Jay B.: Alright, everybody wake-up right now, because in the building we have upcoming DJ and Designer, DJ MAF. What's up man?
DJ M.A.F.: Nothing much, just chilling tired as hell but still excited for this interview
JB: Mos Def. Now for the sake of any reader of the blog, that has been in complete hybernation, give a little brief introduction of yourself and what you do.
MAF: Well im a dj from the DC metro area and Im not your average mixtape dj meaning I don't just compile a bunch of leaks and plug my name over them. I do original remixes of tracks, and typically i will do mixtapes based on themes such as the Beastie Boys vs. Miles Davis and The Hypebeast Mixtape. I'm also a part time designer for my company MadeMiddleMen Clothing Co.
JB: That's wassup. Now, first, I'd like to touch on your music. How many mixtapes have you released so far?
MAF: well i've released about 6 mixtapes in the span of 4 years under my own name. I have taken part in a lot more than that which i can't keep track of the two most notable ones being my beastie boys vs. miles davis one and the hypebeast mixtape which both received a lot of love and exposure
JB: For sho'. Now, the first mixtape. I will be honest. Now most people don't do Beastie Boys remix albums. You kno, most guys are all about the Jay-Z Black Album. Now, mixing it with Miles Davis...that is completely out there. Where did u get the idea for that mixtape?
MAF: Well i've always been a beastie boys fan and they're a pretty underrated group as far as the main stream is concerned but they have a really strong core fan group which I knew would receive something like that well as far as miles davis, jazz is one of my biggest influences when it comes to the music I make and I have a pretty big jazz collection so it just seemed like a perfect fit. both musical entities do a lot of really original work so I figured I might as well do something that I thought was original with them
JB: Nice. I can feel that. Tell us a bit about your inspiration behind the Hypebeast Mixtape.
MAF: Well it was a marketing move to tell you the truth because most of the success of my BB x MD mixtape came from the hypebeast forums and from people involved in the "streetwear" culture so I felt it was important to do a mixtape just for those people but that I felt was just good and that other people could rock with. I actually have the sequel coming out pretty soon aptly named The Hypebeast Mixtape 2. this time I'm doing mostly up and coming cats like Wale, Supreeme, Tabi Bonney etc.
JB: That sounds like fire, man! Now, I saw another mixtape. I believe ur latest project, correct me if I'm wrong, entitled Raw Cuts. Is there a story behind that one as well?
MAF: raw cuts was just my cutting room floor mixtape. basically all the tracks that didn't fit my other mixtapes that I had done made that mixtape. it was only like 6 tracks. because typically I work on projects with a specific goal in mind, very seldom do I just go in the studio and bang out a remix just for the hell of it
JB: Cool..it's good to get your miscellaneous shit out. Raw Cuts was a creative name for that collection of remixes. So, I kno you have a collective of artists that work with you. Could you tell the readers a bit about that?
MAF: Well I'm working on a few mixtapes with artists right now. Chris C. who's a rapper from the DC area who I also manage, his mixtape is coming out really soon called Living The Dream. I also work with a rapper from the greater baltimore area, Matth. Our mixtape is entitled In Theory... and should be out very soon if all goes well. I also do a lot of miscellaneous tracks for cats so hit me up if you want to collab. and of course, my boy Jay B!
JB: Lol, WORD LIFE....That mixtape is on the way....has yet to be named, but, it is most definately on the way! Now the big conversation in hip hop is....whether or not it is dead. Do you think it is dead or alive. And if you believe it is dead, do you see a revival any time soon. How would you contribute?
MAF: I think it's hard for one person to make a statement that bold to totally discredit other like minded artists who stay true to the roots and aren't doing music for money or for fame because that's really what is fucking up hip hop. cats learned the "formula" and so many hip hop radio listeners have been brainwashed to accept that formula as good hip hop. I think enough people are seeing what a crock of shit hip hop has turned to recently and are trying to do something about it by bringing back heartfelt music and I would like to think of myself among those individuals. so to sum that up, hip hop on the radio is six feet deep. but hip hop in the streets and in the underground is definitely still alive and waiting for the light of day
JB: True words. Now, I know a lot of emcees, producers, and deejays say that they don't listen to very many other artists, because within doing so, they lose themselves. Do you feel that way? If not, who do you spend you spare time listening to?
MAF: I definitely don't feel that way because it's impossible to create out of nothing. Everything we imagine is simply a mix of a bunch of things that we've heard, seen or experienced in the past. And I listen to a lot of artists among my favorites being The Roots, BIG of course, Kanye West even though he gets a lot of hate he's a great artist, Clipse probably the best group in modern day hip hop and of course all the artists I work with
JB: Cool. Now, we've talked awhile on music, but, I think it'd be a good time to move on to fashion. Streetwear. Tell the people, about your brand, Made Middle Men.
MAF: Well MadeMiddleMen is the brain child of myself and my business partner Mark Thom we've been around since 2005 and we officially released our first season this past spring
JB: For a reader interested in seeing the line, and maybe purchasing, where could he check you guys out?
MAF: our website is mademiddlemenclothing.com. that connects you to our blog, but our store is mademiddlemen.bigcartel.com
JB: Alright. I'm Sure, everybody will check through there and show you guys some love. What other brands, besides your own do you wear?
MAF: I wear a little bit of everything. I've recently been getting a lot into Supreme, The Hundreds, C&C, Alife, Polo, Orisue, Nike of course and others of course
JB: Dope stuff...You down for playing a word association game before we wrap this thing up?
MAF: haha that sounds like fun
JB: Alright...Jay-Z
MAF: Roc a fella
JB: Notorious B.I.G. - MAF: Diddy
JB: The Game - MAF: Compton
JB: Ramen Noodles - MAF: College Students
JB: Dave Chappelle - MAF: DC
JB: Crack Epidemic - MAF: DC
JB: Supreme Skateboard Co. - MAF: Box
JB: Bugle Boy Jeans - MAF: 2nd grade. i was heavy on them back in the day
JB: Lol, I guess Jim Jones is bringing them tight shits back! On that note, you have any shoutouts?
MAF: yeah definitely first off to Jay B for holding down a dope interview, all of D.C. because we're coming, the MadeMiddleMen family, the Break Brigade, Matth, Chris C., the Defcon family, Rites of Ash (myspace.com/ritesofash) and anyone that ever listened or currently listens to my music
JB: Ii, man! Thanks for your time!
MAF: thank you man
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