REAL HIP HOP SHOW INTERVIEW

DJ BLACK PANTHER

1/ Please let us know who is really DJ BLACK PANTHER and why this name?

Black Panther is a deejay, a producer and now a label owner. I named myself Black Panther first because I'm a comic book head and I loved the Black Panther comic books, and I also have family in Oakland that were a part of the Black Panther's and I was raised with awareness of self. I wanted a name to represent those aspects as well have a strong named that stood for something, from the first mix tape until the latest record it has always been Black Panther.

2/ I know that your life started with a different destiny, could you talk about it and do you think that everything on earth is a destiny ?
Yeah I believe in destiny, before I got into music I wanted to become lawyer that was back in high school at John Jay. But towards the end of High school I started taking film classes and started to get into movie directing, acting and was dancing in music videos. I was in the first Shyhiem video "On and On " and a video with Marky Mark and the London group D influence. I believe I was destine to do music, because throughout this time when I was doing all these other creative avenues I always had a lot of love for music and I felt like I didn't have anything to offer but from the time I got behind the turntable it's been music for me ever since.

3/ Your destiny was to be part of the Hip Hop Mouvement, how did you start and when ?
I started back in 96, a good friend of mine Serbe was a deejay and he used to do a lot parties and I would go over to his house and he always wanted to show me how to scratch and I would always tell him no and he would bug me every time I came by until I would do it. I was literally hooked from the first time I started, I remember buying one turntable and Gemini mixer and practicing all day and saving up money to buy my second and from there the mix tapes, then the beats and then albums

4/ What's your best remember in the Hip Hop game ?
I would have to say my personal best memory in Hip Hop happen very early on for me. I started going to clubs back before I was of age to be in there and I was at the club Home Base. And anybody that knows about the NY club scene knows that use to be the spot back in the day. That's the spot that Funkmaster Flex Started to make his name before the tunnel was the shit. I remember a night I was there and saw Biz Markie free styling with lord finesse and Fat Joe before anyone knew who he was. And Hot Diggy Dog Chubb Rock's dancer was there it was a who's who of rap at the time. 

5/ What's your worst remember?
I would have to say my worst memory would have to be the day that tupac died. I felt like these artist was apart of my life and would live forever, I thought it would be like after pac got shot the first time I thought he'd be ok and write another classic album. It made me seriously look at the game and what it's doing to young black men. As a people were are so endangered by our neighborhoods, the law enforcement the drugs and now the music. And then Biggie died.

6/ When did you start to be a dj ?
I started in 97, when the first mix tape dropped "Beware of a Black Panther " the title was a take off of the Public Enemy album title. I'm know for doing underground mix tape and this first one was a mix of underground and commercial it was the only one that ever mixed the two. And it was follwed by the classic "For The Real Heads" mix tape

7/ What's your references as dj 's and mc's ?
I love all the dj greats, Funkmaster Flex, Red Alert , Premier but when comes to turntablist I would have to say Q Bert, Mixmaster Mike, The X men and The Scratch perverts. The Emcees that I love are the Native Tongue Rappers Tribe, De La , Black Sheep , Mos Def , But I'm also feeling T.I. , Snoop, The Game, and Lil Wayne.

8/ Is it difficult for you to mix your dj activity, production and rap ?
I don't find it Difficult to mix all the different elements in because it's all done for the love of the art and I would do it even if I made no money at it. And I'm good at managing my time the only that thing pulls me away is doing the business of the music and that can be draining but very , very important

9/ What is your material configuration to make your beats ?
The core of all my production is my MPC 2000xl and now I incorporate Reason, Recycle and Sonar into the Mix.

10/ Do you produce for some other rappers ?
I have a lot of upcoming production, I've produced tracks For M1, an artist from France Ya Nigga , Mr. Cheeks from the lost boys, Caligula, Agent smith , as well for a few artist in Miami. And I can Forget the title track of the MF Grimm Album "American Hunger "

11/ What could you tell about your new album "MY ETERNAL WINTER"
"My Eternal Winter" is the sophomore album to my debut "The Darkest Night Ever!!" I know a lot of people were expecting me to do a album similar to "The Darkest…." But the new album is shows the maturing of this producer style. I came with a cleaner sound and I played a lot more on the new album as well as sampling, the album also feat. J treds , Maya Azucena , Oktober , M1 from Dead Prez , Mf Grimm and More

12/ Why did you use this title ?
The title of this album and the one before both coming from some poems that I've written, the title suggests what the album represents the eternal struggle that goes on in all our lives. I wanted to make an album that would show that because I'm all about soul music and what moves me and at the time a lot personal things was going on with me and sometimes the best way to work that out is through music.

13/ What you could you say to your fans and for the other one to explain what's change between this new release and the last albums ?
I feel as a musician that change is great thing and I want my fans to grow with me as I grow with my music and its direction. The new album is a more structured album. And "My Eternal..' is featuring vocalist on the album and that was something that didn't happen on the first album. But Wait till The black Oktober album and see where I take them next.

14/ Please let's talk about Manekineko Pro.
Manekineko Pro is my label that's distributed by HBD/Koch and the name it self is taking from a Chinese good luck charm, the cat waiting for money. So pay me. My next project coming from Manekineko is the Black Oktober album "The Hood Bible " and I'm also working with Caligula and artist Coming out of New Orleans as well as dropping the second radio single "The Half" Feat. Maya Azucena From "My Eternal Winter"

15/ Thanks for the interview man, if you want to thanks somebody or add something, let's do it

Here.....I would love to thank you Dj Modesty for giving me the opportunity and the fans for all the love and support over the years and to all the artist who help to make this possible. And for all the latest info on Manekineko and Me hit up these following sites and feel free to give feedback or say what's up

DJMODESTY

To contact DJ BLACK PANTHER :

WWW.DJBLACKPANTHER.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BLACKPANTHER