Diggin in the Crates
The DJ has been a crucial part of hip hop ever since it's humble beginnings in the 70's. Without them the culture wouldn't even exist. Most hip hop artists nowadays thinks that the DJ is just part of the history, and that the need for them is non existent. One of the people proving them wrong is Massachusetts own Emoh Betta.
Would you like to introduce us to the world and mysteries of Emoh Betta? Tell us a bit about your background and what makes you, you?
My name is Emoh or Emoh Betta. I'm a scratch DJ/turntablist and I make beats occasionally. I rep
Fameless Fam and
Milled Pavement. I was born in 78. I grew up on rap music and got introduced to punk/hardcore at the age of 14/15. This was around '92 I believe. This had a huge impact on my life. The name stems from being part of a scene that shaped who I am. These were some of the best times. Touring with bands, attending every show, meeting new people, finding veganism, straight edge, etc,. Anyway people used to call me Emo Dan, not the best name and I don't think the name fit, but that's what happened when you listened to bands like
Indian Summer,
Still Life,
Mineral, and
Ethel Meserve, rather than just
Judge and
Cro-Mags. Haha. The name just stuck with me, and when I started DJing, thanks to finding
Skratch Piklz cassettes in my local music store, it was back to hip hop for me. Whichever DJ name I would choose, people would still call me "Emo". At this point it wasn't cool, not that it ever was, but it wasn't this big deal that it is today. Long story short, my mom sold our house and moved back to Canada, and I added the "H" to my already determined name. Emoh is home backwards. It has a deep meaning to me, regardless how it sounds. The "Betta" was added later on by my homie Al-J.
You're just about to drop the tape Boogie Boy Metal Mouth together with J.Ring. What can you tell us about the project and what kind of expectations do you have on it?
BBMM started this past summer as a result of not giving a fuck about all these sub-genres of music. Not giving a fuck but taking it very seriously if that makes sense. I guess we make psychedelic punk rap, which is what we've been told. J-Ring and I go back years. Him and my ex-roommate, Normal, used to be one of the livest, rawest, hip hop duos in Boston like 6 or 7 years ago.
Awkward Landing. Their live show was incredible.
DJ Shiftee used to be their DJ, homie is nasty. He went on to win the world
DMC's and I started to fill in for him here and there. As time passed, everyone started to do their own thing. J went on to form
Gun Shop Daddy, a punk rock blues band. People say he left the scene, but few know he never left, he just went punk rockin for a bit. After not seeing each other for a couple of years, we crossed paths at a
Busdriver show and I told him to make a song or two just for fun. He said he didn't wanna do just straight rap, and I said "that's perfect." He brought tracks over he made with his band. I chopped them up, added other samples, and cuts. Most our stuff is isn't really sequenced out, I just lay down live takes of stuff on the turntables. No metronomes. Timing might even be off somewhat, but that's our thing, we don't give a fuck. The samples are played live. It's sample based music for sure. Most, if not all of J's verses are one shot takes. No punch ins. It's a smorgasbord of sounds and it has its hip hop moments, but I wouldn't call it rap. We just have fun making music and that's all it comes down to. The name was made up by J. We had a lot of ideas, but this one stuck. Boogie Boy Metal Mouth.
As far as expectations, we are having fun making it, and that is all we need. Obviously we want people to enjoy it also, but whatever happens is fine. So far so good.
What are you up to when you're not making music and causing havoc?
I work at a supermarket. Ive had the same job for over 16 years. Some people may think I just DJ. Haha. That's cool that people think that I guess, but I don't really DJ clubs. There is def money in that, my homies do it. Ill let them do it. I guess i like the idea of making music more. When I'm not making music, I'm eating or working. I work about 45/50 hours a week. So many hours wasted at a job, but I need a steady income to support my food and music addiction.
Apart from BBMM, what can we look forward to from you this year?
Lots!!! My collective/crew Fameless Fam has so many projects dropping over the course of early 2013 which I am heavily involved with.
F.Virtue,
Ira Lee, and myself also recorded an album under the name Uncle Prince.
The Cluhhh is the name of the album and is being finished as we speak.
H.W. and I will be releasing new music as well, if he ever comes home. We are roommates.
I've done a few tracks with my homies
Grey Sky Appeal for their new release.
And BBMM is already working on new stuff including a bunch of videos. Our debut album is out now on
I Had An Accident Records.
Nowadays it seems like the DJ has been kind of left behind in the hip hop world, especially when it comes to groups and so on. You seem to be very proud of your origin. Can you tell us what being DJ means to you?And also, do you consider yourself a DJ first and a beat maker second, or vice versa?
I consider myself a Scratch DJ or turntablist first. Beat maker second, if that. I still don't think of myself as a producer to be honest. I have made beats years back. I have an MPC2000xl, which I didn't even touch for the BBMM record. Most of those beats were made with my Technics, a pair of Dicers, records, a Rane 56s, a Roland SP-404, and Serato. All of the samples were chopped, cut, and manipulated live and then layered. Sort of a different approach to sequencing, if that makes sense.
It's more fun to play with the individual sounds and samples rather than just loop it them.
As far as DJing goes, there are millions of 'em. There are so many types and it's funny to me that rappers don't have them anymore. Some do, don't get me wrong, but I mean DJs that actually cut. It's a rarity. Things go in cycles and scratching will make a comeback for sure. The scratch nerds are out there and respect goes out to them. We inspire each other and many of us make art. Some push buttons and make people dance and love what they do. That's fine.
What inspires you, both when it comes to your music, but also in life in general?
Inspiration comes from a wide variety of things. Hanging with friends, homies that stop thru on tours, finding new music, new food. Sometimes I'll throw on an old
X-Men mixtape or watch a Turntable TV VHS tape and become instantly inspired like it was 2001. Or I can throw on a
Dirtstyle or
Mr. Henshaw loop and cut for hours. I'm lucky to be friends with, and surrounded by so many talented people in music and art. Every one of my closest friends inspires and pushes me to keep doing what I do. I've played a million shows, toured (not as much as I have wanted) and worked with so many talented artists.
You're an outspoken vegan. How important is that to you and how has that changed you?
I'm vegan. I haven't had any meat or animal products in over 15 years. To me it is very important, it's my choice and I feel great about it. It wasn't hard for me to do, it just takes dedication much like anything. I have a GO VEGAN sticker on one of my laptops but I don't go around talking about it or preaching. It's a personal choice, much like straight edge was for me growing up. I prolly have like 4 vegan friends. I don't judge people on what they eat, never. Would it be awesome if everyone gave up meat? Of course! Only because it would make eating out so much easier everywhere, but it won't happen. I have friends that won't even step into a vegetarian restaurant. Haha. I'm lucky to live in an area with many places that have options though. I eat out all the time. Every day. I can't cook.
Shout outs?
Shout outs are tough because you realize you have friends you may not have seen in some time, you accidentally leave them out, they pop up and get mad you didn't mention them. Haha. Peace to everyone I make music with, hang with, eat with, cuddle with, etc,. I love everyone of you.
