Adding to list of legends to grace the FUXWITHIT Guest Mix series is Four Color Zack. If somehow you’re unfamiliar, you better get acquainted. After making major waves in DJ scene in Seattle, Zack exploded onto the global stage after becoming the World Champion at Red Bull 3style in 2012. He’s made some of your favourite DJ edits including that Lion King x ‘Core’ edit that became a staple on RL Grime’s tour. As half of 2¢ alongside Craze, he’s helped to remind the world that Good DJing Is Important and dropped a slew of banging originals. We’ve been fans of his work for years so it’s only right we connected with Four Color Zack for an exclusive guest mix + interview. The mix explores an array of genres from club and house, to in your face rap and trap. Plus flexes his technical skills with scratches, clever transitions and mash-ups. In the interview we discuss his wildest DJ gig, his edit game, 2¢, and much more. Dive in below.
How was the Dominican Republic? Any major highlights from Holy Ship Wrecked?
Holy Ship parties are always wild. The following is so dedicated. Plus when you get that many artists together to hang for the week stuff really jumps off. The Chris Lake sunrise set on the beach was a moment. Seeing Armand Van Helden play was all time for me.
… it was a giant mess. I can’t believe some of the stuff we saw. True performance art.
You’ve played around the world for a multitude of events, what’s the weirdest event/party you have ever played and why?
We used to do a party called ‘Rords Of The Froor’. It was a pro/am costumed drunken b-boy battle. That means costumes mandatory for all, extremely amateur b-boys would get paired up with extremely pro ones and those teams would all battle each other through the night. There was a whole drinking competition element to it and a culture around the battle theme… it was a giant mess. I can’t believe some of the stuff we saw. True performance art.
You’ve become well known for your edits. What’s your favorite edit of all time and what’s the most absurd edit you’ve ever made?
The Lion King x ‘Core’ one comes to mind. Made it for the first Mad Decent Boat Party way back when but it was still kicking. When RL made it a part of his tour with the stage lift I think that’s when my hat was thrown in the air like a Bobby Shmurda gif. As far as most absurd… idk, I gotta dig around in the archives… Maybe I’ll post a ‘stupidest edits of all time’ pack.
Of course a gang of 2¢ stuff too, a new single there called ‘Monkey Biz’ and a remix pack for ‘Rebel.’ Plus a ton of clothing cause that don’t stop.
What can fans expect from you in terms of releases this year?
Bunch of tunes, edit packs, mixtapes, live sets… Have a remix I’m really hyped on for Steven A Clark that drops probably around the time this goes live. Of course a gang of 2¢ stuff too, a new single there called ‘Monkey Biz’ and a remix pack for ‘Rebel.’ Plus a ton of clothing cause that don’t stop.
You seem to be super on the pulse in terms of the underground and what’s next. What’s exciting you musically lately?
IDK about on the pulse, just pay attention to a ton of stuff. I’ve been listening to the new AMTRAC tunes, the new Grandtheft x Yung Tory, Hanni El Khatib… Guapdad, Idles… some lo fi cry dance stuff like Antonio Williams & Kerry McCoy… For bass stuff of course Jawns, Knock2, X&G, Jon Casey… As I write this I’m bumping to the old self titled Tigers Jaw album.. so pretty all over the place old and new. From D&B to R&B (™™™)
normalizing something mediocre by shrugging and saying ‘well that’s the way the game is’ seems so unsatisfying. It seems to me that if it makes you happy you should pour yourself into it.
You’ve been pretty vocal in your fight against mediocrity and wack trends over the years. Are there any new 2020 trends that are pissing you off?
TBH I’ve stopped letting the mediocre stuff get to me BUT that doesn’t mean it’s not still all over the place. The reality is not everyone cares (maybe I should say obsesses) about their creative surroundings as much as others. I’m not yucking anyones yums, but normalizing something mediocre by shrugging and saying ‘well that’s the way the game is’ seems so unsatisfying. It seems to me that if it makes you happy you should pour yourself into it.
The 2¢ merch has become a symbol in the culture and a powerful message that a lot of artists and fans have gotten behind. Was this your initial goal when coming up with “Good DJing Is Important?” Did you expect it to be as impactful as it has been?
Pretty much yeah haha. It’s no ‘Just Do It’ but I’ll take it.
Can we expect 2¢ Part 5 coming soon?
For sure, we got a lot bubbling but its always toward the top of the list. Best guess.. give it a couple months. Gonna slap tho that I can assure.
Ideas are like little mosquitoes in your room buzzing around at night. You know they are there somewhere.. and if you’re all uptight freaking out looking for them they are gonna be elusive, but if you just be open to the your peripherals you’ll spot em.
You mentioned in you interview with Willy Joy that if you have a stupid or funny idea, you should write it down because it may be gold. Have you had any of these ideas recently that have panned out to be something special?
I think MOST of my ideas comes that way. Just goofing around with different perspectives on stuff. Most trick mixes definitely come that way. Designs too. Ideas are like little mosquitoes in your room buzzing around at night. You know they are there somewhere.. and if you’re all uptight freaking out looking for them they are gonna be elusive, but if you just be open to the your peripherals you’ll spot em.
In addition do DJing and producing you also run your own clothing brand and store Can’t Blame The Youth. How do you split your time between the different sides? Do you find they compliment each other in any ways?
No real secret to the time split just a heavy workload. I jump back and forth based on which fire gotta be put out first. I guess the overlap is that I get to listen to a ton of stuff while I’m designing, but I usually am just bumping old non-DJ related stuff at that point anyway.
Tell us about the mix. Where are you taking us with this one? If this were a movie, what would the tagline be?
Waynes World always seemed to have covered it with “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll hurl”. Hopefully the hurling will be turn up related.
Tracklist
What So Not – DIVIDE & CONQUER (Knock2 Flip)
Ahadadream – Ciara Drum Dub
DJ Technic – Gabryelle (D-Malice Refix)
Robyn – None of Dem
Burial – Archangel
Ibranovski – Mi Eye (FCZ Bday Edit)
Dog Blood – Midnight Hour
PYRMDPLAZA – Didn’t Know
Jorja Smith – Be Honest (Jabair Remix)
Tinashe – Die a Little Bit (Thugli Remix)
Bean One – Lemon INST
Theodor – Down Low
ALLBLACK & Offset Jim – Demon
Guapdad 4000 – Doing Too Much
Grandtheft & Yung Tory – Dripoholic
Cashmere Cat – Back for You
Kamiyada+ – Midnight Be Da Set
G Jones – Dream Fatigue
Dreamville – Up Up Away
Project Paradise – YAIMT
Julien From Florida – WIN
Whipped Cream – Told Ya
Inimicvs – Fuze Tea
2¢ – DMTea
Mat Zo – Emotion Sickness
Charles Nimbus – Light Pillar
