Before you read the interview, we want to encourage you to check out DJ Oji's excellent homepage, where you can find a wide range of additional information about him, including the link to the internet broadcast of his radio show "Underground Experience" on WEAA 88.9FM and a recent interview he did for 'Carl's Garage' site:

www.angelfire.com/md/djoji
www.keme.net/~carl/oji1.htm
www.garagenet.ndirect.co.uk/movinnov.html

You can reach DJ Oji at: DJOJI@aol.com

We are honored to feature an interview with DJ Oji, which touched lots of us here at the UF site. Needless to say that we share his opinions to the fullest! The interview was done by DJ Theory, who appeared as a guest DJ on one of DJ Oji's radio shows in 1998 and has experienced DJ Oji's personality and spirit first hand.

DJ Theory
April 1999

The following interview was conducted by DJ Theory in March 1999:

How did you arrive at Morgan State University?

I came to Morgan State University in 1987 to pursue a degree in Business Management. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. That would explain my "so-called" accent. I graduated in 1992 (Bachelor of Science in Business Management). I also minored in Telecommunications. DJ'ing was something I had done before I came to Morgan. Not professionally, but in my house and a few parties here and there in High School. Back in NY, I started out as a hip-hop DJ. I think that many of us did. Well somewhere along the line, hip-hop and the hip-hop clubs got real wild and violent. You had to risk your life to hear some good hip-hop music. That was back in the days of Latin Quartes, Union Square, The Roof Top and many others.

Well shortly thereafter, I found myself in the Garage and a flurry of underground venues, listening to house music, played by some of the music's legendary DJ's (Larry Levan, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Timmy Regisford ... the list goes on). I was blessed to have been there to have seen such artists as Liz Torres, Adeva, Imagination, Loleatta Holloway, Kraze ... aw man you got me reminiscing now. It was all about the music. No violence, just love for the music. Fun and good times.

Anyway, by the time I left NY to come to school here at Morgan State University in Baltimore MD, I was already a "House Junkie." I hooked up with some brothers here and we did a lot of college promotions throwings, parties in night clubs all over town. The radio show would come into play later.

You have, what many would say, the most successful underground house show on college radio in the world. Give us history on the "Underground Experience" on WEAA, the secret to the success, and its impact on the house movement in Baltimore/D.C. area.

I hooked up with DJ Pope. He was from Chicago. He too had love for the music. I featured him at a couple of the parties I threw in various clubs and on campus. We also discovered that we had like interests in production as well as and a thirst for industry knowledge. Pope was a telecommunications major and it is actually him that credit is due to for the inception of "The Underground Experience." He was working at Morgan State radio station (WEAA 88.9FM) when he was able to propose the concept of the show. The show originally aired on Friday nights at 12:30am - 5:00am. DJ Pope was mixer and on air personality and hung out and and did some of the mixes. Before you know, the show was able to move to 7pm-12am on Saturday nights. That's right. We were on "prime time!" The listeners loved what they heard. Not then, not now, had there ever been any other show that featured this kind of soulful, spiritual, but yet danceable music. At least not on a Saturday night during these hours. Mix shows never had personalities or commentary or guests. Traditionally, mix shows came on at 2am or some crazy latenight hour. You heard it on your way to, or on our way home from the party. You liked what you heard, but no one ever bothered to tell you what it was you were listening to. Well, we changed that. Like they say, "we kept it real."

In July of '95, Pope left Baltimore to go back to Chicago. I took over the show completely and was able to implement some of my own ideas. The formula was still the same musically. Although, my style may have been a little different, there was always message in the music. That was a must! For me, "The Underground Experience" is a family show. It had to be something that everyone could listen to. People of all ages. I came up with the concept of DJ Oji and "The Underground Family." The idea was then and still is now, if you listen to my show, you like what you hear, and you feel it in your heart, then you are a part of my family. We are all related by "music." We never played any of the derogative things you may have heard on commercial radio or maybe in some of the clubs. Songs degrading women and disrespectful to our elders, nah!!! You mind as well turn the station because you wasn't going to hear that here. Don't even play yourself by making a request like that. I never have and never will play a song that compromises my integrity, or something that I feel my own mother couldn't listen to. As a result, I have people of all races, colors, creeds, sexes, and ages who are down with "The Underground Family."

Nothing moves me more than when children call me. Some of them barely old enough to speak and spell, but they listen. These are the "underground babies." Then there are those who listen that actually are grandparents. Its incredible! I am truly blessed and grateful that God has sent me to deliver my musical ministry to these people. Realizing that I was given an opportunity, I wanted to do the same for others. If I could, I wanted to open the doors for other DJ's who may not ever have had a chance to shine. This is my "DJ Family." I have had a multitude of guest DJ's spotlighted on my show. Usually one per week. This is also a highlight of the show because it does create a sense of listener anticipation each week. Who will be the guest DJ? Where is he or she from? Does he/she have skills? Wow, I didn't know that had house music where he/she is from ... that kid is good.

As a producer I have a genuine concern and awareness for the business aspect of supply and demand for the music. If more opportunities are created for DJ's to play, then that means that more people will be buying records again. It's a trickle down effect. Many of DJ's who had turned in their mixing gloves, have come out of retirement and reunited themselves with their turntables and our local record stores. All I ever wanted was to make a difference. I won't stop trying until God delivers me from this place.

Please describe your relationship with DJ POPE.

Pope came back in late '97. The Brothers in the Struggle ... back together again. By now I had established my own identity and I welcomed my Brother back with open arms. There were many new listeners by now to be introduced to Pope and many others to get reacquainted. So now you can hear Pope every Saturday inside "The Underground Experience" at 10pm for what is now popularly known as "The Pope Pump Hour." It's wild, how things come full circle. Pope named "The Underground Experience" and I name "The Pope Pump Hour." Well, now its on!!!!!!! It's all the way on. The show is heard live on the net and everyone who listens knows about "The Brothers in the Struggle." We keep it real on the air, and we bring it to the nightclubs and to the streets, never once compromising our spirituality or love for the music.

