articles
DJ Mega
from volume 01 issue 05 // Michael Spadoni
DJ Mega
Words: Brandon Dunlap
Illustration: Bask
REAX: Can you start out by telling us a little bit about how you started Djing?
DJ Mega: I started in 97. It was just the natural progression for me really, being a music dork my whole life. The hip hop that I was a fan of that was coming out at that time was only being pressed on wax and unless you wanted gnarly cassette copys of everything you had to
get turntables.
REAX: Who are some of your influences?
DJM: As far as party rocking there are cats like A-trak and Z-trip who are just redicules, I like What Diplo and Low Budget do as well.
REAX: How about your absolute essential “trapped on a deserted island albums�
DJM: Ok. I knew this question was coming and Ive been thinking about this one for a while. Ill give you some hip-hop DJ Mega favorites. (I wont get into Bill Joel, the Stones and Steely Dan.)
Public Enemy- Fear of a black planet (probably the reason I ever got into hip-hop)
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKas most wanted
Tribe Called Quest - Low end Theory
Third Bass-Cactus Album (I loved those honkeys)
Leaders of the New School - Future without a past.
Dr Dre- the Chronic (duh)
Beastie Boys- Pauls Botique (one of the most important albums ever made…EVER.)
Common Sence – Can I borrow a dollar?
Ill stop here, I could go on for days..do your homework people!
REAX: What was your most memorable performance or defining moment?
DJM: Either this Halloween warehouse party I did in St Pete a few years back or at DBS2. I like to think I haven’t had my “Zen†moment yet.
REAX: How do you feel about D.J. battles?
DJM: Its really died down over the last few years ever since this guy DJ Merge won literally every single battle out there. I also think a lot of people were seeing limitations on the amount of people they could perform in front of. I personally would rather make 20 girls get naked on the bar than scratch for 15 guys in Heiro shirts.
REAX: What bands do people request the most?
DJM: THAT FUCKING NELLY FURTADO SONG PREMISQUOUS! I DON’T HAVE IT ECKERD COLLEGE SKANKS.
REAX: What do you wish they would request?
DJM: “I didn’t mean too†by Casual… I would literally let someone drink on my tab if that happened.. You want Casual, your rocking on my dime.
REAX: What is the best part of being a D.J.?
DJM: I wont lie here. Its exactly what you think it is. Free hotel rooms where I get to push maids carts into the pool, free T-shirts and girls acting a fool.
REAX: How about the worst?
DJM: My new years resolution last year was to stop doing shows that’s weren’t exactly what I wanted to be doing so now the downside is a hangover…and that is constant.
REAX: Talk a little about your involvement with the art scene and some of the artists you’ve worked with.
DJM: Bask and Tes One are two of my oldest and dearest friends, so Im involved with some stuff that they do. Naturally, its amazing being able to provide a soundtrack for such talented guys. I enjoy doing art parties not so much cheese and crackers art shows. Oh. Im also doing the third Dirty but sophisticated party on Oct. 13th. Have you heard of it? Because its pretty much going to be better than a hooker knife-fight!
REAX: How about the current state of the Bay Area scene?
DJM: Its almost there people! Keep grinding!
REAX: You play both sides of the Bay. What’s up with the 727 vs. 813 rivalries, how are the crowds different?
DJM: Haha theres no rivalry really, at least I hope not. Im pretty sure Joey D and I invented that “rivalry†as a joke. He like to come over here and throw Tampa gang signs and I like to rep on the mic while Im djing. It’s really all love. To seriously have a beef twenty minutes away from your house would really be shooting your self in the foot. If anything its about pride. One difference in the crowds would be that In Tampa I don’t know every single person and that can be nice. I love all my Tampa bay heads.
REAX: How has the scene changed since you started out?
DJM: A lot of organized partys now where it used to be all about the weekly events. I like the events aspect of it, kind of gives you that “Big City†feel. Also bull shit radio clubs are VERY separate from what real motherfuckers do. You will never see the “Wild bunch†at the Czar bar. You go to the Czar Bar your going to see Mike Blenda ripping the roof off. Fuck the radio.
REAX: At the DBS#2 show you absolutely brought down the house, would you say you control the crowd or do you let the type of crowd dictate how loose you get?
DJM: How I see it, a party like that is only going to have the coolest of the cool, the flyest girls, and the most critical audience so I brought my A game. It was a little of both I knew what I was going to play BUT I took forever getting records together. Damn that party was fun.
