Jabba Tha Kut Interview

As one of the most consistent DJ’s in the UK, Jabba Tha Kut has been on his grind recently producing and doing cuts for some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names including skits for SturbanClothing "100% Exclusive". Tricksta hooked up with him to talk about his new double CD for Hip-Hop Basement Radio.

Whattup Jabba how you been? Have a good Christmas and New Yew?
Easy Tricksta man, u good fella? Yeah man apart from having flu all over Xmas it was a good one thanks.

2008 was a good year for you and seen you feature on some Stateside releases. Tell us about who you worked with.
Yeah man I been doing beats and cuts for SWISS PRECISE, ED OG, EVIDENCE (DILATED PEOPLES), CASUAL(HIEROGLYPHICS), HIGH&MIGHTY, THE FORTYSEVEN, DIZZY DUSTIN(UGLY DUCKLING), DJ JS-1 (RAHZEL’S DJ), PETEY PARKER (PROMINENT SONS), MASTER FUOL(ODB’S COUSIN).

Last time we spoke with you said you where ‘an old skool DJ’ and still use vinyl and a CDR. Have you been converted to the laptop way of mixing yet?
Yeah man basically due to the fact we had a tour in L.A LONGBEACH back in July so I didn’t want to be carrying around heavy cases & paying surplus surcharges etc so I purchased Serato scratch live as it just made sense, it’s also good for doing specific cuts from certain samples or sentences that artists send through my way for tracks. I still like to play vinyl out though; I like to have my hands in all the pies!! haha.

The radio show on HHB Radio has been going for some time. How long you have you actually been doing that now and how did you hook up with Vokal & Lunatrix?
Hmmm I’ve been doing my HHB Radio show now for about 3 years and hooked up with them fellas through the net, got chatting on msn etc and that was that, a sick hook up!

OYM Records have now launched HHB Radio Records and they are kicking off with a new series called ‘The DJ Sessions’ which kicks off with your mix. Let’s talk about that for a minute. Who features on the mix?
It will be available to buy on Feb 23rd 2009 and it features the likes of CONSTANT CREATIONS, SIR SMURF LIL, MUSTARD ENGLISH, TRIPLE DARKNESS, CUT ABOVE RECORS, SKIBADEE, BROTHERMAN, JACK FLASH, LYRICAL-T, FRANKO FRAIZE, LARUSSO, DOC BROWN, LOWKEY, GENTLEMANS CLUB, UNFRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS, DUBAR, SWIFT IT MAJOR, DIRTY DIGGERS, LIFE, KYZA, LATE, MOS DEF, ABORIGINALS, LAMENT, DJ BABU, MARCO POLO, SUPASTITION, CL SMOOTH, DJ REVOLUTION, SWISS PRECISE, EVIDENCE, REKS, BUTTA VERSES, DJ SAT ONE, CONCISE & DJ SERIOUS.

So its UK and USA artists, how did you go about getting the tracks and what’s the actual mix like?
At the time I was asked to do the mix I just pulled out the tunes I was feeling the most at the time, not all of the tunes are brand new but are the ones I was feeling and mixed in nicely. Ha ha the mix is a fine blend of silky smooth mixing, crisp cutting, dope breakbeating & nice juggling, I don’t go over the top on cuts etc as I want people to enjoy the music as well as enjoy my skills so it’s a nice blend musically.

So it’s a double CD? How many tracks on each disc?
There's 21 in total on each disc, including intros & outro’s.

When’s it out to buy?
23rd February 2009.

What goes on with your label Cut Above Records? Anything planned for 2009?
Cut above records consist of myself and DYVERSITY, MAGISHAN, DUBAR, SUICYDE, MR.METERZ & TEMPA. THIS YEAR I,M WORKING ON STUFF WITH LYRICAL-T, SUPAR NOVAR, CHUBBY ALCOHOLIC, SWIFT IT MAJOR, KULEZ, SONNYJIM, GRIMLOK, CONSPICUOUS, COBANE, SKILF, RICTA,THE FORTYSEVEN, SWISS PRECISE, PROMINENT SONS, MAGISHAN, DUBAR, SUICYDE ETC.

Will we ever see a Jabba Tha Kut album?
Yes you will this year hopefully, I’m working on tracks so far with SUPAR NOVAR, GRIMLOK, SWIFT IT MAJOR, KULEZ, CHUBBY ALCOHOLIC, SKILF, MAGISHAN, SUICYDE, DEADLY HUNTA, BROTHERMAN, SWISS PRECISE, PETEY PARKER, CONSPICUOUS, COBANE, WORLD RENOWNED ETC.. I got much more to come man!

You can catch Jabba Tha Kut every Wednesday Night 7-8pm on HHBRadio.com.

Interview by Tricksta