A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH DJ LOGIC


If anyone told me that turntables were an instrument, I would have laughed. Then I saw DJ Logic spin live and now, even this skeptic is a believer. How can you argue with a guy that actually had a fifty-year-old grandmother getting jiggy with it? Hey, I would not have believed it myself if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But if Medeski Martin and Wood, John Scofield, and Joshua Redman trust him, then you should too. His new disc is burning. On his swing through my city of angels, I spoke with Logic about his music, his life, and his work with MMW, unedited and in his own words.


FRED JUNG: Let's start from the beginning.

DJ LOGIC: I started listening to my parent's records and stuff, playing music around the house and listening to the radio because at first I was into the soul, Al Green and all of that. I heard like Grover Washington. That was one of my first jazz records. My mother had that in her collection. I was also listening to the hip-hop, which I used to tape from the radio. That kind of inspired me into wanting to deejay and going to parties in the community center. Seeing the deejay spin and having the whole crowd under control by spinning different records.


FJ: Do you remember the first party you worked?

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, it was in the community center across the street from me (laughing).


FJ: How old were you?

DJ LOGIC: I must have been like fourteen.


FJ: Did you get it bumpin'?

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I had cheap turntables at the time, so I was doing my best (laughing). But it was good. Everybody enjoyed it. Actually, it was my birthday party. That was like the first party that everybody saw me DJ-ing. From there on, I continued.


FJ: When did you realize that you could make money doing this?

DJ LOGIC: A musician friend introduced me to the whole live thing. At the time, I wasn't really thinking about the money because I was young. I was just lovin' playing around musicians and stuff like that. I also learned a lot from the musicians. There wasn't that many DJs doing what I was doing. The only person I knew that was doing what I was doing was, I think, D.ST, who did a thing with Herbie Hancock, which was called "Rockit" (Future Shock). I started Dj-ing with a lot of jazz musicians and playing at the Knitting Factory and also, I was in an alternative rock band called Eye & I. Like I said, Fred, I wasn't even thinking about the money. I was just happy to be performing in front of people, in front of the crowds, and seeing people clap and stuff like that. Once we started touring, I said, "Yeah, this is what I want to do." The money, how it came was I was getting paid as if I was a musician. That's how the musicians saw me, as another musician and that's how they brought me into their world like that. That's what I appreciate, is them seeing me taking records and blending it with what they were playing. I see the musicians as if they are a turntable, just like mixing records, just finding sounds and where to put those sounds. You also have to have a ear and be open.


FJ: You are getting paid though.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, you could say that (laughing).


FJ: Long way from that community center.

DJ LOGIC: You could say that. I'm getting paid for something that I love doing. Like I said, I don't even look at the money aspect. I just love what I'm doing and how long I've been doing this for so long. I think all the credit comes to you in time.


FJ: Is there a difference between working with a rock band like Living Colour and jazz musicians like John Scofield, Joshua Redman, Don Byron, Marc Ribot, Graham Haynes, and MM&W (Medeski, Martin, and Wood)?

DJ LOGIC: It is just different vibes. When I was with MMW, it was more, they had me just be free. It made me open up my wings idea-wise. It made me explore. There was a lot of colors and stuff going on. I was basically listening to every part every musician was playing, when John was playing on the keys and when Billy was playing on the drums and his percussions and Chris Wood playing on bass. I just find something just to interact with that or to just stir up some type of stew. Basically, add a little salt and pepper here and there to what they were doing to their mix.


FJ: People's impression of a DJ is some overweight guy sitting in a booth somewhere spinning Top 40 singles.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah.


FJ: Do you consider the turntables to be your instrument?

DJ LOGIC: Yes, because of the sounds and things that are coming out of my instrument, just like any other instrument, just like a guitar. I mean, I have to tune my turntable just like a guitar. I have to make sure the sounds on records are in tune with the musicians as I hear it and as the musicians here it. Like on my record (DJ Logic Presents Project Logic), the salsa track, I had to get the guitar in key with what Marc Ribot was playing and I found this Spanish record and it had the same sound as Marc Ribot's guitar and Melvin Gibbs, who is one of the producers, he helped me get the guitar in key so they match. If you listen to that song, you will see what I'm talking about, how it starts off with the guitar intro.


