NJ Next usually focuses on new acts that are redefining what it means to be “Hip-Hop” in 2018, but this month we’re taking a look at a DJ that has been the torch bearer for vinyl records, turntablism and golden Era Hip-Hop for the last several years around his home base of Asbury Park.
DJ Danny Stax has been playing vintage funk, soul, reggae and Hip-Hop in Asbury Park for the last several years. This summer he really differentiated himself with a run of “Wu-Tang Wednesdays” at Little Buddy Hideaway. The mixture of 90’s Hip-Hop, a cool, off-the-beaten-path venue, and a weeknight slot that discouraged tourists, created a room for Asbury’s “cool kids.” They came to congregate and argue about who had the best verse on “Winter Warz,” which De La Soul album holds up best today and if groups like Bone Thugs-n-Harmony influenced today’s generation of “mumble rappers.”
NOTE: The answers to the above questions are Capadonna, De La Soul Is Dead, and Absolutely.
At the center of this unique weekly event was DJ Danny Stax, playing some of the best Hip-Hop of the ’90s and blending it all seamlessly together on the 1’s and 2’s. The PopBreak’s Angelo Gingerelli recently caught up with Danny and got some info on how he puts together his sets, what makes a good DJ and what’s next for one of the hottest DJ’s at the Jersey Shore..
When does Hip-Hop enter your life and how do you become a fan?
I fell in love with Hip-Hop when Raising Hell by Run DMC came out (86/87). That was the first tape I had in my collection. From there through 1998 Hip-Hop was pretty much all I listened to. In 97/98 I discovered the punk and hardcore scene and started to gravitate toward that as Hip-Hop was becoming more commercial.
When did you start DJ’ing and what was your first gig like?
I bought my first turntables and mixer from Mac Records in Asbury Park in 1994. I only DJ’ed at house parties. I was never a club guy. I’ve only been doing bar gigs for about two years now, after a long hiatus from DJ’ing at all.
I started collecting records again and hitting the flea markets and my sister and brother-in-law kind of pushed me to start playing records out around town. So my first bar gig was at Brickwall Tavern [in Asbury Park]. I played some old soul records and a little bit of everything from reggae to punk. That led to a weekly classic soul gig there for a while.
Then I kinda flipped that to playing all old soul records that were sampled in Hip-Hop records. Then I started playing the hip hop records too and that led to spinning Hip-Hop at Little Buddy Hideaway and eventually “Wu-Tang Wednesdays” over there.
You use vinyl during your sets, what are your thoughts on digital music and “Aux Cord DJ’s”?
I only use vinyl when I DJ. If I don’t have the record then I’m not playing it. I don’t mind laptop and aux cord guys, but that’s not the same thing. To me the collecting is a huge part of what it is to be a DJ. So I generally have a whole set planned out with an extra hour or so of extra tunes to go off in different directions if needed.
How do you structure your sets? How do you mix between classic and new songs and when do you add different genres to the mix?
I play a lot of different styles of music and sets so it really depends on the gig. I played all punk and hardcore records for the Bouncing Souls after party last summer after their Summer Stage show.
Weekends at Little Buddy could be old school reggae and ska mixed with 90’s dancehall. Or all funk and borderline disco records. Or all Hip-Hop. Or 90s Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall. But the songs have to kinda flow into one another.
I could play a Jamaican record from the ’60s, then “Wickedest Man Alive” by Naughty By Nature because that has an old school reggae kinda vibe, then “Ghetto Bastard” and then “No Woman No Cry” because “Ghetto Bastard” sampled “No Woman.” I love playing an old record into a newer song that sampled it.
Describe the perfect DJ set.
A good combo of songs the crowd does not “know” but can’t help but move to, a couple of “oh shit!” Songs that people freak out when you play them, and a couple good sing-a-long type songs that everybody sings with.
What’s next for DJ Danny Stax?
More fun gigs. Little Buddy is definitely my “homebase” and we have a lot of cool stuff planned. I’m there at least one weekend a month spinning funk, Soul R&B, Hip-Hop, dancehall etc. and one Wednesday a month for “Wu-Tang Wednesday” (which we have started expanding to include all kinds of Hip-Hop from the same era). I try to only do gigs that interest me, I don’t Dj for a living. So if you see me out DJ’ing I’m playing records I would be listening to if I was at home and I’m probably there because a friend asked me to do it.
We also have the Black Suburbia Music Group doing the first Thursday of the month at Little Buddy now and I think we may do a crossover old school to new school event down the road. I Would also love to do a night with a soul band and play all old soul records in between sets
Rapid Fire Questions:
Top 5 songs that take any event to the next level:
Big Pun – ‘Still Not A Player’
The Fugees – ‘Killing Me Softly’
Diana Ross – ‘I’m Coming Out’ / ‘Mo Money Mo Problems’
Terror fabulous – ‘Action’
Al Green – ‘Let’s Stay Together’
Top 4 places in NJ to DJ:
Little Buddy / Brick Wall Tavern – Asbury Park
Asbury Park Yacht Club
Convention Hall – Asbury Park
Lofidelic Records – Belmar
Top 3 places to buy vinyl in NJ:
Holdfast (Asbury Park)
Lofidelic (Belmar)
Asbury Park Record Show (put on by Holdfast Records)
Top 2 DJ’s of all time:
Grandmaster Flash
Pete Rock
One reason everybody should check out DJ Danny Stax:
You will have fun and hear records you didn’t know you liked or forgot how much you liked. I love having people come up to me to ask what song that was and I love getting people to dance to songs that they don’t know. Also I know I’m playing records that nobody else in town is playing, which is tough in a town full of so many amazing DJ’s.
Also Worth Checking Out…
“732 Run Up” – Notty Boy and Ren Thomas
Kidz from the Burbz’ Notty Boy (formerly Slick Chops) and “NJ Next” alum Ren Thomas link up on this aggressive cut warning people not to mess with their area code.
“Drive” – Drew the Recluse
It’s been a big year for Black Suburbia Music Group and this smooth track by Drew the Recluse continues their winning streak. The beat and vocals match perfectly and provide a soundtrack for the cooler temperatures of autumn.
