Fade
The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
This time, I have decided to interview a good friend of mine and an outstanding producer: DJ Hoppa. Let's read what Hoppa has to say...
Hello Hoppa, what's crackin'?
Not a lot Wings, just woke up on a Sunday morning, feeling slightly absent-minded due to some intense herbal abuse.
Please introduce yourself to those who don't know who you are (even though you're one of IllMuzik's old timers!).
Hah, true, I've been around this site for a little while now, it's one of the very few I actually frequent on a regular. My name's DJ Hoppa, I'm a 21 year old DJ/Producer/Graphic Designer residing in the San Fernando valley (818), trying to make some shit happen with this music.
Hoppa, for those who don't know, has just opened his own label - Broken Complex Records. Tell us everything there is to know about the label.
Broken Complex Records was birthed with the release of my first solo LP "To April From June". Me and a couple good friends of mine noticed that people were really feeling the production and the MC's on my LP, so they agreed to fund my duplication costs and get some copies made, with the intent of selling those copies, making a little extra bread, and doing the same thing all over again. I've wanted to start something like this for a while now, and now I had the funding and support of my crew. So we had some meetings, discussed various things, and came up with Broken Complex Records. We got 2 more releases lined up, one from my man Mine+Us who is currently finishing the recording for his LP, with all the production by yours truly. This guy is fire. The other release coming is from Odessa, a Funk/Rock/Hip-Hop/Jam band I DJ for. We are also making many trips to the studio, recording for our first LP, which I think will do extremely good things for Broken Complex.
Was it an old dream of yours, to open your own label?
Sure, well, I mean of course... I've never been concerned with getting signed to a label (Industry Rule #4080), I always felt the "hustle and build the empire" way of thinking.
What's your vision?
Just to bring quality, real music to the masses, and allowing artists to really enjoy what they are doing, without constraints on their visions. If we sign someone to a deal, we're signing them for who they are. No one is going to tell them to make a "jiggy" single or some shit like that. And no one is getting a bum deal. All of us at the label are musicians, and we just want what's best for the person making the music.
Your outstanding (if I may add) album 'To April From June' has been released not long ago. Tell us about this album! I know that it took you 10 months of hard work to finish it. What was it like?
Thanks Wings, I appreciate that. Man, I made this album over a period in my life where I wasn't doing anything but making beats. Everyday, all day, I was just cranking out tracks, and meeting and recording with MC's on the daily. That was the period of networking. There are some amazing MC's on it, 2Mex (visionaries) Life Rexall (shapeshifters), Champ (move.meant), Mercury Waters, fuck I can go on and on. It was fucking great. I'm anxious to get back to that mindset, cause my 2nd LP is coming soon.
What does the title stand for and what does it mean to you?
The title: To April From June.... All the production on the LP is from June 2003 to April 2004, and I'm not too good with shit like that, so I left it simple.
What do you work with (equipment-wise?) Do you also work with software?
I got a few things I've accumulated over the years. I started with software, I wouldn't be where I'm at now (on the production tip) without it.
- 3 Technics 1200 Turntables
- Vestax PMC-06 Mixer
- Rane TTM-54 Mixer
- Pioneer CDJ-800
- Akai MPC 1000
- Tascam US-224
- ECHO Gina 24/96 Audio Card
- 2.5 GHZ PC with 256 MB Ram
- Samplitude 7.0
- Rogue Fretless Bass Guitar
- Art TPS - Tube Preamp
- Behringer B2 Dual Condenser Microphone
- A bunch of Dynamic Mics
- African Djembe
- Behringer Headphone Amp
- Samson Amp
- Tannoy Reveal Studio Monitors
- Midiman 49-Key Keyboard
How long have you been making music?
Well, I started with piano when I was like 6 or something and I've been making music ever since. As for beats/production, I've been doing that for about 4 years now, and I've been DJ'ing about 5 or 6 years.
Who and/or what have influenced your music through the years?
Music. All kinds. My mom is a concert Cellist and I've been hearing classical music since I was swimming in testicles. Everything influences me in one way or another, whether it's from music, drama, society, whatever.
