Are Hip-Hop DJs Less Effective On Sticks? (Feat. DJ Mike Nasty) | R.O.A.D. CLIPS

[@djesentrik]

Sounds like the problem is more so the person behind the decks than the actual hardware. Laptop or usb sticks shouldn’t matter

[@panda26music]

I think the reason why most Djs now find prep softwares more approachable is because compared to DJing on a laptop in tandem with a controller/soundcard, you could essentially get a much cheaper machine just to prep with (providing that's all your doing with it) I'm writing this comment as a controller user and as house DJ but if I had access to either CDJs or a standalone unit I'd make the jump in a heartbeat, I've seen other Djs turn their noses up at beginner gear but will happily sing the praises of a DVS system, to me the way you use the gear you have will always outshine what you have

[@AvenueCrew]

I’m a open format dj and mostly use sticks. I learned very early that organising your music is very key especially when my records started getting bigger. I’m only starting my journey with using a laptop because I can use stems. It’s really makes my transitions super smooth

[@RyNeaSoulMusic]

Great discussion and subjective still 20:52 It also depends on where you're at as well

[@flashhorton2447]

That just them not practicing enough to get smooth, trust we got the same problem down here in NC

[@bboymac84]

They just gotta organize their playlists better but streaming gives you way more options for tracks you may not have in your usb stick🤷🏾‍♂️

[@luisbarrera9656]

I disagree with the whole “stick DJs being lazy” take for sure! Maybe in NYC yall got some trash open format USB DJs but I know damn well in Montreal mufuckas are smooth as butter with keys! If anything we gotta work harder on sticks because our organization has to be flawless af in order to move quick in our sets! Also, the reason I rock keys is that I don’t want to lug around my expensive ass laptop to the club and risk having a drink spilt on it or something.

[@nourdinh.1450]

hmmm they playing sets not off the head or Crowd Response one Folder track 1 to track 30 😉😉😉😉😉😉

[@luisbarrera9656]

@@nourdinh.1450 it depends, I personally never prepare for a set; when I download music and prepare it on my rekordbox, im not just throwing into a folder, im doing a lot of tagging behind it and when you know how to check all the tags and search tools on the CDJs, possibilities are endless

[@dks90768]

@@nourdinh.1450 Do you realize how much music can fit on a USB? I personally have 128gb stick and it carries most of my library which is over 6k songs

[@nourdinh.1450]

@@dks90768 yes i know but I didn't mean the size but the quick search with typing especially with the cdj 2000s not everywhere are 3000s i better stay with my macbook for Open Format and Serato 😉😉😉😉

[@dks90768]

​@@nourdinh.1450you can still "type " on 2000s just have to use the needle search. Granted def not as fast as 3000s but you can still do it with practice

[@JamesMeyer-tv1vh]

Using a usb means you have to actually prepare everything before. You want to be quick on sticks? Spend 5 hours carefully organizing everything so on the fly you know where it’s going to be. Laptops let you be unorganized and lazy because even if it’s not in your serato you can Apple space search the track and drag it in. Using a laptop is bulky, time consuming with set up, and if you don’t have power or something happens you’re screwed. Using sticks requires a lot more preparation but set up is easier and you can plug and play. Best practice is to have your laptop bag on you and play off sticks with laptop as a backup.

[@xivermusic]

With enough organization anyone can do the same thing on sticks. Tired of this mentality, be faster with your searches (track search button is your friend)

[@thisaintitchief562]

I hear you but as someone that played on both, and largely improvised his open format and hip hop sets, it’s just not the same experience and efficiency. It can be done, but Serato is absolute the path of least resistance (imo)

[@jayrags-soulfiesta4076]

Idk man.....when someone is using 2 cdj3000's you don't have stems, you're working too hard to integrate acapellas, need more equipment for samples, etc. Creative deejays can go crazy with ideas on a controller. Imo.

[@Cnspeace777]

Exactly

[@007D.]

You can have your on opinion. Anything can be done. Be serato is better. There is no argument there.

