Badnews: What made you want to pursue DJ’ing
DJ Wes Will: Just growing up watching Yo! MTV Raps. Just watching them spin on TV. I use to tell my father that’s what I wanted to do. I bought a lot of records, I mean a whole bunch and when I got into school I just started doing parties and took it from there.
Badnews: Ok. Now looking back which DJ’s did you like the most or use for inspiration?
DJ West Will: Kid Capri, Red Alert, Clue of course, out here Cosmic Kev just a lot of people who are good at the craft.
Badnews: At what point did you say to yourself that you should make DJ’ing a career?
DJ West Will: I want to say my frat got me into it. They would let me DJ parties and that’s how I really got into it. I didn’t really have any equipment until my freshman year at Rider University.
Badnews: Wow. But it was perfect timing though it seems because you done a lot of parties at different Colleges around the area. Now one of the people you work with closely is DJ Nasty. Who did you two link up?
DJ Wes Will: Nasty and I were in the same frat, and he didn’t know I DJ’ed but we met up at a party, exchanged info and then I didn’t really link up with him until Craig University.
Badnews: Okay I see. Now you two have the group S.W.A.T. DJ’s… how long has SWAT been around?
DJ Wes Will: We started this Three Years ago. It includes 16 DJ’s from all over the Tri State area.
Badnews: That’s what’s up. Now what does SWAT look for in a DJ? I mean what’s the process of getting accepted into SWAT?
DJ Wes Will: Theres going to be a lot of give and take. Were looking for DJ’s to grind. Were trying to make a movement. If you want to become apart of our moment we come check out your shows and see how everything is, and if we like what we see, then we will talk. We have a couple cats in our group that grind. There really making moves there’s a lot to name but SWAT is doing there thing.
Badnews: Ok. Now how is SWAT branching out o reach that national stage?
DJ Wes Will: Well were starting to branch out now. I’m trying to go on the road and tour. But hopefully around the end of May, We start in Georgia and work there real heavy, then Miami all the way to the Bay.
Badnews: Well good luck with that, I hope it all works out. Now they say the name represents the brand, but where exactly did you get the name DJ West Will? Is that a block or something?
DJ Wes Will: (laughs) nah, it’s basically my goverment cut in half. I was always called Wes Will by my homies forever since like middle school. So instead of just trying to make up a name, I just decided to go with what everyone has been calling me.
Badness: Makes sense. I had to ask because I thought it was the block (laughs). Okay moving along, what kind of equipment are you using?
DJ Wes Will: I keep it real light. Ratio, Mac book pro, 1200’s Deville… you know real light (laughs)
Badnews: I feel that. All that can get expensive but being a DJ can get a little expensive right? Especially if you’re not really out there like that
DJ Wes Will: Absolutely. A lot of DJ’s say there making x amount a show but for some its there regular 9 to 5. But as for me, I just stay working; I do like 14-15 shows a month, and just take that money and flip it. I use to work for Merryl Lynch. But I want to take my 40 or 50 and settle down and buy some property. And then try and get into producing from the crib m trying to retire when I'm like 36, 37 (laughs)
Badnews: (laughs) I feel that for real. Now I always ask this but do you think it’s a good thing for the DJ to become the artist?
DJ Wes Will: Absolutely, I feel that it’s a long time coming. The only shine a DJ would get is his breaks off his mixtapes. 50 came up heavy in the mixtapes and now it’s our time to shine. But there are some DJ’s that come out lacking skills, like the basic skills on how to DJ, they just go on the internet and download music and slap it on mixtapes, its not cool.
Badnews: I know what you mean. So basically if you could give a message to the up and coming DJ you would basically say step your game up.
DJ Wes Will: Yeah. DJ’ing is a craft just learn the basic skill
Badnews: That’s what’s up. Now how do you feel about certain DJ’s being one sided and only breaking certain DJ’s music? Do you feel that’s a bad thing and it disrupts unity?
DJ Wes Will: Yes and no. certain artists look to work with certain DJ’s because there the only people they know. Like D-Block and DJ Green Lantern. But then there are some rifts between certain artists that spark a touchy situation and keep certain artists in cliques
www.myspace.com/DJWesWill
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