Craze is the definition of a legend. His 20+ year career is one to be marveled and celebrated. From winning three consecutive DMC World Championships, to touring the world, excelling in a wide array of scenes from hip hop to drum and bass, and everything in between, to running his own record label Slow Roast, the list of accolades and achievements is expansive. He’s an artist who truly cares about the culture; constantly working to break new sounds and reinforce the importance of quality DJing. Putting this on full display comes his brand new guest mix. The 30 minute mix showcases some of the underground’s best new music while flexing his skills and reminding everyone why he truly is the GOAT. As the mix states, “trapping has never sounded so good.” In addition to the mix we caught up with Craze for an exclusive interview. He discusses what keeps him excited after 20 years in music, producing vs. DJing, the Goldie Awards, doing it for the culture, his favourite up-and-coming artists and more. Listen below and be sure to snag the free download.
What was your goal when putting this mix together? If it were a movie, what would the tagline be?
I wanted to make a trap mix with all the new flavas that I’m feeling at the moment. “Da Goat Strikes Back!”
How was your recent vacation? When you go away do you try to fully disconnect or are you still working on music, ideas, etc?
My vacation was actually very relaxing this time. We usually plan out a bunch of activities but I told my wife on this one that I just wanted to drink my ass off by the pool and eat my ass off…mission accomplished! But I still started a remix and worked on this mix hahahah.
It’s no secret that you enjoy a good drink now and again. What’s your go to drink and why?
Whiskey…old man drink ;)
I love feeling that excitement I felt when I was a kid discovering new things. Feeling that excitement is what life is all about for me.
You’ve been in the industry for more than 20 years. What excites you and keeps you going every day?
New music, new vibes, new ideas…new everything! I love feeling that excitement I felt when I was a kid discovering new things. Feeling that excitement is what life is all about for me.
I miss battling all the time!! It’s what I’m the best at…nobody will ever beat me.
You’ve had the chance to judge the Goldie Awards for the past 3 years. What do you enjoy most about the competition? Does it ever make you miss battling?
The Goldies is dope because it’s more about the entertainment than crazy technicality. A-Trak is definitely gonna carry the battle torch into the future. I miss battling all the time!! It’s what I’m the best at…nobody will ever beat me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
You’ve been doing more and more producing over the past few years. How does producing compare to DJing? Do you prefer one over the other?
I’ve definitely started having more fun producing. Before it was something I felt I had to do to take me to another level but now I just love being creative. I don’t give a shit about what I should be making, I just experiment. I have so many different tunes at the moment that I’ll be releasing in 2020…all kinda flavors. I prefer it to DJing at this moment but it comes and goes. Tomorrow I could start practicing again and not make beats for another month ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
I’m not seeing my fav labels pushing things forward so I wanna make the change I wanna see.
Slow Roast recently made a comeback after some time off. What do you have planned for the next few months with the label?
I relaunched Slow Roast because I feel it’s needed again. I’m not seeing my fav labels pushing things forward so I wanna make the change I wanna see. The next couple of months we’re gonna try to put out some forward thinking music. Got a lot of heat with Jon Casey, DJ Ride, Crimes! & Binks in the pipelines.
You seem to truly embody the sentiment of ‘“doing it for the culture.” Do you have any advice for fans or to the industry to ensure that the underground scene continues to thrive and ensure music moves in the right direction?
Don’t support analytics…numbers be fooling people…easy digestible music is being pushed on you every single day…music with no substance but full of high energy. There’s no vibes. Look for vibes!! Support the underground and underground artists.
You always have a good pulse of who’s up next. Who are a few artists you’re watching right now?
The artists for 2020 in my opinion in all genres are Lordel, Jon Casey, Imanu, Posij, Tada, Thook, Ash, Tsuruda just to name a few.
If Trump gets impeached will we get a celebratory 2 Cents mix?
Hahaha most definitely!!
You’re no stranger to embracing new technology. What are your thoughts on VR DJing and private live streamed sets?
Ehhh not my thing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m hoping for a musical revolution. It’s soooo needed…I can’t stand brain dead music!
What are you most looking forward to in 2020?
I’m hoping for a musical revolution. It’s soooo needed…I can’t stand brain dead music!! We need music with substance in every genre. That and the end of the Trump era…bring smart people back!!!
Tracklist
1) Intro
2) Yo Gotti — Pose
3) TNGHT — Gimme Summn
4) Jon Casey — TV Room
5) TNGHT — I’m In A Hole
6) Abjo — Loading…
7) Thook — Yo DJ
8) Perk Pietrek — Ivy feat. Swan
9) Moore Kismet — Distractions
10) Party Favor — Wait A Minute (TroyBoi Remix)
11) Twerl — Follow Me
12) ISOxo & Knock2 — Radial
13) Jon Casey — Fracture ft. Avance
14) Carmack — 3 My Wrist Is Cartier
15) Sumthin Sumthin — Ghost
16) Vide x Eazybaked — Backseat Jameson
17) RVKIT — Quetzalcoatlus
18) Top $helf & Snuffy — Geeked Up
19) Thook — Overload
20) Dabow x Megan Thee Stallion — Me Encanta Cash Makers (GTA HS19 Edit)
21) Guapdad 4000 — Can’t Stop Finessing
22) UZ — Fire (Instrumental)
23) Aztek — AK (VIP)
24) Tsuruda — High Grade
25) Mr Carmack — Remember To Remember
26) Aztek — Neem
27) G Jones — Immortal Light
28) TVBOO & Ruvlo — Break It Down
29) Jon Casey — Poison
30) Monoxpoly — Audio Dope
31) Craze — Party Fing
32) Anti. — Mattr
33) 2¢ — Straight To The Point
34) TADA — Percz
35) Jon Casey — Don’t Do Drugs