[@MarcosDavizdj]

I switched to USBs and I only miss stems, serato sync, sampler and flip. But I love the fact that I don’t have to carry cables, Mac, stand, ac adapter and face serato freeze. The new pioneer equipment it’s very fast loading and searching.

[@chinuarichardson8350]

Honestly, I'm waiting for a Denon with stems and a sampler. The combination of sticks and streaming is enticing, but I don't want to give up the sampler!

[@DJMOS]

for hip hop a laptop is so much easier, you can find songs faster, be more creative and it's a lot more fun in my opinion. But do whatever works for you.

[@nowananda]

I watched the whole episode and took notes. The patreon subscription is worth it for this episode alone !

[@RyNeaSoulMusic]

That's true a lot of ppl don't like scratching. They want to hear the music and they want to dance and relive moments the music take them too, scratching can distracting.

[@amaldc-brc]

Mike got a good point as someone who came up djing on serato first in the hbcu crowd and then went to dance music , but I will say if u know how to freak cdjs and you got your usb with all the songs u want you can do it.

[@monopolimusic]

It’s a fact. I have yet to see a dj playing open format on sticks and truly party rock in NYC. 1) the level of organization you’d need to have to flip between genres, tempos, cues etc and you’d still be slower than a dj on a laptop 2) sure you can drop everything in a folder and bang out a handful of songs, but what about reading the room? A song pops in your head that would crush right in that very moment and it’s not in that folder. As a laptop dj, I’ll have that thing cued and ready in about 4 seconds.

[@streetteamproductions]

Interesting convo

[@007D.]

What he is saying is house/EDM is a strong 4/4 time signature. The beat is "boom,boom,boom,boom." Its extremely easy to blend and mix. With hip hop and rnb the time signatures may be 4/4 but there are various beats at different times. "Boom,tic,tic,bap,boom boom,clap, boom bap" all in one bar. The song you wanna blend will have a totally different beat pattern. Its harder to blend 😆

[@mariogooch9634]

There is gatekeeping, being an elitists, segregationist. There is standards. When the standards don't align, the criticism of gatekeeping comes in as a negative. Depends on the keepers of the gate, and the stakes of letting no standards in. Look at the musical landscape now with the come 1 come all open door policy.

[@DJEASE]

Great interview

[@kereamohau]

I use Rekordbox DJ in Performance mode. It's the same as Serato. But he's right. USB sticks are slow, cumbersome and down right a pain in the ass to move around quickly. I move so much faster on a laptop. Also I've forgotten to load up some tracks on sticks too. I'm sticking to using a laptop

[@dks90768]

That's more of a organization/workflow problem than an hardware/software issue

[@justdizle]

very dope and interesting

[@bbman28]

they needs to get out more! i know many hiphop DJs that rock stick and kill it not only in tunes but also skills wise! and then those same DJ's can play house and never skip a beat between each

[@jarvisjustin_]

I’ve been spinning w turntables and laptop for 15 years , it’s refreshing to not pull out a laptop for a 1-2 hr set. Sticks are fun but it comes with prep work.

[@bboymac84]

Until usb sticks get stems and Streaming I’m on my iPhone and djay Algorithm.

[@unheardthreat5293]

They not lazy but the organization is a problem. Makes quick mixing harder for those who like to do that so it’s a little easier for some to use the same playlists. I seen one pretty popular open format DJ this year 6 times play 80% the same set not even switching it up for party themes

[@djviicio79]

Especially with stems and everything now you’re just a step ahead on a computer. I use both but for hip hop I always feel much more ready to rock a party.

[@alexzanderking1556]

I don't use RB I use Engine DJ but I can quick mix and blend with it

[@officernxsty7869]

Saying that using a usb Is like spinning vinyls is the craziest take I’ve ever heard 😂😂 I’d love to hear from the people that think that

[@Loyshook]

I agree with Mike any dj on sticks not going to move fast enough to play on hip hop

[@irritablysavvy]

It's all optics and culture. Hip hop DJs don't want to give up their turntables. It's all they have left to differentiate the style from electronic music. They don't want to be affiliated. A-Trak did it right... use both setups. You notice he wasn't on CDJs or using Phase at the Fat Beats Anniversary but the mixer and the laptop are all digital anyways. It's just ergonomics.

