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By
MarWax
Interview with Kuttin Kandy (5th Platoon), 30 Jan
2000
MarWax
(MW)
How did you get your start and
when was that?
Kuttin Kandy
(KK)
I started djing at the age of 16. A lot of my
friends were dj's when I was in high school and everytime I would go to
the parties, I was always in awe by the turntables. Since I didn't own any
turntables I used to go to my friends house everyday so I can learn how to
deejay. I started with the basics such as blending and mixing, but it
wasn't enough.. I still didn't own turntables. Going to someone's house
everday was tiring... so I started slowing down with my lessons. So, it
wasn't until I was 18 where I finally got my own turntables where I got
seriously involved into djing and the rest is history.
MW How did you meet with the rest of
the 5th Platoon?
KK I met Roli Rho
in 1994, I was 18 at the time. Roli was the main influence in my love for
djing. After spinning at various clubs and parties all over NYC for some
time, Roli started entering competitions. It was then, when Roli met up
with an old long time friend Daddy Dog. He too started entering
competitions. Through these competitions that Roli would enter we would
meet friends such as Neil Armstrong, Doboy and VinRoc.
.
MW
Do you organise practice sessions with the rest
of the group or do you just meet and start turntablising?
KK Most of the time we organize practice sessions. Due
to the fact that everyone has their priorities at work and home, we find
ourselves constantly trying to find a way where we can work our way around
everyone's schedule.There are times where we can just hook up outta
nowhere, like we used to, but usually its always
planned.
MW
Entering the DMC USA Finals I guess was one of
your best moments. How did
it feel up there on stage?
KK It felt great being up on stage. It was a wonderful
feeling to know that I was competing with legendary dj's. I was there to
just do my best and have fun. It wasn't just about winning, it was about
being able to accomplish something meaningful. To be able to to battle
other skilled DJs, to be able to share the spotlight on stage with them,
and to make it that far in such a short period time, is an accomplishment.
It is a moment that will never be forgotten.
MW You
are one of the few women turntablists/djs (Lazy K, Symphony etc.) Do you
feel that you represent women on every battle or showcase that you do, or
you don't even thing about it that way?
KK I know that it being rare that there are women in
the field, we females always stand out... We are in the spotlight. I'm
hoping that in time, when more women step up to the tables, people will no
longer see us just as "female djs' but just as DJs. I'm happy that right
now, I can represent for the females in such a positive way. Last year,
most of my routines (not even on purpose) were songs of female artists..
ex: Ladies First, Lost Ones. My songs may have been of female artists and
perhaps because of that it showed me as a "female who is djing"; but I'm
hoping that my skills proved that I can be more than just your average
"girl dj". Not so much that I wanted to prove anything to anyone, but more
so I wanted to prove to myself that I can beat the senseless "girl talk",
ignore the negative chatter and step into the battle arena. I think that
other female DJs can take advantage of the spotlight they are
automatically given, but to bask in the limelight intensely without skills
can only take her so far. Women can represent more if they work hard and
continously advance without having to prove anything to anyone, but
herself. Being there are only few women in the scene, I am proud to know
that I am one of the few who can hopefully be an influence to other women
as well as men. Its great a feeling to know that I can represent for women
in a positive way. I know that there are only few of us up on the scene,
but I believe that in time more women will step into the field. I'm hoping
that each time I step on stage.. that in some ways, I can inspire women as
well as men. For now, I just want people to know where I'm coming from....
Whenever I'm in a competition.. or doing a showcase.. I don't always think
about me representing for women. However hard it may be I try not to let
the "politics" on that topic try to take over my love for DJing. Whether I
am up on stage representing women, (and I will add to that.. ASIANS..)
people should remember that I am also up there representing myself and my
crew. So enough of the chit chat of girls, girls, girls all the time..
let's just DJ and create music.
MW The art of
turntablism has evolved quite dramaticaly in the last few years. do you
believe that this pace will keep on or will things slow down?
KK Yes, I believe that turntablism has evolved in the
last few years. Just as music itself evolves, grows and changes everyday..
you must expect turntablism to do the same. Turntablism will continue to
grow... and I believe that it will go further than we ever had imagined.
