Interview: DJ Kontrol

Published 2/1/12

Atlanta’s DJ Kontrol has been producing mash-up Hip-Hop & Dance music for almost a decade. Many of his mixes have been featured on all the major DJ sites including Beatport, CrooklynClan.net, YourRemix.com, StrictlyHits.com and more. Last year, he caught the attention of Lil Jon, and they began collaborating on a Mixtape/DVD project “The King of Crunk & The Remix Junk”. Aside from producing, DJ Kontrol is also one of the hottest club DJ’s in Atlanta. We had a chance to speak with one Atlanta’s hottest club DJ, DJ Kontrol aka “The Remix Junk”.

Q: How did you get the name Kontrol?
I started DJing frat parties in college & I went by DJ Steve. Around that time I was spinning with a guy named T-Nice so I decided to add “Smooth” to my name, like the hip-hop group “Nice & Smooth”. I was going by DJ Steve Smooth for a little while until one stoned night I decided to google “Dj Steve Smooth”. After I saw that Bad Boy Bill had a buddy with the same name I realized I needed to go back to the drawing board & come up with something more original. I wanted a word with a powerful connotation. I remember thinking of a lyric that Rakim said: “I control the crowd” and realized that’s what’s its really all about, so I made it a “k” instead of a “c” & went with Kontrol

Q: How would you define your style?
I guess people see me as a Mashup guy because most of my set consists of Remixes I’ve done, but I would say I’m just a music nut. I’ve been all about music my whole life so I try to just incorporate a little bit of everything I like when I spin.

Q: Who are some of your influences?
I could probably name a ton, but off the top of my head the ones who really made an impact on the way I hear & make music are: DJ Premier, DJ Infiniti, Klubbheads, Cosmic Gate, Jay-Z, Eminem & The Notorious B.I.G.

Q: You have already collaborated with the “King of Crunk” Lil Jon, who else would you like to collaborate with?
Jon is another one who was a huge influence on me so that has been great working with him, but if I had to pick one I look forward to working with I would say DJ Premier, he is a hip-hop legend

Q: Where are some of your favorite places to DJ?
I haven’t seen the world yet, but of the places I’ve been I would definitely say that there is something special about both New Orleans & Nashville. Both cities have such a rich musical history & the people always seem to come in to the club with the right frame of mind

Q: What track can you never go wrong with in the club?
There are so many classics that fall into that category so I won’t mention any of them. But of all of the remixes I’ve done, the one I can drop for any type of crowd is this Blend I did with Trey Songz “Say Ahh” over the beat from “Hip-Hop Hooray” by Naughty by Nature. That always seems to work, no matter what the crowd

Q: What is your favorite song of all-time?
“Real Love” by Mary J. Blige. I am a huge Biggie fan so the Remix is cool but I think I prefer the original version. It’s just a feel good song & Mary is our generations’ Aretha Franklin.

Q: What is your favorite food?
Pizza, I could eat it every meal of every day & probably never complain

Q: What is your favorite drink?
Ciroc Red & Red Bull

Q: What do you like to do in your off time?
I enjoy playing basketball. Growing up my life was all music & basketball but over the last few years I stopped playing, so I’m trying to get out there more when I can

Q: Do you have any advice for young people trying to get into the DJ/Music Production industry?
Just love music. That’s it really. Everyday I meet someone who wants to be a Dj or has decided to be a Dj and the thing that comes to mind if it’s someone I’ve known is “do they love music”? You know people in your life who really have a passion for music so if they up & decide to become a Dj, to me it’s not a stretch & it makes sense. That’s what these jobs are about so if you do it for any other reason they may not be for you

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I have big dreams so I want to do it all, but Ill be happy as long as I get to see the world & collaborate with artists who I respect

Follow DJ Kontrol
Website: theremixjunkie.com
Facebook: facebook.com/theremixjunkie
Twitter: twitter.com/djkontrol
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/djkontrol