DJ Spinz, the Atlanta producer and people-connector who introduced the world to "U.O.E.N.O." in March, via a compilation tape for his HPG production crew, will DJ a million parties this summer. His FADER mix, featuring seasonal offerings from young talent like Migos, Rome Fortune and Rich Homie Quan, is a taste of what he'll play, and an easy way to be the star selector of your own cookout or pool party. See the full tracklist after the interview below; for more on DJ Spinz, check out his 2012 Beat Construction interview.
Download: DJ Spinz' FADER Mix
What’s the hottest rap record of the summer? “U.O.E.N.O.” is a huge record, breaking into the top 10. One of my producers, Childish Major, from my company HPG produced that record, so I felt that was the best way to start off the mix; to represent us, to represent the A-town, to represent my team. “U.O.E.N.O.” is like a breath of fresh air. It’s not really 808 driven. It’s a cool ass melody, it’s something different. It’s not your typical southern record. The rest of the mix was just how I would do if I was playing out: high-energy, good, southern, Atlanta music.
I love how Future modifies the melody at the song's close. Future’s a genius, man. A lot of people sit in the studio and try and write hit records and Future doesn’t even write. He hears it, and you know, he goes, and pours his heart out on the track and he paints a picture. When artists are at that level in their career and they can paint pictures, it’s vividly in their head. They’re on another type of plane, they’re not on the same planet as most people out here trying to buy hits.
Having put out a track your camp was proud of, were you disappointed in Rick Ross’ verse and the controversy it brought to the song? I felt like it was a perfect record. I did not agree with that line but everyone has their own freedom of speech. I’m glad it’s doing well and it didn’t all the way stop the momentum of the record.Controversy is gonna make the song more popular in one light and it’s gonna hurt it in another light. You gotta take the good with the bad.
Not all great producers are great DJs. Is it important for a producer to know how to DJ? I mean, I feel that way. I was definitely a DJ before I was a producer, I’ve been DJing for 10 years, it’s like second nature to me. It definitely plays a big role in my production. DJing is about crowd control, and production is just a deeper form of that. When I’m making a beat, I’m thinking about how a club would react to it, or how a group of people would react to it. That’s my first instinct when I’m making something. From being in the club for years and years and doing radio and understanding how people react to different sounds, it just gives you an edge.
Why’d you put Migos on the mix so many times? They’re the hottest buzzing group in the city right now, no question. They got the streets right now. How Future came a year or two ago and just flooded the clubs with nothing but good street music, that’s what they’re doing now. It’s like a young, fresh batch of new talent. I know myself I’m playing at least five or six Migos records every time I touch the turntables. I put out a record I produced with them called “Undelay,” it’s going crazy right now. One of the producers that’s signed to us at HPG, Dun Deal, he did a record with them called “Hannah Montana” which I think is a huge record. They’re important to what we’ve got going on.
What’s the benefit of working with other producers in a group, like you’ve done with your HPG crew? Creative people need to collaborate. It’s part of what makes everything go. You can be on your high horse and do whatever, but we got this chemistry down here. These my partners, these my friends, these the people I kick it with. Everybody tries to, but nobody makes music like Atlanta music. We might just be cooking out, but we might go upstairs and make beats. It’s moreso just kicking it with my partners type of thing, it’s not like, I gotta fuck with this nigga cause he hot type shit. We just happen to have the sound that people are fucking with. I’m glad people fuck with it, because I love making music, and I’m gonna make a lot of it, and if people fuck with it, I appreciate that.
What are you looking forward to this summer? I’m gonna keep making music, it’s my first love. Hopefully I’ll DJ a couple cool parties, come back to New York. Hopefully I'll be in everybody’s city. In Atlanta we might cook out, we might go to the mall, go to the studio. I might pull up on my partners, go to their crib. We like to kick it here. It’s a real relaxed vibe.
What food do you like to cook and how do you cook it? I don’t eat beef or pork. I like spaghetti. I know that’s basic as fuck. I like fucking spaghetti. I also like making different chicken dishes. You can grill it. Sometimes I put it in the oven, bake it. When I’m feeling ratchet I fry it.
Tracklist:
UOENO – Rocko Ft. Future
Nacho$ - Rocko
O’Neal – Que
Undelay – Migos
Showout Remix – Juicy J. Ft. Pimp C and T.I.
No Hook – OJ Da Juiceman
Fema – Migos
Bando – Migos
FDB – Young Dro
That Make Me - Waka Flocka Flame
Ceelo – Future Ft. Wale
Raised in the South – Ludacris Ft. Young Jeezy
Karate Chop – Future
Chosen One- Future Ft. Rocko
Kat!e – DJ Carnage Ft. Kate got Bandz
Young N*gga – Que Ft. Migos
50K – Waka Flocka Flame ft. T.I.
Killin’ it – Casino & Slice 9
Come Up Off That – DJ Scream ft. Juicy J., The Migos, and Project Pat
Another Country – Ca$h Out ft. Future
Don’t Look Like That – Rich Homie Quan ft. Ca$h Out
Get the Guap – Rome Fortune
Hello – FKI
Hands on You – Future
No Love – Future
Memories Back Then – T.I. ft. Kris Stephens, B.O.B, and Kendrick Lamar
How Ya Do That- Gloss Da Boss ft. Turk