Exclusive Interview With Skeme Richards

L4S: “Yo state your name and affiliations!”

Skeme: “Yo whats up Skeme Richards – Sesion31, Rock Steady Crew & official DJ of Kings Destroy.”

L4S: “Tell us about when you started DJing and who inspired you.”

Skeme: “I started DJing in 1981. The people that got me into DJing were other cats in the neighborhood with older brothers that owned turntables. We used to go to their crib after school and spin records.”

L4S: “What do you think has changed the most in how DJ’s play? Positives and Negatives.”

Skeme: “DJing has changed alot over the years, from the early NY DJ’s like Bam, Flash, Red Alert and those guys to the Philly era and style of DJing with people like Jazzy Jeff, Lightning Rich, DJ Groove and all the other DJ’s that brought a new flavor to the game. Then the whole “Turntablist” movement that was happening on the West Coast with Q-Bert, Shortkut, Mix Master Mike and those guys. Each era brought something new to the table, not only with styles but also genres of music that they were rocking. I think the DJ game has become really suspect now because so many people are claiming to be DJ’s that weren’t before, rappers that cant sell records become DJ’s, the whole celebrity DJ thing is way out of control. Since digital DJing became popular everyone wanted to be one, but ask them how many actually own records, they would all sit down and shut up!”

L4S: “What are your pet peeves when hearing DJ’s spin? You know, certain reoccuring things that make you wanna throw your shoe at em.”

Skeme: “I hate DJ’s that play music that they have no connection to. Example, if you didn’t grow up in a bboy or true skool Hip Hop environment then you don’t really understand spinning Breaks. I hear cats spinning Afro Beat, House, Soul and other genres and I’m like yo, you didn’t study before you came out of the crib! Also I hate to hear people that
study me and try to bite my whole steez, I’ve actually been at Jam where people will try to play my set then when I get on I blow them out the frame.”

L4S: “From allmost being unknown, to blowing up the spot and playing everywhere, what do you think changed for this to happen? and did your life change dramatically?”

Skeme: “I started out in 1981 as a breaks DJ so connection to bboys has always been there, later on I started doing production and thats what I focused alot on but I was still doing parties and stuff. In 2004 is when I really started getting back on the Bboy scene because Philly had something going on and I needed to be apart of it, thats when I met Ynot (RSC) and Downroc (7$), they really brought me in. From there Teknyc (Skill Methodz) heard me and started spreading the name, Paulskee (Mighty 4) heard me in Philly and instantly said your rocking my jams! So in 2005 I did Mighty 4, Skill Methodz Anniversary, Rock Steady Crew Anniversary, Ashes 2 Ashes, and ton of other jams. After that I was hitting Europe hard and haven’t looked back since. In addition to doing those jams I had already put out break cd’s that was rockin the scene before people even saw me live. Life didn’t really change much except for the travels and the amount of people I’ve met, it’s a blessing.”

L4S: “You’ve set a standard in playing fresh records…is it hard to replace your classic tracks (miss pastorfield..etc) with new ones that nobody has heard? and do u find in any new bands some tracks that fit your preference?”

Skeme: “It’s not really hard to replace tracks, it just depeneds on what mode I’m in. I always buy new records but I don’t always play them because I might want to play them for a certain event where the people are gonna understand whats going on, like I might play something at Circle Kingz that I won’t play anywhere else because the vibe sets the tone of the event. I’m always finding new bands, I broke the Budos Band in bboy scene, the same with Funkshone, and Big Pimp Jones. All those are bands that I played before anyone else. You just gotta have that ear for shit.”

L4S: “I heard you spin at the “Circle Kings” after party in Switzerland 2008, DOPE NIGHT. It almost appeared as if you have a guideline on the types of music to play during different times of the night to keep the Party vibe going. Is that True?”

Skeme: “Thats exactly what I do! The DJ is supposed to set the tone for the night and take people on a journey, you should be able to go thru different genres, tempo’s, up and downs. A great DJ reads the crowd and feeds off of their energy and emotions. Know when to go from Hip Hop to R&B classics from Electro to House, Funk to Soul or any combination and at the correct times.”

L4S: “Back in the day it sometimes took a person years to find a specific record they wanted, and because of that you would only hear it once in a blue moon at a party. Now a days everyone has access to files such as “1001 Breakdancing music titles” on download. What are your thoughts on this? and bboys dissing the classics because theyre rinsed out at jams.”

Skeme: “That has a lot to do with too many “digital break djs” that dont own records. Promotors book people because they are friends, their local, or their cheap. I know how and when to play a classic break like Apache because I bring back the essence of that record when it was the bboy anthem. These digital break djs or human ipods is what I like to call them, they don’t understand that and wasn’t around in the 80’s to understand the feel of dancing to that record. The reason bboys get tired of certains songs is because they sit at home on their computers too much and watch footage, or they go to too may wack jams or they keep listening to their mp3’s until their tired of a song. I like to play stuff that make them go oh shit whats that?! But by the end of the month every wack dj and bboy found the song, downloaded it, heard it at a jam and went to practice to that song a million times so thats why songs get played out. All while NONE of them actually own the record, just the mp3. My words to them, get out the house and stop watching footage all day long. Go out in the world and be social, go to clubs and dance, not bboy dance, but dance! Real Bboys dance with girls, learn other music besides breaks!”

L4S: “Whats your opinon of the seeming trend with break djs toward playing afrobeat, cumbia and salsa records? Has it changed since say 10/20/30 years ago?”

