DJ Rockid

Back on the map

"It's time that The Netherlands are put back on the map, DJ wise."-DJ Rockid. For a long time, there was no top-notch representation on the international level in the DJ element. The DMC organization ain't got the same impact anymore as back in the days when DJ DCS and DJ Hype Hendriks ruled the grooves. DMC had an impact and it was a status symbol. Nowadays many don't even know what it is. The Dutch DMC headquarters is located deep down south in Landgraaf. Moreover, seldom the DMC elimination rounds hit any stage in Amsterdam. If you like it or not, Amsterdam is where the media is. DJ Rockid: "Turntablized gets even more media play. While DMC is the worldwide institution." I have to say that we had reporters in at the final, but somehow the report did not yet reached the office jet. (Silent hint: Rossi schiet eens op, mat dat DMC report!!)

Yeah, that's the one

At he editorial office, Rockid is surprised to see an Official DMC World Championships PMX-2 mixer between my two silver SL1200 MKIIs. "Yo, you have one of the four of five Official DMX mixer in this whole country!" Hey, he needs to drop by more often; he boots up my ego. He pops up the idea that I have too, to put it in a showcase to show it off. Well I tell him that I want to do that but only with one particular soundsystem. Not this one or the limited edition with piano black lacquer and with a finishing touch of gold that you can order in the shop. Nah, I'm hinting the DJ what kind of soundsystem is right to put in a show-case, spotlight it in my living room for one reason only. This one soundsystem is in massive gold, everything. The platform, the arm, the pitch control, the button and the whole mixer. It's the master's soundsystem, that it's total wrapped in gold is only a small detail. This soundsystem, you can only get it, if you are the master of the masters, the world master that is. It isn't for sale, you have to earn it and take it home. Rockid looks at me with a big happy smile: "Yeah, that's the one." In the year 2000, it would be nice to take the world title home. Time to take the gold home. He will make a chance as the Dutch DMC Champion. At least if he doesn't forget to take his records out of the record bag as he did last time. Even in a friendly way, you can only say that it was a first class fuck up. Rockid: "Indeed that was stupid."

No, I had to work hard

AQ: "What were your influences?"
Rockid: "Well, Tjeensaw (Chainsaw), dee see es (DCS). Oh yes, not to forget Creamo and Fanatic." How did this groove rocker start? "On school I got involved with school parties. Didn't know jack about DJ-ing but the techniques fascinated me. I wanted to play more HipHop. You know how that went, not possible because it was no mainstream music." The virus of DJ-ing got into the kid's veins. Wanted to know more about that DJ stuff. Bought videos of the DMC championships and started practicing. That was only five years ago, the now 20 years old rocker worked hard: "I didn't get my SLs with the famous deal. Make it through the exams and get your diploma and as reward get two SLs from your parents. No, I had to work hard. Burned my hands too many times at Mac Donalds to get the money to buy it myself."

Two to play with

You can argue a lot but scratching, mixing and beat juggling will damage your records. Not worried about damaging your records? DJ Rockid: "Well, we have battle records now a days. So, you don't waste your original albums. In addition, if you have a record you know you want to save, then you buy three pieces. One to put in the crates, two to play with." If you only use battle records everybody is using it's only about the skills. More and more the different routines dropped by the different DJs sound more a like. What you could see too often id, DJs who have the skills but are not entertaining anymore. Only about the skills, what happened about moving the crowd? Lotta DJs talking loud but ain't saying nothing.

Giving my own swing

AQ: "How do you work and prepare a routine?"
Rockid: "First, you are going to see what kind of battle it will be. As example given, you have to prepare another routine for turntablism than if you are going to battle in a DMC competition. I always try to come up with something new. What is very difficult, I have to say. Or giving my own swing on a known technique. Often you use known techniques, that ain't biting; it just takes a while before some one comes up with a new sound. Well, that is with all forms of art. And lately I'm more concerned what kind of records I choose to use."
AQ: "What do you think is the most beautiful?"
Rockid: "Euhm… nothing. What I often hear is that I have that comfort in me: "Are you not nervous?" And when it goes wrong, so now and then. A needle skipping…. I don't panic. I improvise, under pressure, the best."

Photo & txt: AQ