REAX: I’ve seen you perform at art shows, I’ve seen you perform at clubs where the crowd was more “radio friendly†and I’ve seen you play some pretty big hip hop shows is there any difference in how you prepare or do you just do your thing regardless?
DJM: Just putting together what I think will work. I have a huge production before I leave my house to play out, you should see it, Vinyl everywhere.
REAX: What’s the funniest thing someone has ever said to you at a show?
DJM: Old ladys are always good for a laugh asking me to play non-stop disco. I always want to say “shouldn’t you be in bed?â€
REAX: Dirty But Sophisticated #3 is coming up and you’re a big part of the line-up, what do you expect to see this time around?
DJM: I want to see more of the same in terms of people having the best time of their life, taking in amazing art work listening to the best bands/dj’s that we have to offer. I cant really get into to much detail about this party people but mark your callender. Oct 13.
REAX: What CD is in your car now?
DJM: A-trak- oh no you didn’t. Also a little ditty I recorded at Positive Response studios…SHHHHH. You will hear it soon enough.
REAX: If Mega had a theme song what would it be?
DJM: Jack of Spades by Boogie Down Productions
REAX: What person alive or dead would you love to D.J. for?
DJM: My father who died when I was seven. The old man would get a kick out of me rocking a party. He was a part time comedian and would really appriciate the crowd feedback.
REAX: Do you have a big shout out for anyone?
DJM: I have a ton. My shorty doo wop honey-dip girlfriend Amber Dawn for holding me down no matter how I act, Bask and Tes One, Big Chris, Libby, The Black Market DJs, Joey and Decon from Tastemakers, my 6th ave posse, Lil Shawn (Mister Pretty), DJC, Pimp C for the photos, Jordan Hart, Brandon Dunlap for the chance, Mastrys bar, Emerald bar, Ces Money Supreme, DJ JC, Tony G, DJ Blenda, Slopfunkdust, DJ Sandman, Kramtronix, DJ Tanner, Manny and Brian at Daddy Kool Records, Chaka Con, My people at the Lobby (Saturday night madness), Matt Kaye, Dustin Orlando, Keklis, the Vitale family, John Shannon, Heavy Metal Bob, the Cities of Saint motherfucking Petersburg and Tampa……respectively
Words: Brandon Dunlap
Illustration: Bask
REAX: Can you start out by telling us a little bit about how you started Djing?
DJ Mega: I started in 97. It was just the natural progression for me really, being a music dork my whole life. The hip hop that I was a fan of that was coming out at that time was only being pressed on wax and unless you wanted gnarly cassette copys of everything you had to
get turntables.
REAX: Who are some of your influences?
DJM: As far as party rocking there are cats like A-trak and Z-trip who are just redicules, I like What Diplo and Low Budget do as well.
REAX: How about your absolute essential “trapped on a deserted island albums�
DJM: Ok. I knew this question was coming and Ive been thinking about this one for a while. Ill give you some hip-hop DJ Mega favorites. (I wont get into Bill Joel, the Stones and Steely Dan.)
Public Enemy- Fear of a black planet (probably the reason I ever got into hip-hop)
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKas most wanted
Tribe Called Quest - Low end Theory
Third Bass-Cactus Album (I loved those honkeys)
Leaders of the New School - Future without a past.
Dr Dre- the Chronic (duh)
Beastie Boys- Pauls Botique (one of the most important albums ever made…EVER.)
Common Sence – Can I borrow a dollar?
Ill stop here, I could go on for days..do your homework people!
REAX: What was your most memorable performance or defining moment?
DJM: Either this Halloween warehouse party I did in St Pete a few years back or at DBS2. I like to think I haven’t had my “Zen†moment yet.
REAX: How do you feel about D.J. battles?
DJM: Its really died down over the last few years ever since this guy DJ Merge won literally every single battle out there. I also think a lot of people were seeing limitations on the amount of people they could perform in front of. I personally would rather make 20 girls get naked on the bar than scratch for 15 guys in Heiro shirts.
REAX: What bands do people request the most?
DJM: THAT FUCKING NELLY FURTADO SONG PREMISQUOUS! I DON’T HAVE IT ECKERD COLLEGE SKANKS.
REAX: What do you wish they would request?
DJM: “I didn’t mean too†by Casual… I would literally let someone drink on my tab if that happened.. You want Casual, your rocking on my dime.
REAX: What is the best part of being a D.J.?
