experience behind the mic when I was doing college radio. I then got into commercial radio as a mixer. I'd sometimes fill in but I've always been a mix show guy.
Didn't you do a quiet storm shift?
Actually, I produced/helped program the quiet storm shift.
How about producing another show or getting into programming?
I'd get into programming more so than producing a show. I don't want to be a show producer again. It was a great experience because I learned every aspect of radio, from promotions, sales, production, being a board op, everything! Being a producer helped me get to this point because I had to have a lot of dedication to do that job well.
Relationships in the entertainment industry are very important. How do you foster and maintain your relationships?
I tell the truth. It's the best way to maintain relationships with record reps. That's how me and you go back Ray. If I like a record, I'll play it and you never have to twist my arm or cut a check. If I don't like the record, I don't play it. Some people can respect that while others get bent out of shape and say, "Kut's on that bullshit!" That shows they don't respect what I do. I respect what you do. Your job is to get records played but I have a job to keep.
Back to single parenthood Ray, it helps me create a balance because it forces me to be responsible in front of my children. I have to be the blueprint for Keith and Tyler to follow.
Is that job tougher being a hip hop mix show DJ because of all the questionable material you play?
Yes, it is. But I stay on top of him. I get CDs all the time and make sure he gets the clean versions. Or if he's in the car with me, I might play the dirty version but I'll let him know I don't want him listening to it when I'm not around. That's my parental supervision. He's gonna be a teenager, so I can't close his eyes to everything. Kids are growing up so fast now. They go to school and they're cursing already.
Parental supervision is a very fine line between what to allow and what to censor. Do you also talk to your son about the subject matter being covered and what to and what not to do?
I have to! I'd rather educate him then have the streets educate him. So when he's faced with a situation, he understands what's going on versus being totally ignorant. It's just music. And that's all he should ever look at it as. Just music.
He's not supposed to run out there and cause problems trying to do dumb stuff because he'll just get his own self in trouble.
Message DJ Kut and tell him what you think | Ray Tamarra | | | The 2-Way | |
posted by: Froglips
@ 05/20/2003 10:05 AM
EST | | Kut, Good to see a brother with his head on correctly. All the best to you and yours. P.S. Try private school. It may be expensive, but you can afford it as a big DJ and all. :) I went to Fordham Prep in the Bronx and I HIGHLY recommend it for your son. |
posted by: DangerRUSS
@ 05/20/2003 05:53 PM
EST | | gu gugu gugug GUT UNIT!!! WHAT UP PIMP. PLAY MY SHIIIIIIT! RESPECT TO THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, WHO IS ALREADY TAKING ALL THE MILK MONEY! CONGRATS ON A REAL BIG YEAR! |
posted by: Big Karl
@ 05/21/2003 09:41 AM
EST | | what up big russ? email me , i need ask you couple question. (it algood) |
posted by: DJ Impact
@ 05/23/2003 03:13 PM
EST | | What up Kut? Keep doing you thing family. DJ Impact aka The Midwest Marauder
Tech.Nitions |
posted by: HakeemThaDream
@ 05/24/2003 08:49 PM
EST | | Whassup dog? This is Hakeem formely of Da Acez (St. Louis).. I see you doin' yo thang in NY and I'll be up there soon.. be lookin' out for me dog |
posted by: nappy head jenkins
@ 06/03/2003 10:52 AM
EST | | great questions once you all got warmed up id like to se e things continue along those lines jumped around a little though |
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