Interview w/DJ Aktive (of the Skratch Makaniks)
by: Justin Weleski

Heavy, heavy touring, mix-tapes, satellite radio, working on a solo album, international DJ gigs, weekly clubs, and finding time to eat and sleep, is pretty much the life of DJ Aktive. One of the hardest working DJ’s not only in Philly, but to the international world of hip hop. Aktive has been paying dues for as long as I’ve been able to sneak in the clubs with a fake ID. The mans done it all from winning national DJ battles, to being the official tour DJ for some of hip hop’s biggest acts. We got a chance to meet up w/DJ Aktive while at home for a short stay, as he hits the road again with Def Jam’s newest artist: Sterling Simms

DJAktive.com
DJ Aktive on Myspace

*And make sure you come out this Tuesday (May 29th) at Bamboo Lounge w/ DJ Jay Ski & DJ Aktive for LAST 1yr. Aniv. Party! Hosted by: mc ELIXIR Click here for more details on Party

215: Who was the actual person/DJ that taught you how to spin records, cut, blend, & juggle?

Aktive: My cousin DJ Ghetto. He influenced be along with Cash Money, Doodles and Jazzy Jeff.

215: Before touring with some of hip hop’s biggest stars, you were most
known as a battle DJ. So what was your biggest accomplishment within the
DJ battle circuit?

Aktive: Winning the The National Kool Battle in Memphis.

215: Watching recent DJ battles, do you feel that it’s becoming very repetitive in routines? Meaning that no one is really doing anything different like how it was in the mid/late 90’s?

Aktive: It is terrible right now cuz they have no showmanship.

215: For those who may not know, what’s the resume of acts you have spun for on the road?

Aktive: Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, NAS, Busta Rhymes, Organized Konfusion, Kelis, Floetry, Jill Scott, John Legend, Peddi Crakk, Gang Starr, Mobb Deep, Kanye West, Mario, Sterling Simms to name a few.

215: What was your most memorable or craziest experience on the stage or in the DJ booth?

Aktive: In 95 US final after the DJ battle I said FUCK NY and walked off the stage.

215: Who were you on the Jay Leno late show with? And how was that experience?

Aktive: I was with Musiq it was kool.

215: What do you like better? Being on stage DJ’ing for an artist or DJ’ing in a club?

Aktive: I enjoy both but I really dig being on stage myself when I’m on tour

215: With the recent situation with the RIAA and DJ Drama, are you concerned at all about putting out more artist driven mix-tapes?

Aktive: Yup…

215: I read somewhere that you wanted to put out a solo DJ album. Are you still working on that?

Aktive: Yes, it should debut Summer of 08.

215: Would you be producing the beats on this album?

Aktive: Some is gonna be my own production & beats.

215: With the Sirius & XM Merger, are you still spinning on Satellite radio? If so, what times can we hear you at?

Aktive: Yup, you can catch me on Channel 67, The City 360 each week… Wednesday @ 10pm, Saturday @ 2pm and Sunday @ 6pm.

215: When home, what is your weekly Philly DJ Schedule?

Aktive: Wednesday at Red Sky & Thursday at Tragos

215: Your favorite place to DJ at in Philly? And why?

Aktive: Red Sky cuz I have been there since the beginning.

215: What’s in the near future?

Aktive: My album…. the definition of a DJ

Last 5 posts in Interviews

• illvibe Collective Interview - July 22nd, 2008
• Wordplay w/YBeez - July 22nd, 2008
• El-P Interview - July 16th, 2008
• Maylay Sparks Interview - July 1st, 2008
• Buckshot Interview - June 24th, 2008