DJ Scream Digs Through XXL’s Music Mailbag [Ready or Not]

Originally published in the October 2010 issue, which is on stands now.

These days, hip-hop seems like it’s losing touch with the streets, but that’s not a problem DJ Scream is contributing to. Since first doing his thing on the 1s and 2s as a kid in 1993, the ATL-based disc jockey has been the man behind the popular Heavy in the Streets mixtape series, 15 volumes at last count, of the latest block burners in rap. In just the last few months, the enthusiastic turntablist has teamed with Jae Millz (Dead Presidents), Pastor Troy (Crown Royal) and Young Jeezy (1000 Grams, Vol. 1) for buzz-worthy releases. Top that with gigs on Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 and Sirius/XM’s Hoodrich Radio, along with running the marketing/management company Hoodrich Entertainment, and Scream is a busy man. Still, he took some time to offer his thoughts on the latest submissions to XXL’s music department. To submit your music, email ReadyOrNot@harris-pub.com.

Gangland, “Tipsy”
(myspace.com/thisisgangland)
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/09/01-tipsy-gangland-done.mp3]
DJ Scream: I try to give every song the benefit of the doubt, but it really didn’t stand out. I could hear some talent there from the vocalist, I can hear some talent there from the rapper, but the track as a whole just is not something that grabbed me and made me want to put it on repeat. Not a completely wack track, but maybe not the best attempts of putting their talents together.

D. Shellz, “Rock It (Like This)”
(myspace.com/perpleheartz)
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/09/09-rock-itmp3.mp3]
DJ Scream:I kind of had the same feeling with this one—just not too original, to me. The beat was kind of lackluster. I know how I feel in the first 15 or 30 seconds when I hear a song. Your first impression is your last. Not to say they can’t come up with something else, but you gotta take the approach of doing something that’s gonna stand out.

King Sage, “Played Out”
(myspace.com/kingsagemusic)
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/09/played-out.mp3]
DJ Scream: Cool, solid hip-hop track. Cool lyrics. I put it right in the middle: It’s not extraordinary; it’s not wack. It has a vibe to it. I don’t wanna label it backpacker or anything. It’s a track I could listen to, but it’s not a track that I have to hear.

Luc, “She Bad”
(100bizmusic.com)
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/09/shes-bad-luc-house-4.mp3]
DJ Scream: This sounded like a typical strip-club kind of track, but it was boring. There’s too many she bads. This is an attempt to make something for the ladies that—I don’t know, maybe the ladies will love or like it. But I think there’s a different way you can approach a track like this.

H.B., “On the Move (Can’t Stop)”
(Reverbnation)


DJ Scream: I like the lyrical presence and the production on this song. It’s a sample that I’ve heard before, but it’s not a sample that’s just been overused, and I like it. I actually sat there and listened to the whole track, bar for bar. A lot of flavor with this track. —Adam Fleischer

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