Lets face it, Hip Hop has grown into an oversaturated industry. We hear and see copycats, bad product, and quanity over quality. What seperates the good from the bad you might ask…..I will tell you. What seperates them is the work ethic. When quality is the heart and the quanity is looked at last. What happens when Quality and Quanity work together to make heads listen? Take a look at Dj Ophax, the French Mixtape King: A Justo Nominee, over 100 mixtape releases, and a Discog. of production to make your headspin.
Myspace: www.myspace.com/djophaxofficial
(Dj Ophax,Kayohes, Just Heat vol.4)
KTHH:So Ophax, tell us how you began Dj’ing and what steps you had to take to get where you are now.
How long have you been doing your thing now?
DJ Ophax:What’s good KAYOHES? I’ve been a DJ since more than 15 years and when I began I stayed influenced by DJ PREMIER, TONY TOUCH, RON G, MISTER CEE, DEE NASTY, CUT KILLER and many others. My first Mixtape was released one year after, it was a French/US rap Mixtape with track excerpts from 12″ for the US side and exclusives from the French side. After, I directed myself towards the parties and the radios shows but always while releasing some Mixtapes, and right now I’m only making Mixtapes and beats. It’s a day job, I mean a DJ is like a Rapper or a Beatmaker he should work everyday and not sleep, I see where I am right now but for me it’s just a step. It can be better and that passes by work.
KTHH:Were there any large sacrifices you had to take that you regret now?
DJ Ophax:I don’t regret anything ’cause even if there were sacrifices and errors, that was useful to me. Sometimes I’m obliged to slow myself down ’cause I want to burn the stages but it’s alwyas like that,wanting to go higher.
KTHH: Can you tell us a little bit about your work schedule?
DJ Ophax:I’m always workin’ lmao, I don’t have a specific schedule ’cause when I’m not workin’ on a Mixtape I’m workin’ on beats or promoting my releases. And when I got free time, it’s for my fam or homies.
KTHH:I’ve checked out your myspace and see that a lot of different crews are being represented.
How hard was it for you to network out to these different artists?
DJ Ophax:It wasn’t hard ’cause it arrived off needle and thread. SOUHILLA ARMY is the team that I created wit’ AMAD and DJ PIMP. I joined TEAM AFFICIAL after I played several joints from them on Mixtapes and GEOLANI sought International DJ’s so he asked me if I was interested. Same thing for NEW INDUSTRY later. Now I can tell you that I got offers from other teams to join them but my answer was no ’cause they brought me nothing or it was just a waste of time ’cause peoples wasn’t serious.
KTHH:Whats it like working with St. Laz and New Industry?
DJ Ophax:They taught me lot of things and I learn everyday wit’ LAZ ’cause he’s one of the realest men in this game. Haters and jealousy tried and they still try to put him down but I can tell you that he returns more extremely. I’m NEW INDUSTRY all day every day so be with us or kill yourself.
KTHH:As far as dj’s, which one do you consider to be the most influential in your career?
DJ Ophax:KOOL HERC ’cause it’s our daddy without him we would not be here. And it was one of my best days on earth to meet him here during a party. After all the Mixtape things I will name DJ PREMIER, TONY TOCA, MISTER CEE and RON G ’cause I grew with their Mixtapes. And after that there are the cats like Q-BERT, A-TRAK, X-CUTIONERS, ISP when I was scratchin’ for fun in my room lmao.
KTHH:How many mixtapes do you have around the web now?Where can we cop em?
DJ Ophax:Hard to say lol I think like 100-150 Mixtapes during the last 2 years and I know that there’s copies bootleged everywhere from US to France to Japan. There’s websites too who sold digital copies so don’t cop digital copies ’cause I don’t have a percentage in return, if you want a digital copy take the free one!!!(check the myspace link for his releases, or, www.thatcrack.com
KTHH: If an unknown artist wanted to get on one of your mixtapes, what would they have to do?
DJ Ophax:Just enter in contact with me via Myspace and I will give him the details on how he/she appears on one of my Mixtapes.
KTHH:Whats the next next step for Dj Ophax?
DJ Ophax:Release new Mixtapes every week, release my own project totally produced by myself wit’ all artists I respect and give me respect back. I have some rappers to Host too but it will come when peoples will be ready.The most important have pleasure and fun in my work everyday ’cause it’s that who give me the force to not sleep!!!
KTHH:Whats the name of the next mixtape coming out?
DJ Ophax:Mixtape is called “Follow My Grind”, it’s on the way and thats why I took more time than to answer the questions to the interview.The Mixtape will feature ST LAZ, SNYP LIFE, D BLOCK, LUCKY DON, RANSOM, YOUNG JEEZY and many others. Stay focused!!!
SHOUT OUT TO KAYOHES (Thanks for the interview homie), DJ PIMP & SOUHILLA ARMY fam, ST LAZ & NEW INDUSTRY fam, GEOLANI & TEAM AFFICIAL fam, K. SPARKS, LUCKY DON, BIG WORM, THATCRACK.COM, and all peoples who support me everyday. 1.
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DJ OPHAX (SOUHILLA ARMY / TEAM AFFicial FRANCE / NEW INDUSTRY)
CHECK MY INTERVIEW ON http://incrowdonline.com/?p=432
2008 JUSTO MIXTAPE AWARDS NOMINEE
Best International DJ Categorie
http://www.myspace.com/djophaxofficial
PRODUCTIONS CREDITS:
AVENUE – Gone Get Better
AVENUE Feat. FACE MURDER – Came Up
BLACK KNIGHT – In Due Time
CKG – They Hatin’ Me
ELUS – Struggle
GEOLANI Feat. MONTEGA & DAN DUECE – Come Get It
TEAM TUCK Feat. PLAY HAVOC – Connect
WING – Decisions
WING – Feeden On My Soul
WING – Im A Real MC
SLICK WATTS – Slick Watts Show
SLICK WATTS – This Is My Life
KHAY-D Feat. YOUNG CRAKK & SHAK – On Fire
BIG WORM – Kokaine
HUSTLERS OF SOCIETY – Real Recognize Real
YOUNG CRAKK Feat. BIG WORM – Twin Towers
PRINCE, K. SPARKS & BLOCKWORK – They Don’t Understand Me
BIG WORM & K. SPARKS – 80 Bars
JUXX DIAMONDZ – Plexus
WING – Im Eat
JEW DEW, RETSAM DA PRINCE, RETLAW PRESENTS, GENERAL ZODD, BAGI & WOODEN SOULJAH – Exclusive BASE BROLIC Feat. BIG WEE – 1-800-T.I.P.S.
RETSAM DA PRINCE, RETLAW PRESENTS, SAV PO & GENERAL ZODD – We Put That Work In
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