PREZ
DJ Handle: Prez
What it means: It was as if one day I woke up in college and everyone seemed to be calling me that. Funny enough, it just stuck with me.
What I play: I specialize in hip hop, funk, soul and dub
Catch me at: Every Wednesday Night 9-11 p.m. on “In The Beat of the Night” on WUAG 103.1 FM
Upcoming shows: Gate City Getdown at Artistika on Sept. 21 with DJ Bonzani and Disco B of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 crew. Greensboro Fest at CFBG on Sept. 25.
Got in the game: I was given my first stack of records in 1996 from my grandmother doing spring cleaning (thank you for J5 and Bobby Womack). Since then I have been collecting. I turned crate digging into DJing in 2000 with my cohorts Los, DLX and Soulijah.
Why I do it: I was always impressed with how good DJs would push the envelope by giving people new music to vibe to. In the same vein of this standard, I wanted to introduce the masses to a unique sound that leaves you saying, “Yo DJ, what’s that? I dig it!”
Influences: King Britt, DJ Krush and Kid Koala
First pro gig: Out of the basement jams and house party scenes. Brooklyn to Greensboro
Studio work: Collaborated on projects with Maf Maddix, Deflon and A_blissAbyss
Favorite technique: Sample manipulation with transform and stab scratches.
Personal playlist: The library is vast. But I keep Free The Robots, Dap-Kings, the Lions and Martyn in heavy rotation!
Favorite albums: Marvin Gaye — What’s Going On starts it off, though too many to name. A few classics: Pete Rock — Petestrumentals, King Sunny Ade — Juju Music, DJ Cam — Mad Blunted Jazz, Pharoah Sanders — Karma
My gear: Technics 1200s, Vestax PMC 05 Pro mixer and all vinyl!
Website: www.psyopticrecords.tumblr.com
I’d like to add: I want to say peace to my label Psyoptic Records: DJ 84, NDangR Species, Braco, Brand New Life, the Raving Knaves, Deflon, FLO, Brooklyn Airlift, J-Lone, FLAV, DLX and DJ Bonzani. And also shouts to my affiliates: SPCLGST, Jukebox Heroes, DJ Lorca, Harley Lyles and Ace Millie.
