so what have you been up to since you stepped down as TTL store manager?

i traveled a bunch in september and ocotber since i finally now had Sundays off. Dj'ed a wedding in a castle in Portugal, skated and partied til sunrise for a few days in Barcelona, Dj'ed in Madrid,  went to Playa del Carmen for 3 day house music festival,  and hit SF and LA to Dj release parties for the my Bersa EP, and hit up Puerto Rico to start a new monthly there.
Beyond that I've been settling into my new apartment, and trying to work on production and remixes.

is it hard to try to produce music full-time? isn't it easy to fall in to times where you'll just go skating or hang out with some chick?

Yea when the sun is shining I just wanna go shred and hang out, or as Roc would say "go trollin". Producing is definitely not easy, at least for me, cause I always think it could sound "better",  and it takes me a long time to be happy with the final mixdown.  I'm slowly getting a better routine down, and with winter on the way, I plan to travel less and just hibernate in front of my computer. Not owning a TV definitely helps too....

what are some of your best memories working in the NY store?

I think the time Afrika Bambaata came in the shop was probably one of the coolest for me. He had a bomber jacket on that said "UFO's are Real" on the back.  I spent an hour playing him records out loud in the store, and he was dancing going "yea i'll take 2 of those, let me get 2 of those...". He spent over $500 on vinyl, and signed a record for me. I fanned out big time for him. Other cool "celebrity sightings for me at the shop were Kenny Dope, Danny Krivit, Mr V, Jealous J, Q-tip, and of course Biz Markie. Biz only wanted 45s and when I asked him if he signed the Biz doll that Kenny Dope bought, he replied "Yea, I got mad dolls." Aside from that I just miss, hanging with the Lab heads talking shit, and hearing all the latest nightlife gossip. 

it must feel awesome to DJ at Turntables On The Hudson, what's the whole experience like?

Yea in it's heyday on the Frying Pan, that party was the bomb. There would be over 1000 people there every Friday night, and it was outdoors in the summer, with only like 2 security guys, who were homies anyway, so people were free to drink, smoke, and indulge in whatever they chose, totally hassle free. The crowd was very ethnically  mixed, somewhat bohemian, with lots of Europeans, and of course, always tons of ladies. People really danced too, and just freakin let loose, especially when the live percussion kicked in. I really felt like we were "breaking" records at that party cause every week I'd always try to come with the latest new banger, or Nicko or Mariano would play some crazy new shit, and everyone would flip out. I dj'ed there on my birthday one year - Pete and Jasper came out that night - it was insane. I was chugging Mezcal straight out of the bottle and blazing spliffs on stage while Djing and people were going crazy. I lost my cellphone and digital camera that night, but had one of the best sets of my life. I spent many a Saturday morning watching the sun come up over New Jersey out on that pier. Unforgettable to say the least.

you used to DJ at old school Boston raves, what was that all about? didn't know Boston had raves... where those kids on drugs?

Man the Northeast - not just Boston - had a crazy Rave scene. We would travel to Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Boston, Vermont, even down to NYC sometimes - all for these illegal parties. Back then police didn't really know what was up as far as the amount of drugs being sold and taken (there was A LOT), so promoters could throw parties in town convention halls, civic centers, and other huge public spaces where that shit would NEVER be allowed today. The sound systems were massive, and the parties would go til 7 or 8am, and then there'd always be an after party at another insane location, til like 3pm the next day. Beyond all the horrible clothes and fashion we used to rock, I will say that the music was fucking incredible. And there is nothing more fun dropping "Higher State of Consciousness" - the week it came out - for 1500 kids on Ecstasy in a dark warehouse.

word on the streets is that you're a Cassanova when it comes to the ladies... any tips for our lady-challenged blog readers?

smile and say hello to at least 10 new girls a day. chances are at least 1 out 10 is gonna smile back. if she does, you're in, and will quickly forget about the 9 who gave you a dirty look.

you always seem to know the food spots in East Village, what your 5 favorite spots to eat there?

Right now my faves are:
Frank / Lil Frankies for Italian (all the homies still work there)
Caracas Arepas Bar (must try the special Chupe soup)
Cafecito (best Cuban around, try the Elena Ruz sandwich)
Barrio Chino (not one bad dish on the menu, lately I've been feeling the Chile En Nogada)
Minca (way better ramen than Satagaya )
and honorable mention to Senor Pollo (super cheap Peruvian rotisserie chicken spot that Pete put me on to)

flashback, what are your 5 favorite tracks pre-2000? 

wow that's pretty impossible to narrow down, but here's 5 songs that i love and still play out...