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ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)

By: ROAD PODCAST (Reflections Of A DJ)
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Welcome to the R.O.A.D. Podcast. The show gives you unfiltered opinions from the eyes and ears of 3 seasoned DJs from the Las Vegas nightclub industry. DJ Crooked and DJ Neva come to us by way of New York; Manhattan and The Bronx respectively. Both relocated to Vegas in the early 2000s to open, what was then, Light and Jet Nightclub. Crooked is known for his workhorse mentality, and high-energy DJ sets, but has never been one for the industry politics. While DJ Neva has earned his OG status due to his countless years of experience in the DJ game. In 2007, they brought a piece of home with them by founding KNYEW (an acronym for “Keeping New York Every Where), a successful clothing brand, the first of its kind to be seen in Las Vegas. Similarly, Jaime Da Great grew up in LA. Jaime, while making a huge name for himself in the sneaker industry, has shifted his focus to becoming a full-time DJ.All rights reserved Music
Episodes
  • Episode 383: JOE LOBEL "The UK’s Wordplay King & The Battle of Content vs. Craft "
    Jun 10 2026
    Episode 383: JOE LOBEL "The UK’s Wordplay King & The Battle of Content vs. Craft" In this episode of @ROADpodcast, the crew sits down with UK-based DJ and wordplay innovator @Joe.Lobel to unpack the complexities of building a career in the modern digital age. The conversation begins at (01:10) with Lobel’s journey from the UK to the US for his Memorial Day run, his perspective on the UK nightlife scene, and the process of securing a US work visa. The discussion shifts to how a "Hip Hop DJ" is defined in the UK before moving to the disconnect between viral social media success and actual ticket sales (09:10). Joe details his technical approach to video production, leading to a broader debate on whether modern DJs are prioritizing content creation over their core musical craft, a theme further explored regarding the rise of DJs with limited skills (21:30). The dialogue turns to the reality of creator burnout and the compulsion to film every moment, and the group reflects on the "perpetual machine" of social media and whether one can truly step away from it (33:00). Joe discusses his scheduling tactics and the risk of pigeonholing himself, followed by a conversation about his reputation for wordplay transitions and the challenge of moving beyond that specific niche (39:55). The episode continues with thoughts on managing copycats in the industry and a discussion on rebrand strategies and equipment (57:01). Finally, the episode concludes with a look at how tech companies are influencing the DJ party landscape with events like @playgrndseries (1:08:01). Try Beatport for free: https://tinyurl.com/yc8da2pz Join DJcity for only $10: bit.ly/3EeCjAX
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Episode 382: MANNY MARROQUIN “Famed Mixing Engineer Who Mixed Classics for Kanye, Mayer & Alicia”
    May 26 2026
    Episode 382: MANNY MARROQUIN “The Famed Mixing Engineer Who Crafted Classics for Kanye, John Mayer and Alicia Keys” The Road Podcast crew is in LA for the NAMM show and have a sit down with multi-Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer @MannyMarroquin whose career spans over two decades, defining the sonic landscape for artists like @KanyeWest, @AliciaKeys, and @JohnMayer. Manny joined the @ROADpodcast to break down the delicate balance between technical precision and emotional resonance in modern mixing. Starting with the core distinctions between engineers and producers, Manny explains his "emotion over technicality" philosophy (04:05) and the "Batman and Robin" approach to song structure (09:00). He provides an inside look at legendary sessions, discussing the ego free mindset required for 808s & Heartbreak (11:15), the "a-ha" moment of "Love Lockdown" (18:32), and the grueling 20-mix saga behind “Stronger." The conversation shifts to the synesthesia of sound, where Manny compares audio engineering to the brushstrokes of Renoir and Picasso (23:30), and explains his process of turning his chair away from the monitors to find objectivity. After diving into the mechanics of club records like "Let Me Love You" (35:50) and the future of music trends in 2026, he discusses the "less is more" choice for @JohnMayer’s "Gravity" (55:55). The episode concludes with his venture into the culinary world with @Verse.LA (1:13:01) and a reflective look at his journey from Guatemala (1:26:01). Try Beatport for free: https://tinyurl.com/yc8da2pz Join DJcity for only $10: bit.ly/3EeCjAX
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • Episode 381: DJ CUTSO "The DNA of the Bay — From Banning Hyphy to DJ Mustard Adopting the Sound"
    May 6 2026
    Episode 381: DJ CUTSO "The DNA of the Bay — From Banning Hyphy to DJ Mustard Adopting the Sound" The legendary @Cutso joins the ROAD Podcast to break down the DNA of the Bay Area scene, the evolution of turntablism, and the reality of balancing a high-level DJ career with a corporate tech job. We dive into his viral "ROAD Talk" interview from NAMM 2026 (2:55), where he addresses the entitlement of new DJs and a social media culture that causes artists to focus on the wrong metrics. Cutso reflects on the "Relationship Economy" and why you cannot get booked without being in the room, while tracing his roots back to the 90s, and the "quick mixing" style that defined the Bay (8:23). He recounts the early influence of MC Hammer and the reverence for D-Styles mixtapes, comparing them to baseball trading cards for the Hip Hop community (13:55). The conversation shifts to the rise and fall of turntablism, exploring how the genre moved from MTV back to the underground before social media re-ignited interest in technical skills (19:42), alongside the divide between Jiggy and Backpack Hip Hop. We tackle the "Great Heist" of the Bay Area sound, debating how the "Mustard Era" effectively mainstreamed a signature NorCal aesthetic (40:35), and explore the @FrandalayBay connection that brought Hyphy to Vegas while it was still banned in Bay Area clubs (24:20). Cutso shares stories of being kicked out of booths for playing "Burn Rubber" (28:26) and provides a candid look at San Jose, from the "Crypto-House" scene to the economic crisis and tech layoffs impacting local venues. After discussing Hollywood's disconnect from LA culture, and Crooked’s infamous night at Club Wet (50:05), Cutso opens up about the "Dual Life" of juggling a corporate career with DJing (1:09:15), finding discipline through Kung Fu (1:19:01), and why open format DJs are built to survive shifting musical trends (1:48:24). Try Beatport for free: https://tinyurl.com/yc8da2pz Join DJcity for only $10: bit.ly/3EeCjAX
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    2 hrs and 9 mins
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