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Apr
28
DJ Mars- Hip Hop DJ Interview
April 28, 2008 | News
Marshall “DJ Mars” Thomas is avidly credited for rocking Atlanta clubs to the core. But what separates this stand out DJ from the rest is his penchant for business. Notably, DJ Mars formed the World Famous Superfriends Organization (WFSO), the largest deejay crew in the southeastern region of the United States. In addition, DJ Mars is the tour deejay for multi-platinum artists Ne-Yo and Alicia Keys. On the morning of heading to Philadelphia, PA, to prepare for the Alicia Keys tour, Insomniac Magazine interviewed DJ Mars regarding deejaying Atlanta and holding down first rate tours.
How and where did you get your start in the entertainment industry?
Unofficially in high school in Springfield, MA. Officially, I started when I enrolled at Clark University in 1991, in Atlanta, GA.
Since you are originally from Springfield, MA and relocated to Atlanta, GA, what were the differences that you noticed back in 1991?
Springfield at the time was like New York City. The musical outlets for underground Hip Hop were college stations.
Atlanta was pretty much the same, the college stations played hip hop. WRAS (college station for Georgia State) played the underground Hip Hop on Sunday Nights. WRAS is influential because the station transmitted at 100,000 watts
Since you are the president of WFSO, how did you form your crew?
I formed WFSO in Atlanta because deejays did not exist on the radio. In Atlanta, people turned on the radio just to listen to it. Radio stations in Atlanta think that the deejays don’t matter. Deejays were not promoted on the radio. In addition, their names were not on the flyers.
In New York, you turned on the radio to listen to (Funkmaster) Flex. I am not used to not knowing who the deejays are. In addition, I come from up north and was not feeling the ways that the Atlanta stations were treating the deejays.
Who are the original and some of the current members of WFSO?
Original members: me, DJ Doc, DJ Trauma, DJ Drama, DJ Fahrenheit, and Special T.
Current Members: DJ Bobby Black, DJ Skills, DJ Scorpio and DJ Tec.
Currently you are the deejay for Def Jam, specifically Ne-Yo. How do you prepare for playing for a concert tour differently from playing in a nightclub?
(As of the date of the interview) Officially, I am on tour with Alicia Keys. There is no room for mistakes for a tour deejay. Fans want to be entertained instantly. For example if Ne-Yo has a wardrobe change, I have 3 minutes to keep the crowd hype. If I do not keep the crowd entertained, Ne-Yo has to work twice as hard to get the crowd involved. For most tours, I start and close the show.
On SOHH you mentioned that women dance and purchase the music that is misogynistic, and should stop if they want respect. Has there been a point that you choose not to play certain tunes?
To be honest, certain aspects of Hip Hop are getting to the lowest level of ignorance. There are certain songs that are just ignorant. I won’t name certain songs because the artist and I live in the same city, which is Atlanta.
Personally, I feel that some of the performers of and people listening to these and other songs are slaves, but; I have to play them because the people are demanding it. Basically, the people especially the women have to make a change and stop supporting and encouraging ignorant behavior.
What is your take on the mixtape scene and the circumstances that happened with one of the original members of WFSO, DJ Drama?
The mixtape scene is necessary, because it is how unsigned artist got promoted. Mixtapes been around from the mid 1970s and “it ain’t going nowhere”.
Regarding DJ Drama, it was a waste of time. DJ Drama’s mixtapes were sanctioned by the record labels. I don’t get it, especially with Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) being involved. On the outside, it looks like RIAA was charging Drama with copyright infringement.
Do you have any last words for any aspiring deejays?
Figure out what you are good at and exploit those attributes. If you are good at blends, sell compact discs (CDs) that contain your mixes. If you have a good voice, try getting on the radio. For deejay that performs tricks and battles, they should promote their own parties.
The deejay market is so segmented that each individual has to know their strengths and weaknesses. I have seen deejays that are make good mix CDs, but cannot rock in a club. Therefore, know your limitations.
DJ Mars, thanks for the insight. Flair of Axiom Blue, this is a good look.
Interview by Tommy D.R.E.A.D.