FJ: Where did you grow up?

DJ LOGIC: I grew up in the Bronx.


FJ: Did you get into your share of trouble?

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, you could say that.


FJ: What kind of trouble were you getting into when you were a kid?

DJ LOGIC: Um, just the usual kiddy thing, hanging out late, or doing something that I was not supposed to be doing. It wasn't nothing really serious. And everybody in my neighborhood knew my parents and knew me and that's how I would always get caught. I couldn't get away with much. Everybody knew me because I was also the paperboy. There were a lot of activities, things that I was doing just to stay out of trouble. The music, too, was a big help in all of that. My parents got me my first turntables for Christmas. From there, they helped me get a sampler. They saw how much I was involved with the music and they were just trying to do their best to keep me occupied.


FJ: They must be proud.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, you could say that. They love it. They love it.


FJ: What is the future of hip-hop?

DJ LOGIC: I think it is going to change. I think it is going to go right back to probably back to how it was when it first started in a way, the positive route and people partying and having a good time. That's how I see it and that is how I would like to see it, everybody just having a good time and partying.


FJ: I remember when hip-hop first came on the scene, all the writers were saying how it was just a fad and that it would die out.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, yeah.


FJ: Proved them wrong.

DJ LOGIC: Yup. It's going on. It's going to be going on. I read this thing where the guy was talking about, just like you said, hip-hop wouldn't last and it's going to die out in five years, but he was talking about how hip-hop was never going to stop because every different beat that comes out, they got hip-hop on salsa. They've got hip-hop on jungle. They got hip-hop on pop. They've got hip-hop on everything now.


FJ: Hip-hop even reaches white suburbia.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, you've got the white boys being into hip-hop too. Hip-hop, I don't think will ever stop.


FJ: It is mainstream now. You aren't so underground anymore.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah, yeah, yeah.


FJ: What are you up to?

DJ LOGIC: I'm in the studio working with Karl Denson on his new record.


FJ: Is this a Greyboy record?

DJ LOGIC: Actually, he's got a member from the Greyboys playing drums. His name is Zack. He has some other special guest stars like Melvin Sparks, who plays guitar, famous guitarist. Chris Wood was just up here and he left. It's coming out good. It sounds real good. I'm waiting to play my part on top of everything.


FJ: Ladies love the DJ. Are you getting your share of the ladies?

DJ LOGIC: You know, occasionally. Occasionally. I'm like always on the turntables so I've got to keep the floor moving. A couple of girls will come up to me and say, "What's up Logic," or this and that and try to talk to me, but basically, I have to pay more attention to my music. I have to watch the floor and the energy from the floor. And then if they are still around at the end, then that is real good (laughing). I will be able to talk to them. I'm a cool cat so I talk to everybody.


FJ: When I was in New York, I saw the Wetlands show with Scott and Joshua Redman.

DJ LOGIC: You were at Wetlands? That was a good show. I listen to that tape a lot of times, Fred. I love that. I play with Vernon, Vernon Reid. He's been around for a long time too. It's like I learn a lot from the veteran guys. I like just playing with the veteran people. There is a vibe. Their stories is a vibe and their playing is a vibe. I feel that vibe when I play with those musicians and just talking to them.


FJ: What are you spinning now?

DJ LOGIC: What I am listening to right now? Let's see, I'm checking out this new group called New Deal that is great. Some Miles, some Don Cherry, and some acid jazz groove stuff that I pick up at different places I go to.


FJ: Favorite boy band, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, 'N Sync, or the Meaty Cheesy Boys?

DJ LOGIC: (Laughing) Let's see.


FJ: That's a yes on the Meaty Cheesy Boys.

DJ LOGIC: Yeah (laughing).


Fred Jung is Editor-In-Chief and is a dancer at the Bada Bing. Comments? Email him.