DJ Tip of the Day: Listen to the Radio

Trying to figure out which top 40 songs to integrate into your mix? Check out the Billboard Hot 100 every month or so, and listen to the local pop or hip-pop radio stations. Seems like they play the same 7 or 8 songs on repeat during the day, which may be painful for you, but this is the music that the people who go to your bar or club are listening to. Play what they know and love, and they’ll stay and spend their money, some of which will trickle back to you.

(image via Morguefile)

Throwback Track: DWYCK - Gang Starr ft. Nice and Smooth

Speed: 100 bpm

The DJ’s Take: I usually post pop music up here, but decided that today, I will pay respects to one of the great rap groups of all-time. In case you didn’t hear, Guru of Gang Starr died yesterday at age 43.

If you’re a true fan of rap and hiphop, the news is tough to take, although there were rumors floating around that Guru was having health issues. I was a big fan of their music, and used to love mixing in classics like DWYCK when I started djing. They made rap tracks like they were meant to be made - DJ Premier making your head nod and your ribcage shake with his beats, and Guru delivering calm, cool rhymes in his trademark monotone like a hiphop godfather.

R.I.P. to a true legend.

Download the MP3: Dwyck (Explicit) (Feat. Nice And Smooth)