DJ RAJ - soulstrut.com interview!
piedpiper
1,279 Posts
I just found this gem in the "community" section of a German online recordstore: http://community.hhv.de/magazin/interviews/167/dj-raj-soulstrut
Dj RAJ: Soulstrut 12.02.07??At the time the web site started in 1999, it was one of a few web sites that focused on crate digging. Now, there's a new site popping up at any given moment.??What is the focus of your site?RAJ: Soul Strut is the #1 web destination for the record collecting subculture known as crate digging. Crate Digging is the art of looking for old vinyl records and using them in a whole new light (sampling, DJing, collecting, etc.) This subculture evolved from hip hop. So we get a lot of hip hop lovers coming to the site, but we also get lovers of all kinds of other genres of music (funk, disco, Brazilian, etc.)The site offers hundreds of DJ sets, thousands of Record Reviews, Features, and the most popular part of the site, a very active message board.When did you start out?RAJ: I started the web site unofficially in October of 1999. It was hosted on a free web server and became www.soulstrut.com in early 2001.You think your focus is pretty unique?RAJ: At the time the web site started it was one of a few web sites that focused on crate digging. So, yes, it was unique at the time. Now, there???s a new site popping up at any given moment.How you came up with the idea?RAJ: I was a journalism major in college who dabbled in web site design and programming. My other interests included digging and DJing old funk & disco records. So it all just sort of evolved.How did the site develop from when you started?RAJ: The site has gone from being on a free web server with no more than a few visitors per day to being on a dedicated web server that handles a half million unique visitors per month. The site also enjoyed some landmark occasions including being the platform for the Mingering Mike discovery and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims in the US by way of a special on-line vinyl record auction in 2004.Who is working on the site?RAJ: The site is primarily run by me. I handle all graphics and programming. Mike from Twelve Car Pileup helps out on art direction (logos and t-shirt design). I do have some fine folks who help out on the reviews and forum moderation as well.Are you a beatdigger yourself?RAJ: I am indeed a ???beat digger??? although I have seriously slowed down. Once you have kids, you realize that there is more to life than being in a grungy flea market on a Saturday afternoon.Where are you located?RAJ: I am located on the Internet, but I live outside of Philly.What type of artists are integrated in your community?RAJ: We have successful & talented DJs, musicians, journalists, TV show producers, porn star extras, etc. who frequent the site. Did I mention that they are talented?Have you put out records yourself?RAJ: Yes. Soul Strut collaborated with Melting Pot Music out of Germany to put out a four song vinyl EP of original sample based hip hop instrumentals in 2005. We were planning on doing a full blown compilation LP featuring site contributors, but that just didn???t pan out. We have also put out a couple rare groove Mix CDs including Royale with Beats (2001) & Ca$h Play (2004).How you guys feel about the future of vinyl?RAJ: Collectable vinyl will always be around. The flavor of the moment hip hop jam on 12??? vinyl, however, is becoming extinct, which is fine for me and every other world traveling Microwave-toting DJ.You ever thought about releasing a printed version of SoulStrut?RAJ: Yes, maybe some day! But it sounds like an uphill battle that I have yet to conquer. The web site is time consuming enough plus way more cost effective.
Dj RAJ: Soulstrut 12.02.07??At the time the web site started in 1999, it was one of a few web sites that focused on crate digging. Now, there's a new site popping up at any given moment.??What is the focus of your site?RAJ: Soul Strut is the #1 web destination for the record collecting subculture known as crate digging. Crate Digging is the art of looking for old vinyl records and using them in a whole new light (sampling, DJing, collecting, etc.) This subculture evolved from hip hop. So we get a lot of hip hop lovers coming to the site, but we also get lovers of all kinds of other genres of music (funk, disco, Brazilian, etc.)The site offers hundreds of DJ sets, thousands of Record Reviews, Features, and the most popular part of the site, a very active message board.When did you start out?RAJ: I started the web site unofficially in October of 1999. It was hosted on a free web server and became www.soulstrut.com in early 2001.You think your focus is pretty unique?RAJ: At the time the web site started it was one of a few web sites that focused on crate digging. So, yes, it was unique at the time. Now, there???s a new site popping up at any given moment.How you came up with the idea?RAJ: I was a journalism major in college who dabbled in web site design and programming. My other interests included digging and DJing old funk & disco records. So it all just sort of evolved.How did the site develop from when you started?RAJ: The site has gone from being on a free web server with no more than a few visitors per day to being on a dedicated web server that handles a half million unique visitors per month. The site also enjoyed some landmark occasions including being the platform for the Mingering Mike discovery and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims in the US by way of a special on-line vinyl record auction in 2004.Who is working on the site?RAJ: The site is primarily run by me. I handle all graphics and programming. Mike from Twelve Car Pileup helps out on art direction (logos and t-shirt design). I do have some fine folks who help out on the reviews and forum moderation as well.Are you a beatdigger yourself?RAJ: I am indeed a ???beat digger??? although I have seriously slowed down. Once you have kids, you realize that there is more to life than being in a grungy flea market on a Saturday afternoon.Where are you located?RAJ: I am located on the Internet, but I live outside of Philly.What type of artists are integrated in your community?RAJ: We have successful & talented DJs, musicians, journalists, TV show producers, porn star extras, etc. who frequent the site. Did I mention that they are talented?Have you put out records yourself?RAJ: Yes. Soul Strut collaborated with Melting Pot Music out of Germany to put out a four song vinyl EP of original sample based hip hop instrumentals in 2005. We were planning on doing a full blown compilation LP featuring site contributors, but that just didn???t pan out. We have also put out a couple rare groove Mix CDs including Royale with Beats (2001) & Ca$h Play (2004).How you guys feel about the future of vinyl?RAJ: Collectable vinyl will always be around. The flavor of the moment hip hop jam on 12??? vinyl, however, is becoming extinct, which is fine for me and every other world traveling Microwave-toting DJ.You ever thought about releasing a printed version of SoulStrut?RAJ: Yes, maybe some day! But it sounds like an uphill battle that I have yet to conquer. The web site is time consuming enough plus way more cost effective.
Comments
How dare you post the original picture!
Thanks for the Thrust Photoshop work BTW.
Lemme know when you need it Boscoed, East Of Undergrounded, or Turkished.
smurfed
we need to have a new photoshop contest yall killin it as always