PUBLISHER’S NOTE
KINGS OF THE MIX
by K. Cannick
With this being our DJ issue, I was compelled to share an excerpt from Tavis Smiley’s latest book, “Death of a King”, in which he biographs the final year in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the text below, Tavis describes Dr. King (Doc) addressing a congregation of DJs in Atlanta. While the names mentioned may not be as familiar as DJ Scream, DJ Drama or Greg Street, I think the sentiment that one of our Nation’s greatest leaders shares about the DJs place in history is quite profound.
THE EXTRAS
GLOBAL SPIN AWARDS 2014 The 3rd Annual Global Spin Awards went down this past quarter, honoring the top DJs in the industry. Be sure to visit www.makinitmag.com/feat/gsa2014 to check out photos, interviews and a full recap from #TeamMakinItMag correspondent Missy B (@MissyBNYC).
In mid-August, as Doc walks into the ballroom of an Atlanta hotel to address a convention of black radio deejays, “Respect” is blasting over the loudspeakers. In the form of a long and rousing standing ovation, respect is exactly what the deejays afford Doc. They are especially gratified that he has agreed to deliver the keynote speech… Today, at this convocation, he reminisces about his love of soul music. He praises the work of legendary deejays like Pervis “The Blues Man” Spann in Chicago, Magnificent Montague in Los Angeles, and Georgie Woods in Philadelphia. He acknowledges how deejay “Tall Paul” White helped mobilize the massive nonviolent demonstrations in Birmingham back in ’63. He recognizes the role that black popular music—manifest in stirring songs like “Respect”—has played in freeing the hearts and minds of a people searching for a strong self-identity. In the shadow of Ferguson, Eric Garner, Black History Month, and the recently passed King Holiday, I felt moved to share this excerpt because I truly support the DJs. Not just for the impact that they have on the success of a record, but for the impact they have on the world. I shared this excerpt in hopes that it would remind those DJs who see themselves as gatekeepers to the industry, that they are also guardians of the culture.
TERRENCE “T” MIMS 1965 - 2014 It’s rare to find genuine people in this industry. If you were fortunate enough to know T Mims then you know he was one of the good guys. He was one of those people always ready to work and always willing to help. On behalf of the whole @MakinItMag team, our deepest sympathies go out to his family and all of the loved ones he left behind. On a personal note, I honestly can’t imagine you ain’t somewhere right now reading this issue. Don’t know how you made it out of here without me knowing about MC Alpha T. It all makes so much sense now :)
4 | Makin’ It Magazine
While we often argue over the state of hip hop (its gentrification, its decline, its imbalance), we must remember the place of the DJ has always been discovering and introducing great music to the masses. Hip hop was birthed by a DJ, and only by a DJ will it die. The relevance of the genre rests with the conviction of real DJs to continue to find and highlight exceptional talent based on its merit, and not just a check. Your status as a REAL DJ is NOT determined by your Serato being in Relative or Absolute mode, but whether your character is. Is your opinion of a record Absolute or simply Relative to the payment status of an invoice? While I have no problem with DJs getting paid to play records (that’s called promotion), I do take issue with those who refuse to play good records simply because they didn’t get paid (that’s called B!tch@$$ness). In closing, just remember that as a DJ every single record you play is a cosign, not just on the music but on the message it presents. It’s a cosign to the youth, to other cultures and to the world at large. It’s a proclamation that THIS is what Hip Hop IS. Kelby Cannick, Publisher Makin’ It Magazine
Check out Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Year. Available on Amazon.com www.MakinItMag.com