[@deejayprymetv]

Great clip

[@flashhorton2447]

20:36 you can definitely do it in rekordbox lol

[@DJ_Detailz]

He’s talking about the hardware using the rekordbox expansion on CDJ’s. You’re restricted with only playing sets on sticks

[@flashhorton2447]

@DJ_Detailz with all these affordable 1TB usb drives around now, there's no real excuse to be unprepared. Now if you're a DJ that takes requests, it makes sense to have a laptop plugged in... but if you prepare, it's not necessary. I've done 8hrs sets from a 256gb USB and still had plenty of music left. Being on a USB is only limiting if you download and play random requests from people all night.

[@weissomar]

What type of mics is the guest speaking into?

[@DJAnthonBurgos]

Totally the opposite of lazy, its more work to dj on sticks since every time you get a new song you have to export it vs it just being already there on the pc, djing on sticks takes way more skill than a pc dj, if they can dj smoothly on sticks 100% they can do it on a laptop, but not all djs that are smooth on laptops can make those same transitions on sticks. Ps: cdj3000 have super large touchscreen were you can search with 1 button press which is actually faster than serato.

[@DJAnthonBurgos]

Btw, im assuming jazzy jeff uses laptop since he mainly plays on turntables and unless you want to carry around a crate of records there are no other options, not because using usb sticks makes you a bad/lazy dj

[@Alfonsolives]

I have to 100000% disagree with the USB vs. computer discussion. I’m primarily in open format rooms at the moment and I’ve been able to handle sticks only. Personally I enjoy the having to actually best match part of it too. If anything at all, the prep is more important knowing I can’t take 15,000 tracks with me at all times but really, how much do you need for a 2 hour set you know?

[@discdolo]

I rather have sticks than a laptop in terms of carrying stuff . I mean does it matter what format as long as your dope??

[@donkeyDangerMouse]

I guess I'm so old when the title mentioned playing on sticks I thought it meant drums

[@DatsMoody]

Got so used to the long format this clip messed me up now I gotta get Patreon 🤣

[@Cnspeace777]

Nah I don't agree at all. A laptop will have multiple crates, but a DJ can organize and use 1 crate all night. So then, they can move that same crate to USB and it SHOULD sound the same. If it doesn't it ain't the sticks...it's the spinner.

[@mixx_factory]

Remixes of popular songs and top 40 and disco remixes IS NOT TECH HOISE.

[@kennethmalafy8012]

Ha ha, elitism at its best. It doesn't matter what you use, DJ ing is all about blowing up the party. The people dancing do not care if it is rekordbox, serato, denon, etc. Guess what? They don't even know! They came for the music and fun, not the cringy elitism.

[@DeeJayAARonYT]

As a rekordbox dj, I can say this is cap as hell 😂

[@Earthcitizen4609]

Brotha hes right

[@DjOdieDroppingbangers]

There are so many lazy locals that kill the scene out here I feel this.

[@rjmn1]

If usb sticks were so great, why do the top hip hop DJ's use laptop's and turntables? They literally have the best skillset out of ANY genre or dj.....

[@djmistapete]

People's attention span has got worse

[@Area51beatz]

Exactly…when I DJ I specifically only throw parties for people who love music…not trendy (whatever they heard on TT) ppl

[@dj.on-q6332]

I'm straight up calling Bullshit on Hip hop isn't as smooth on Rekordbox I can only say this because I've used both vinyl and controllers. lol this dude is completely off smh do not listen to this cat

[@Eric-hb5dn]

I'm sorry but I think itd be really rad if you interrupted less. Several times I wanted Mike to finish his thought and then I feel like you stopped him short. All the best though.

[@peacepocket]

No disrespect, calling himself the biggest dj in New York is a reach.

[@frontside]

sad

[@djdreras851]

🫡

[@radientproductions9799]

100% spot on. Stick DJs are lazy.

[@officernxsty7869]

Saying that using a usb Is like spinning vinyls is the craziest take I’ve ever heard 😂😂 I’d love to hear from the people that think that