Turntablism has made its own world? creating it's own scene away from
other aspects of DJing. Some turntablists feel that it should develop it's
own culture and somehow separate itself away from Hip-Hop culture due to
the huge differences of the mix DJ and the turntablist. Although some have
reached that outcome, realistically it always comes back to the roots,
where it all began. Turntablism branched off the DJ and the DJ started in
Hip-Hop? In my opinion,
I feel as much as the turntablist wishes to
separate itself away from the DJ and from Hip-Hop culture they will often
find themselves returning. Furthermore, because of the unforeseen
popularity in turntablism the media is suddenly interested. Forgotten
years ago, suddenly the DJ is popular again. However, the media still
lacks the essence of the culture and doesn't fully understand the "art"
behind the music. Because of this massive attention to such an
"underground art" turntablism will become affected in both negative and
positive ways. Either way, those who never really cared for it will turn
away, and those who truly did will be the ones to stay. So, in the end
when the limelight fades, and the spotlight is turned off the DJ and the
turntablist, the music and the art returns to where it all began and where
it belongs.
MW Do you feel that
Hip-Hop DJs and Turntablism as an art form is getting the respect it
deserves?
KK I feel that
DJs period, do not receive the respect they deserve. DJs in the HipHop
scene alone, are only now gaining some recognition... Yet, it is still not
enough. Many do not realize what is the importance of the DJ. They do not
see how valuable the DJ is to the music industry. Even within the Hip-Hop
industry, many do not see the other aspects of the DJ. They lack the
knowledge of turntablism and that the DJ alone, can be his or her own
artist. Maybe the reason why turntablists choose to be it's own category
away from the average mix DJ is because of the little respect and support
it receives by the HipHop industry? Maybe now, with the help of big
companies suddenly showing interests by throwing DJ competitions such as
MTV's Amateur DJ battle aired on television and Vibe's DJ Competitions...
turntablism can reach the masses and djs will finally be respected?
However, the media will only be able to catch glimpses and will not be
fulfilled with the true
essense... Perhaps we should be positive with
the media trying to show interest.. and maybe with that help, the DJ will
soon reach the status it deserves... and knowledge of turntablism and
Djing will finally be understood? Hmm, maybe so.. maybe we should be
positive. We can only hope that these evolutional changes of the DJ is for
the better... Like I said, we can only hope.. We just always got to be
careful what we wish for, because in the end, we might not like how it
turns out. 8. What are your major influences (djs, music styles
etc.)
I have so many influences in my life... My dad most of all..
is the one who influenced me with music. I have my dad's passion for
music. When it comes to djs it definitely starts with the old school DJs..
to people like GrandWizard Theodore, GrandMaster Flash, GrandMaster DST
(DXT), Kool Herc, Afrikka Bambattaa... And then there are those who I have
been able to watch and learn from... who till this day continue to inspire
and influence me.. The X-Men now known as the X-ecutioners. There are so
many other DJs who inspire me such as the Piklz, Beat Junkies, and so many
more that will take forever for me to mention. My crew 5th Platoon, most
of all, out of everyone... are the ones who truly motivated me. They
influenced me with their skills and initiative. Roli, is my greatest
influence, he inspired me, pushed me and most of all.. believed in me.
Roli, made me who I am today. Without Roli, I wouldn't have made it this
far...
MW
What about your crew, the Anomolies. How did
that start?
KK Anomolies
started with Helixx C. Armageddon and I. We wanted to form a crew that
brought women together who shared the common love for Hip-Hop music. We
wanted to start a bond with other women who are looking for that same
understanding and support that we were searching for. Although many of us,
work with men.. we still find it hard to be able to cope with certain
issues that some men can't deal with or understand. We were also tired of
the negative women that were coming out in the Hip-Hop industry. We wanted
to show that there women out there with skills.... who isn't all about
sex, greed and violence. So, Helixx and I, formed Anomolies in 95. The
name Anomolies came from the Zulu Nation's terminology as Exterrestrial.
