CKUWho: Break North Radio with DJ Hullewud

cku Who?

Break North Radio with DJ Hullewud

Mondays 11 PM-12 AM

HARMANDEEP SAINS JAYME HULL AKA DJ HULLEWUD PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BREAK NORTH

Stylus: What made you interested in Hip/Hop?

Jayme: In the early 80s I was fascinated with what I referred to as breakdance music, not really knowing what it was called. It wasn’t until I heard RunDMC’s album Raising Hell in 1986 that I really fell in love with hip hop. It was at this time that I started to track down and buy every hip hop cassette that I could find, mostly during trips to Detroit, Michigan. The love for music and the culture has continued ever since.

Stylus: How would you describe your radio program?

J: Break North Radio really is an extension of the type of hip hop music that I like and grew up on. The type of hip hop that is played on Break North Radio is, for the most part, underground hip hop, boom bap hip hop, mixed in with a healthy dose of old school classics and Canadian hip hop. Break North Radio doesn’t play what you would normally hear on commercial radio…no trap, no auto tune, etc.

Stylus: How has college radio helped underground artists?

J: Campus and community radio has always been a big part of any artist or group trying to establish themselves. Most artists can’t get their music played on big commercial radio stations and therefore campus and community stations are where they turn to. A large portion of what I play on my radio show is from underground, independent and unsigned artists. I feel that it is very important for these artists to have their music heard and we can offer that to them…and the artists for the most part are very appreciative of my support for their music and helping their music be heard.

Stylus: How did the name “Break North” come up and what’s up with Hullewud?

J: Prior to Break North Radio hitting the airwaves I was part of a radio show on Radio Western called Sausage Gut Radio. This show was hosted by Uncle Ando and Mat Labatt. I met both at local hip hop events and was invited up to their show to spin some music. This ended up becoming a regular thing on Saturday night, and at one point Uncle Ando left the city for work and I was brought in full time as the DJ with Mat and Lou Brown hosting. In early 2020 Mat Labatt left the station and I was offered to keep the Saturday night time slot, which I took and rebranded the show as Break North Radio. As for the name Hullewud, this was a nickname given to me in grade 10 while attending Beal High School. The name Hullewud is just a play on my government name, “Jayme Hull.” I took my last night and mixed it with Hollywood…and in typical hip hop fashion I messed up the rest of the spelling… and Hullewud was born. This nickname was given to me prior to me becoming a DJ. In 1991 my focus on purchasing hip hop switched from cassette tapes to vinyl records and it was during the same year that I purchased my first set of turntables and a mixer… and thus DJ Hullewud was born.

Stylus: How is the future of the Break North Radio shaping up?

J: I am extremely thankful to all the outlets that have shown interest in Break North Radio and continue to broadcast the show on their platforms. Big shoutouts to Tim at Radio Western, Eroc at WRAP.FM, Flatline and Chuck D at RAP station, Robert at CKUW and Dylan at SVP Radio. As for the future of Break North Radio my plan is to continue forward and produce the best hip hop show that I can. In a few weeks I will be celebrating the shows 5th anniversary…and the only change that I am currently working on is to involve my longtime friend Crucial in a larger role with the show. Over the years Crucial has appeared numerous times on Break North Radio in a segment called Crucial’s Corner…and we are in the planning stage to rework his segment into something bigger.

Stylus: How did you feel your transition from a DJ to a radio jockey was? Do you feel pressured working and managing alone?

J: The transition from a DJ to a radio host was seamless, as I had already been a big part of a radio show prior to my own show. The only difference was that I now had to also host the show and talk on the mic, which took some time and was a big adjustment since I hadn’t really done that in the past. That took some getting used to but really that was the only difference during the transition. I don’t feel the pressure doing the show by myself and I quite enjoy it. It can get a bit hectic doing everything by myself, but this is something that I have a passion for and enjoy doing.