DJ Kitsune

From Issue #4 of Foundation Magazine

WORDS: Chris Malo

Q: While most hip-hop heads in Germany are familiar with you, there’s a bunch outside of Germany that are unfamiliar. Why don’t you introduce yourself and tell the readers a little about you?

My name’s DJ Kitsune, I’m a club- / mixshow- / mixtape- / live-dj from Germany, I did mixshows on national tv, was djing the biggest mixshow format in the country, did live shows with most of the top-selling artists over here, had club bookings in Europe, the US and Asia and released award-winning and chart-hitting mixtapes. I’m running my own label and artist management company, I’m the only Shadyville DJ in Germany and the only german guy with shows on Shade45 from time to time and my mixtapes are available on all Sprint-Nextel cell phone subscribers in the US.

Q: So how did you end up in the mixtape game?

It’s always been a part of me being a dj. I’ve always been doing it all, whether it’s clubs, radio, mixtapes or live shows with different artists. It’s an essential part of being able to play the right music in the right surrounding. Some songs weren’t made for the clubs, they were made for radio. Other songs might only work on the mixtape circuit and wouldn’t work on radio or tv. In order to represent this music in its entity I just needed to do it all.

Q: Who were your early influences in the mixtape game, from Germany and from the US?

I learned from the pioneers. One of my biggest US mixtape influences was Kid Capri. He just changed the way music feels to me. He put so much energy in his mix that I automatically felt every record he played. Even a few years ago when he was on WBLS. He still has this magic touch. On a pure mixtape level of course I gotta name Green Lantern, for the mixtape intros and his whole creativity. He has so simple ideas, but it’s always ideas that nobody else came up with. That’s his “evil genius” right there. I gotta name DJ Ev from L.I. for his mixtape intros, he did this a few years before Green and he was just off the hook. A pure inspiration. And of course, I gotta name Funk Flex for being the first one to put mixtapes on a major label level. In Germany, the biggest influences have been Roey Marquis who was heavy with the exclusives-mixtapes and the rest of the older generation in Frankfurt.

Q: What’s the mixtape scene like over there?

Over here, the scene is a lot smaller and especially the mixtape scene isn’t big at all. But there’s a few djs that put out mixtapes on the regular. We have a couple of rap artists putting out gold and platinum albums, a lot of incredible producers and a pretty good scene all over, but right now we’re having a hard time with the media trying to ban gangsta rap from radio and tv, we almost get no airplay even though hiphop’s on the charts heavily.

Q: How did you hook up with the Shadyville DJ Coalition?

In 2003 I started going back and forth to NY to get vinyl and new stuff for my mixshow. From then on I started to get in touch with all the promoters qand some day I hooked up with my man Akio who was working for Whoo Kid and his people. From then on it wasn’t really that difficult cause my work speaks for me, I guess.

Q: How did it feel to get nominated for a Justo’s award?

That was incredible. It felt good, but it felt strange at the same time, cause I remembered that I sent Justo one of my mixtapes one day and he hit me back on my email – something I would have never expected – telling me he got it and he liked it. That was a few weeks before he passed away. I feel honored by having been in contact with him. The nomination came pretty unexpected because I’ve not spoken to anybody from Justo’s people in the last half year before the nomination. A huge surprise.

Q: What’s it like trying to hunt down and work with artists from the US versus artists in Germany?

It’s totally different. In Germany, everybody’s just one phone call away. I know all the artists and it only takes a minute to see who’s available for a mixtape. In the US most people never heard of me and I’ll have to work hard for everything I get, but I’m willing and happy to grind. A lot of people think it’s been easy for me to achieve all this, but I’ve been putting a lot of time, work, money and love in this.

Q: Has, or how has, the DJ Drama arrest and threat of the RIAA affected you, or mixtapes overseas?

A lot of people talked about what went down, which I think is very good, because way to many djs didn’t even know about their rights and the risks. I hope everybody took the chance to find out on what is allowed and what not. Drama was about to be the next dj superstar and I hope those problems didn’t stop him on this way. He came a long way and he’s one of the few djs that understand more aspects of the game since he came from an underground / conscious rap background. I wish him and his camp best of luck.

Q: Favorite mixtapes?

Of all time? DJ Green Lantern “New World Order Pt. 2”, Kid Capri “Old School Pt. 2”,

Q: What role does mixtapes play in an artist’s career in Germany?

There’s a few artists who got really big through the mixtapes. In general mixtapes are always good for a new artist to get some recognition, especially if you manage to be on two or three of the big mixtapes in a couple of months, this helps creating a serious buzz. And artists that are already big still put out mixtapes, whether it’s a “best of” or just a platform to try some new things or put out stuff that didn’t make the album.

Q: Can you buy mixtapes in the stores or in the streets in Germany?

Both, it mostly depends on whether it’s an official release or not. The street scene isn’t really happening, but you’ll get your mixtapes in the clothing stores or on the internet.

Q: What artists have you worked with, and what artists would you like to work with?

Mixtapewise I’ve been putting out stuff with D-Block, Chamillionaire, Rasul, Stack$, Scram Jones and RnB-mixtapes with Urban Mystic or Ray-J and of course german artists like Curse, whose mixtape I did hit the charts in two countries. There’s a few artists that I’d love to work with, especially creative guys like Jay-Z or Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye or Common. I think those rappers have the ability to change music forever and a few of them already have done so. This is inspiring.

Q: Any last shoutouts or anything you want to say?

I’d like to thank all the guys in NY that have been supporting me from day one, people like Summer from the Mixtape Awards, Akio from the Shadyville fam, Dro and the guys from the Shady Rec. promo staff, Sean from Koch and all the others that hooked me up. They didn’t have to do this back then and I’m thankful for that. All rappers and labels: holla at me – I’m here to work. Thanks for the opportunity to be in the mag. R.I.P. Justo!

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