DJM: I wont lie here. Its exactly what you think it is. Free hotel rooms where I get to push maids carts into the pool, free T-shirts and girls acting a fool.
REAX: How about the worst?
DJM: My new years resolution last year was to stop doing shows that’s weren’t exactly what I wanted to be doing so now the downside is a hangover…and that is constant.
REAX: Talk a little about your involvement with the art scene and some of the artists you’ve worked with.
DJM: Bask and Tes One are two of my oldest and dearest friends, so Im involved with some stuff that they do. Naturally, its amazing being able to provide a soundtrack for such talented guys. I enjoy doing art parties not so much cheese and crackers art shows. Oh. Im also doing the third Dirty but sophisticated party on Oct. 13th. Have you heard of it? Because its pretty much going to be better than a hooker knife-fight!
REAX: How about the current state of the Bay Area scene?
DJM: Its almost there people! Keep grinding!
REAX: You play both sides of the Bay. What’s up with the 727 vs. 813 rivalries, how are the crowds different?
DJM: Haha theres no rivalry really, at least I hope not. Im pretty sure Joey D and I invented that “rivalry†as a joke. He like to come over here and throw Tampa gang signs and I like to rep on the mic while Im djing. It’s really all love. To seriously have a beef twenty minutes away from your house would really be shooting your self in the foot. If anything its about pride. One difference in the crowds would be that In Tampa I don’t know every single person and that can be nice. I love all my Tampa bay heads.
REAX: How has the scene changed since you started out?
DJM: A lot of organized partys now where it used to be all about the weekly events. I like the events aspect of it, kind of gives you that “Big City†feel. Also bull shit radio clubs are VERY separate from what real motherfuckers do. You will never see the “Wild bunch†at the Czar bar. You go to the Czar Bar your going to see Mike Blenda ripping the roof off. Fuck the radio.
REAX: At the DBS#2 show you absolutely brought down the house, would you say you control the crowd or do you let the type of crowd dictate how loose you get?
DJM: How I see it, a party like that is only going to have the coolest of the cool, the flyest girls, and the most critical audience so I brought my A game. It was a little of both I knew what I was going to play BUT I took forever getting records together. Damn that party was fun.
REAX: I’ve seen you perform at art shows, I’ve seen you perform at clubs where the crowd was more “radio friendly†and I’ve seen you play some pretty big hip hop shows is there any difference in how you prepare or do you just do your thing regardless?
DJM: Just putting together what I think will work. I have a huge production before I leave my house to play out, you should see it, Vinyl everywhere.
REAX: What’s the funniest thing someone has ever said to you at a show?
DJM: Old ladys are always good for a laugh asking me to play non-stop disco. I always want to say “shouldn’t you be in bed?â€
REAX: Dirty But Sophisticated #3 is coming up and you’re a big part of the line-up, what do you expect to see this time around?
DJM: I want to see more of the same in terms of people having the best time of their life, taking in amazing art work listening to the best bands/dj’s that we have to offer. I cant really get into to much detail about this party people but mark your callender. Oct 13.
REAX: What CD is in your car now?
DJM: A-trak- oh no you didn’t. Also a little ditty I recorded at Positive Response studios…SHHHHH. You will hear it soon enough.
REAX: If Mega had a theme song what would it be?
DJM: Jack of Spades by Boogie Down Productions
REAX: What person alive or dead would you love to D.J. for?
DJM: My father who died when I was seven. The old man would get a kick out of me rocking a party. He was a part time comedian and would really appriciate the crowd feedback.
REAX: Do you have a big shout out for anyone?
DJM: I have a ton. My shorty doo wop honey-dip girlfriend Amber Dawn for holding me down no matter how I act, Bask and Tes One, Big Chris, Libby, The Black Market DJs, Joey and Decon from Tastemakers, my 6th ave posse, Lil Shawn (Mister Pretty), DJC, Pimp C for the photos, Jordan Hart, Brandon Dunlap for the chance, Mastrys bar, Emerald bar, Ces Money Supreme, DJ JC, Tony G, DJ Blenda, Slopfunkdust, DJ Sandman, Kramtronix, DJ Tanner, Manny and Brian at Daddy Kool Records, Chaka Con, My people at the Lobby (Saturday night madness), Matt Kaye, Dustin Orlando, Keklis, the Vitale family, John Shannon, Heavy Metal Bob, the Cities of Saint motherfucking Petersburg and Tampa……respectively
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