Photo Credit:Jai Nima Idowu

In Our Lastest Inside the Box series we interviewed DJ Dummy, who is currently on the road DJing for J Cole. This seasoned DJ has DJed for the likes of Rihanna, Common, Kanye West and DMX just to name a few. Dummy talked about everything from how he started to his most crazy tour stories. Check the full interview after the jump.

How did you get your start DJing?
I started DJing at the age of seven. My father, brother, uncles and three cousins were all DJs. I was constantly around DJs, I can’t remember what made me actually start. I can remember at the age of seven I really started to pick it up, but I’m pretty sure I started even before then.
How did you come up with the name DJ Dummy?
My name was just Dummy and they put the DJ in front. I was the class clown always kidding around trying to get people to laugh. My teachers called me Dummy. I entered a DJing contest and didn’t have a name so I just put down Dummy and from then on everyone remembered me as Dummy.
Who has influenced your style?
Pete Rock, he used to come on the radio in NY Friday and Saturday nights on WBLS. I would record him every weekend regardless of if I was with my girlfriend or crew I’d be in there studying his skills. He’d cut a record and I’d go to the store and cut it too. He was my inspiration, my style is 100% from Pete. Others DJs have inspired me by their controls over the crowd.
What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far?
For me, performing at Madison Square Garden. That’s my home town, everyone dreams of that. Not only did I perform, but the crowd went crazy. I was DJing for Common on Maxwell’s tour in 2008. That was nearly tied with Barbados, 30,000 people when I opened up for Rhianna. For me to go on and nobody knew who I was there and I performed a 30 minute set. I got mad love shown, to get past that crowd and the way they showed me love…it was an incredible experience.
What was it like linking back up with Common at Rock the Bells last year?
It was like we hadn’t even lost a step. He’s been dong TV and I’d been with J Cole. He called me and said “Dummy what songs should we do?”. We got together the day before, I hate to say it was a reunion, but it felt like I had been at work and now I was on a vacation. The experience was so much fun, Common and I have an unmatchable vibe.
You have DJed for Common, J.Cole, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, Musiq Soulchild, Mos Def, A+, DMX, Onyx, Das Efx which artist was your favorite to DJ for and why?
I would have to say Common because, Common like surprises. If I can do something that is not normally in the show he will not panic and jump right into it. You get tired of doing the same shows every night, it’s nice to sometimes change it up.
You have entertained many celebrity clients such as Shaquile Oneal, Lebron James, Venus Williams, NBA, NFL Pro Bowl, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, L-R-G, Red Bull, MAGIC, Nike, Hennessy. Which party was the best? Any crazy stories?
DJing for Venus and Serena Williams was crazy because I’m DJing for the number one and number two tennis players in the world right now. The NBA Draft Party in 1998 was great as well. It hit me what a big deal it was when I got called to fly to Vancouver to do this. Quite a few guys told me I was one of the best DJs they ever heard. We had a great night all night.
I have a lot of crazy stories, which many can’t be let out. So many stories I’d tell and it doesn’t even sound funny when I tell it. One night in the hotel in Sweden, this dude is trying to drag his bed out of the hotel room, and he’s mad that it won’t fit out the door. I like to steam up my bathroom before I get in the shower, and I didn’t check and the tub was stopped up. Ran the shower, watched TV and flooded the bathroom. It was bad, I’m surprised they didn’t charge me. The carpet in the bedroom ended up soaking wet. Lots of strange things happen on tour.
Photo Credit:Jai Nima Idowu
How did you meet J Cole?
They just called me and said Cole wants you to DJ for him. I didn’t realize I would like him like this. It’s not a job, I genuinely like working with him.
What songs/artists would your dream set include?
Micheal Jackson of course, quite a few songs, Prince, Donna Summers, Stephanie Mills, Guy, Musiq Soulchild, Keith Sweat, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Tribe Called Quest, Big Daddy Kane, Jay Z
I determine what I’m going to start with when I first look at the crowd. I never pre make a set, I can have a whole set ready to go and it might not work for the crowd. It’s the vibe I get from the crowd. I always get their early and see how they are reacting to the music, how they’re dressed. I can tell what they want to hear based on the crowd.
What equipment do you use?
Technics 1200, I will always use those they are the best turntables. They mean something to me. To get a pair of 1200s back in the 80s that was hip hop. ,
What’s next for DJ Dummy?
I’m trying to have my album out by this summer. It will consist of a bunch of artists, not a mixtape but a real album. I’m doing all the production, for every song. If I don’t do the production I will do scratches. I’m not saying my name on the track, I want people to vibe to this album. It’s going to be different from the traditional DJ mixtape’s that are out.
Any last words for your fans?
Thanks to everybody, 2011 has been the best year of my career. My fans have been supporting me, and I’m not just a DJ I’m an entertainer. That’s why I can open for acts like J Cole and Rhianna. DJing is not just playing a record, or playing a good song. It’s how you play a song. If y’all like what I do you gotta get other DJs doing the same thing!
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