Skeme: “Alot of break DJ’s don’t know why they place these genres. I’ve always thrown the afrobeat gems in my sets and people loved it but didn’t really understand or know what it is. Now people just play it cause it’s funky but they can’t tell you the genre. It’s definitely changed over the years but thats ok, where supposed to start out with Disco breaks like in the 70’s, then work our way up to rock breaks, James Brown and other genres because back then thats what was being played on the radio. But once again I diss all those digital djs that don’t know why they play certain things.”

L4S: “How do you feel about dropping unknown or little known records at jams?”

Skeme: “Like I said earlier, I love dropping unknown or little known records at jams because it’s the element of surprise and then people know you for breaking that record to the scene. But I won’t do it at every jam because people are filming and then they go home and find your records on mp3 and then the song is wasted. Thats why I save my good funk, soul, rare groove 45’s for my Hot Peas and Butta parties because people come to dance and enjoy, not film
so they can go home and watch footage.”

L4S: “Whats your view on doubling up on records vs full tracks?”

Skeme: “If it’s a break, double it up, thats what it’s there for, but you gotta have skills. I hear too many dj’s that scratch
like its the 70’s, its 2010 you should not sound like that, you weren’t there in the 70’s or 80’s so get your game up.
I have no problem playing a full track, some times that shit is just so fresh that you got to! You don’t play 1/2 of a James Brown song! You don’t disrespect the king! So some songs are just too funky and the way some people are dancing these days you gotta let them ride it out.”

L4S: “In your opinion, do you have to be a) into records and b) digg to come correct when playing at jams?
If yes then does ebay, goods, A1, sound library etc count as diggin or do you also have to mess with thrifts, antique stores etc on the portable?”

Skeme: “Yes you have to be into records and digg to come correct to play at jams! I don’t have a problem buying from ebay because you still have to know what your looking for. So I can be searching for something that nobody else is up on because I’ve done my homework or researched that artist. A1 and Sound Library is diggin also, they just make it a little easier, but just because you have the record doesn’t mean you know how to play that record! I love thrifts and antiques because you never know what your gonna find. I’m not really a fan of portables because back in the day it was all an experiment, you bought something that looked interesting, took it home and baaaammm!! thats an ill joint!! Your excited to find two copies now. But now you know whats in your back before you leave the store, there’s no surprise factor. I’ve bought a lot of records with no break on it but those same records got chopped when I wanted to make beats or produce a beat, so every record in my house gets used!”

L4S: “Do you have to have been a bboy to play bboy breaks properly in this day and age?”

Skeme: “Yes and no. Being a bboy you have a certain knowledge of how a break or record is spun, you’ve seen how it was
done over the years and relate to it. You know not to change records at certain times and know when to bring the
heat. I know dj’s that aren’t bboys but know how to rock doubles and would smack a lot of DJ’s on the scene
with their laptops.”

L4S: “Your ‘Hot Peas & Butta’ parties have quite a following now. Please break it down for those who arent aware of that.”

Skeme: “Hot Peas and Butta is party that I do where we spin all 45’s, funk, soul, rare grooves, latin, disco or whatever. And there purpose of the party is to bring back that feel of going to parties where guys danced with girls, everyone came fresh dressed and partied. If you look at Soul Train thats a party, thats what was going on in Black households and clubs back in the day, thats how we do our party. In addition to that we show crazy rare footage on the projectors,
everything from 70’s trailers, cartoons, commercials, concert footage and other rare stuff. All of the stuff that I’ve collected over the years on VHS, none of this youtube shit, I’ve got all that stuff on VHS and Beta. The party is real successful and people really have fun. It’s a feel good party”

L4S: “What are some types of music you listen to outside of what you might play at jams?”

Skeme: “I’m a DJ, just like Bambaata, Grand Master Flash, Red Alert, Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri and others so I listen to and
play all genres from Hip Hop, R&B Classics, House, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Afrobeat, Electro, Classic Rock whatever. Im almost 40 years old so I’ve enjoyed this music since I was old enough to understand what was on the radio or being played in the house. A real DJ doesn’t have a title like Hip Hop DJ, House DJ or whatever. They should just be a DJ!”

L4S: “I know you are a bit of a collector what else do you collect?”

Skeme: “Besides records and sneakers because thats the thing it seems like everyone wants to collect, I also collect things such as old skool 70’s toys, rare 70’s movie posters,old skool BMX bikes, Arcade Machines, Pinball Machines,
Old Skool Boomboxes, vintage Bruce Lee memorabilia and rare footage on VHS. So much stuff that brings me back to my childhood, thats what keeps me young!”

L4S: “What would you like to accomplish as a DJ and in the bboy scene?”

Skeme: “As a DJ I want to go where the people take me. If I play for a crowd of 5, 50 or 500 and people have a great night and danced until the very end then I’ve done my job so I’m happy. Same with the bboy scene, I’ve played records that have already become classics, when somebody hears a record they know Skeme Richards broke that record on the scene first.”

L4S: “Before we wrap things up do you have any shout outs?”

Skeme: “I want to thank you first for taking the time to conduct this interview. I want to thank everyone around the world that have enjoyed the music that I’ve played, I do this for you. Much respect to DJ’s that still buy and collect vinyl, that’s where the heart and soul resides, not in an mp3. Shouts to every promotor that has booked me for their jam because they know I’ll bring professionalism to the table and do the correct job. A much love to everyone that I’ve built friendships with during my travels. And don’t forget to follow my blog!! Anything-Goes31

Also I’ve got a Hot Peas and Butta 45 dropping July 27th on the Record Breakin Music Label. It features the Hot
Peas and Butta Band aka Big Pimp Jones.”

PEACE

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