Anomolies comes from the word Anomaly.. In the dictionary, Anomaly means
irregular and uncommon. We chose to name ourselves after the word Anomaly
because we wanted to be different. We didn't want to be your regular
female Hip-Hop artist that is out right now.. we were different, we stuck
out, we were Exterrestrial. We took the name Anomaly and changed the
spelling to A-N-O-M-O-L-I-E-S, so that if you read between the lines you
can almost read the words a-No-Mo-Lies as in "no more lies". We, Anomolies
want to stop the lies in Hip-Hop and to bring the truth to the masses. The
abbreviation for Anomolies is ANS. ANS stands for ANSwer. We, Anomolies
are the solution, the answer, to ringing the truth and stopping the lies
in Hip-Hop. Anomolies now holds 20 females that is based on all 4 elements
of Hip-Hop.. mcing, djing, breaking, and graffing, plus other crafts in
music and art. Every person within our crew is also involved with other
crews. For example, Pri The Honey Dark (MC) is in a crew of her own
Afrobluu, and I am also in the 5th Platoon and many other
groups.
MW
Are you or your crew working on anything at
this moment?
KK Right now, as
a crew.. we're all getting into production... we're trying to start our
own label. We're doing songs on other people's songs... We're taking our
time in putting out our products.. because we know people have been
waiting.. So we don't want to rush the job. It is very delicate, our name
has been everywhere, in the magazines.... being heard about for a long
time. So, we definitely want to bring out something that blow people away.
We don't want to come out with anything "half-assed"... especialy when
people have high expectations. Anomolies will be performing in this years
World 99 DMC in NY. So everyone will be able to finally catch the whole
crew performing. As far as individual projects.. we're all working on
that. Helixx and I, are also forming our own duo group... We'll be trying
to come out as bringing back the DJ and the MC side by side. Afrobluu,
Pri's groups is also coming out soon. Power Femalia which is the bgirls in
our crew is also building their name within the circles. Invincible, our
newest and latest member.. she too is someone to look out
for.
MW
How would you define your style? (ie technical,
jazzy etc.)
KK My style has a
little bit of everything. I try not to stay on one thing. I try to see if
I can add everything together. I try not to get to technical, cause once
it's too technical.. you lose that funk.. that.. music that make people's
heads nod. That's the style where I try to stay at.. However, I also can't
stay too simple.. because people advance so much.. So, I try to do a
little bit of everything.. but more so the funkiness... without that.. it
just isn't music anymore.
MW What do you
think is the most important element of a Turntablist?
KK The term "turntablism" and "turntablist" has become
abused and overused word, whereas the DJ is now left behind the
"turntablist". Yea, its good that "turntablism" may have it's own separate
category... Yea it's a good idea that you can separate your Qberts from
your Kid Capri's... I'm definitely not saying we shouldn't use the term at
all. At times the term comes in handy... However, we musn't forget why the
DJ existed in the first place... We musn't forget the DJ. I don't think we
should leave the DJ behind the turntablist. You have kids coming out now
learning how to crab and flare with all these hardcore combos, when he
can't mix or blend simple beats together. People don't realize that mixing
and blending is an art of its own. People don't realize that there's a lot
behind the so-called average mix DJ that a turntablist can't do. Many
turntablists started as DJs... and I think we owe it to the creators of
the whole artform, the whole culture, to not forget where it all started.
Yeah, turntablism can be its own entity... but we shouldn't forget the mix
deejay. The DJ is the creator and the music behind it all. Maybe
turntablism went down a different road, a high advanced level, far beyond
just playing a record... Maybe turntablism went far from the average mix
DJ... but not far enough that it uses another kind of instrument. I think
in order for a person to understand the whole concept of being a
turntablist.. he must first and foremost be THE DJ.. Being a DJ, you know
the music, you know the history behind the music.... You know a different
side of creativity other than composing as a turntablist... You become
part of the music just by feeling the whole song before it is composed.
And to me, in my opinion, that is the most important element of the
turntablist... and that's being the average mix dj
first.
MW
Which battling style do you prefer? The NMS /
ITF head to head battles
or the DMC 5/6 min showcases?
KK I don't have a preference.. To me, a battle dj can
be the best battle dj if he can battle any kind of style...
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