LACRATE THE MAN, THE MYTH...

A few months ago my homie Aaron Lacrate asked me to do something for his first major label release

on this Lab blog. I get a load of these requests and to tell you the truth were not really supposed to use this blog as a 'music magazine' but I try and fit what I can into the mix, albeit four months after the fact.

I met Lacrate thru Ronson years ago when he first started hustling his Milk Crate clothing line and was djing around the city. While I've never personally had any problems with the guy (to the contrary I've always found him to be a sweetheart), I've noticed over the years his name has been attached to more and more shall we say "disapproval" or better yet "controversy" from friends and some not so friendly people. So what is it about this guy that rubs people the wrong way? Let's find out...

THE BLU JEMZ x AARON LACRATE INTERVIEW

What is it about you that rubs people the wrong way?

Ha! That's funny, I had no idea! Truthfully most people don't know me and I like everyone.

When I first met you because of Milkcrate I thought of you as mainly a rap dude/dj. When did you first get into Baltimore Club music?

Geez I'd say around 1989. Ya know I've been saying for 5 years that Bmore Club is the new hip hop, cuz as a kid it was our local hip hop. So its the same gutter street music, get it. However being born and raised in Bmore during the birth of club, I was the youngest working dj in Bmore in the late 80s and early 90s. When I was like 11 years old i was djing all over the city and working at the famous Inner City Records with Dj Equalizer, Dj Class, and Scott B. Dj Technics worked up the street and was a DMC battle hip hop DJ. We used to go watch Techincs scratch all day at Music Liberated, those were great days. Those were the first days of Bmore Club music and I was there. Those guys made up 95% of Bmore Club and they all knew me since I was a kid.. You could count the people down with Bmore Club on one hand and I was def one of them, the youngest one. All these guys also loved and played hip hop, and we all made mixtapes one side bmore club, breakbeats, house, uk and the other side hip hop. I made mixtapes 20 years ago with the same formula, style and records that kids are just doing now. So I started playing bmore club around 1989. Very few people from the Bmore scene can say that to be honest.

What was your first dj gig?

Armstead Gardens, baltimore for a girls 13th bday, that is the hoods hood, especially in 1988. I had a mobile dj set up, mostly from salvation army type places, but I had one Technics 1300 and one gemini belt drive, 20 milkcrates of records, kicker box speakers, along with some 15 inch cerwin vega, that were dope, a marantz home amp 200 watts, gemini mixer, and I would cart this stuff around the city. My parents thought I was nuts to say the least.

How long do you think B-More well be around?

Till infinity

What should we call people/genre that make B-More Club music but aren’t from Baltimore.

For the record I called my 2005 release Bmore Gutter Music because I didn't wanna tread on anyones toes, and all the local dudes said it wasn't club, some were even quoted as saying Bmore club is dead, others said do whatever you want Aaron we need your help! Later what Samir and I started doing was a new era of Bmore music with songs, choruses, lyrics, and new artists, it is a true hybrid between hip hop and club - it wasn't just for djs or partys, Hot 97 was playing BLOW which was huge! So we made our own lane from the jump and everyone was cool. It wasn't until the world wide successs of Bmore Gutter Music, that everyone decided to bitch and flip flop. But I think it has to be called Bmore Club or anything with the city, Bmore or Baltimore in the name. Anyone who wants to remove the Bmore from the equation is really trying to steal a genre and is up to no good. If your from out of town and you wanna make this music or be apart of it don't add your cities name to it and remove Baltimore - cuz thats super disrespectful and wack! I don't care who said it was ok, its totally delusional. No cosign in the world can make that ok. All that shit you like is some Bmore music.

What artists are you particularly excited about now?

Dizzee Rascals new CD. Tassleema, MNDR, Theolopholis London, Debonair Samir, Mz Streamz, Dj Class, Rod Lee, Da Hardy Boyz, Verb, Da Yo Boys and some super secret shit that's gonna blow peoples minds.

How did your relationship with Delicious Vinyl come about?

They loved Bmore Gutter Music and felt I understood the best of hip hop and club music from a production and label, and also that I am super original - so there was a lot of common ground to build from, real recognize real, and all that.

What differences are you finding releasing a primarily underground music (B-More) with major distribution compared to when you were grinding it out by yourself?

Very similar process to be honest, hip hop started out the same way. We are still making very raw underground music that bangs in the club, its just that now we can reach more new fans at one time. The new single we have with Wale, Pharcyde, and Verb is a great example of this, and "Bmore Club Crack" released on Koch also was the first all Bmore major label release ever. Both those records are going in lots of great directions, and connecting people with Bmore and Club music that would have never been before.

What song from the DV catalog were you most excited to remix?

Know How #1, then Jeep Ass Gutter, both original songs I played loads when they came out.

Which remix do you feel came out the best?

Young Mc "Know How Theme" Just simple fun party music, the kids love that one. Big with the tweens, watch out Jonas Bros.

What’s next for Lacrate Industies?

More production, Da Yo Boys, and HBO has asked me to create the official The Wire x Milkcrate clothing range out this Christmas, super BIG collabo. HBO x LaCrate the best of the best..

What’s kept you going all this time?

I've been doing all this stuff since I was really young so its just who I am and what I do. Last year was like 20 years of me djing, making tees, mixtapes, and doing creative artistic street stuff, I'm still really young as well, Can't stop, won't stop I guess, this was all just the warm up..

Looking back I probably could have asked some harder questions oh well... for more info on Mr. Lacrate check out THE MILKCRATE BLOG or their new ONLINE SHOP.

Also look out for his HARDY TIME remix that's taking us right back to NASA (the club, not the duo) when we play it.

In the meantime here's a 1991 CLUB MIX from the man of the hour. He also wanted me to throw this on here...