Do you collect Vinyl/CDs?
Oh yeah, I'll grab any vinyl my cheap ass can afford, I got probably about 6 or 7 hundred pieces. I have lots of CDs, but they don't really hold much worth to me, I always find 'em face down on the floor out of their case scratched the fuck up.
What kind of records do you have?
Everything, from Comedy to Little Kids shit to Classical to Jazz to Instrumental to Funk to Soul to Ethnic.... Anything and everything!
What music do you listen to?
I listen to a lot of my friends' shit, like Mine+Us, Odessa, DJ Mr., I always got one of their CDs nearby. I also listen to P.U.T.S, Atmosphere, Sage, RJD2, Shadow, and I'll never stop listening to all that early nineties shit, that was the fucking best! I've also been feeling some indy rock shit, especially the grimey shitty recorded stuff.
Have you got any hot groupies following you wherever you go (you didn't expect this question, hah?)?
Nah man, I totally expected it. Yea, I got this harem of girls that follow me everywhere I go, ya kno? They light my smokes and put limes in my corona and tuck me in at night. Hah, I got a girlfriend man... she'd put the beatdown if some shit like that happened. Seriously tho, in my band, Odessa, we got this asian bass player named Johnny. He is the ultimate groupie magnet amongst my friends. Just the other weekend he disappeared real quick and still won't let us know what happened.
I know that you perform a lot. Tell us some interesting experiences/incidents that happened to you�
Man, all kinds of shit can go wrong when you perform, and all kinds of shit can go right. Like DJ'ing can be a pain in the ass, especially when you don't spin radio hits. I always get a plethora of drunk girls (you know the type, loud as a motorbike) asking for some jiggy/gangster ish.... So I'll put on DJ Shadow's Organ Donor, turn it way up, and just start ripping it until they turn around in disgust. I mean, if you want to hear music that's on the radio, turn on the radio! But during live shows, sometimes you just completely go into a weird state of mind and just rock the shit, and the crowd fucking loves it, and that's the best feeling ever.
Tell us about your secret porn stash (Fade is still waiting for his share!)
Haha, I knew this would come up. I work in the industry, and I'm surrounded by porn all day. 8 hours a day. I can't even watch that shit anymore man, I'm jaded. it kinda sucks. Anyway, I have a collection that is pretty impressive. I'm still looking for people that will work for porn, that would be the shit.
Let's play a game. Just answer: Yes/No to the following questions:
- Is your music entirely sample-based? No
- Would you sample something, even though it has been sampled numerous times before? No
- Would you agree to produce for Britney Spears, if she would have asked you? Only if she kicked it in the studio wearing those diamonds
- Would you like to appear on MTV? Depends
- Do you believe in true love? Yes
- Do you get support from your family \ girlfriend? Yes
- Do we, as IllMuzik's moderators, do a good job with moderating the forums? Yes
- Did you like the IllMuzik compilation CD (IllCompilations Vol.1)? YesNo
A. Most annoying members (yes, you have to answer! Gotcha!).
Aah, no one here gets under my skin Wings! I'm not trying to make any enemies, heh.
B. The most talented 5 members.
- DeuceMade
- Guevara
- Mercury Waters
- Streetwize
- Afrique Deluxe
I wouldn't ban anyone, unless they pissed me off, haha, and no one on this site pisses me off!
What are you working on right now?
Currently, be on the lookout for Mine+Us' album, along with vinyl releases, and the Odessa album coming in the very near future. I'm also taking producer's beat submissions @ Submissions@BrokenComplex.com for future projects.
Thank you for agreeing to answer all my insane questions!
It was my pleasure Wings. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Do you have any last words?
Yes, anyone interested in helping Broken Complex in any way whether it be artistically, musically, anything should contact me @ djhoppa@brokencomplex.com, all help is definitely appreciated and noted.
Also, if you haven't already, cop the album! Support some good quality Hip-Hop!
Thanks for reading this -hopps