Name some of B-More's underground house legends and heroes from the 70's, 80's, and 90's.

As far as DJ's go, there is Wayne Davis (owner of Paradox), DJ Teddy Douglass (Basement Boys), Jerome Hicks, Michael Joyner, Tony Fashaw. There are others I am sure, but these are some of the DJ's that influenced me during my stay here in B-more.

How about DC?

DC is 30 minutes from Baltimore and my two most influential DJ's (both living legends and still bangin' beats) are DJ Sam "The Man Burns" and DJ Mandrill. You don't want to mess with those cats. Father Time has not caught up with those brothers. That goes for Teddy too. All of them have about 20 years under their belts and can still spin circles around the average DJ. We are all good friends. I am blessed to be peers and even respected by many of those who have been an influence to me as I danced endless nights to their playing music.

Your radio show places heavy emphasis on the "classics." How important is this element to you as an individual and to the development of garage/house?

My show and the Classics? Got to have the classics. One thing that failed house music and any R&B for that matter is the miseducation of the music. We are not the same generation. Based on the age range of my listening audience that I described, we are parents, aunts, uncles and in some cases grandparents. So not only can we appreciate the memory of an old song that we once danced all night to, but it is also important for the children, to realize where their "so-called" new music has come from. These are the "Classics." They don't make them like they used to, but the fact is that they are using them to make it. So it's the DJ's job to educate the listeners on what is happening now, what has happened then, and what will be happening soon. That is what I do. It's my job. The music is my ministry.

How does the Baltimore scene fit into the crucial development of East Coast garage/house?

That's a good question. Let's name a few producers and artists and I think that this question requires no actual answer.

Producers:
DJ Oji, DJ Pope, Charles Dockins, DJ Spen, Josane (Jasper St. Co, Spensane), Teddy Douglass, Jay Steinhour (Basement Boys), Rich and Doug (95 North), Kevin Wilson (Kimani), DJ Mandrill (Drill Impulse), Neal Conway, A.O.U (M.U. Xpress), Brian Bristol, DJ Scratch, Geoffrey Curtis ...

Up and coming producers:
Karizma, D-Soul, Soul Providers, Chris Brooks, Cool Chuck ...

Artists:
Ultra Naté, Crystal Waters, Sheila Ford, Lynnette Smith, Marti St. Michaels, Sandé, Ed Ramsey, Jasper St. Co., Mijan, Tonya Louise, James Howard, Una, Robin Rush ...

Maybe you are familiar with some of our aliases: Baltimore Soultree, Those Guys, Spenetch, Sadam X, The Brothers in the Struggle ...

Then there are the Baltimore/DC based labels: Basement Boys Records, POJI, 95 North, Step Ahead Records, K2 ...

We have all made contributions to the music that we live, love and believe in.

How has the B-More scene developed from the time you first attended school there, to the present?

The funny thing is that we all feel like this is a new beginning. Our sounds have changed, our production techniques and skills have improved, and we are all dedicated, be it as individuals or as a group, to take on the world with our "Soulful Sound."

True garage/house music lost many of its original followers. What are the steps we (as producers/DJs/writers/promoters) should take to gain this element back, and bring garage back to the community where it came from?

Well, I realize that many others do not have the freedom or opportunities that I have with college radio. So I will continue to feed my listeners with spiritually influenced and vocal music. That is the key. I am not knocking the beats. I love beats too. I bang beats on my show and in the club. But no one can identify a beat. The message is in the music which has words. Songs about love, life, happiness, heartache, pain, and struggle. People can relate to that. These songs tell our stories. They bring a smile to your face and joy in your heart. You should see them dancing so happily. You can't fight the feelin'. That's soul music. Then there are those beats that speak to you. Live instruments. The saxophone speaks its own language. So does the piano, the flute, the guitar, and every other instrument. Ask any musician. They will testify. The percussion: drums, bongos, congas, and cowbells. They grab a hold of your soul. Percussion is ritual and tradition. It is the ancestral calling. So if you want to bring it to the people ... you have to come correct and implement all of these things.

DJ's educate, and never stop being thirsty for knowledge yourself. As you go forward with your record collection, don't forget to look back. On the same note, it is also very important not to find yourself stuck in the past. Damn, now there's a problem that has also helped to destroy us. No new education is also "miseducation." DJ's stuck in the past. The listeners stuck there too. You can't move forward if all you want to do is relive the past. So move on ... Please, I beg you!

The late 80's and early 90's are over. Did you know that they have made many new house records since "Follow me" or "Set it off" or "You used to hold me?" Nothing personal, those were all once great songs, but no matter where I go, there are always people who want to hear those songs. There are DJ's who have not bought records since then and who are employed undeservingly in my opinion. Needless to say, you won't find these records in my crates. Living in the past will not help us to move forward. It does not create a demand for house music at the record store. It does not help promote new artists or producers if their music is never exposed. So I say again, I say when you bring it to the community, make sure that you are not cheating yourself or those who may be a little misguided.

I've seen your name credited for a few background vocal jobs. Are vocals something we can look forward to hearing from DJ Oji himself?

Don't expect to see that too often. I am definitely not a singer. Sometimes I let my willingness and creativity get the best of me. I have a "I can do anything I put my mind to" attitude about me. I have even been so bold to actually sing a song or two. Ain't no shame in my game. I wrote it, so what the heck, I was in the mood, I sang it too. It wasn't that bad. People listened. They liked it. They probably didn't know it was me. As a matter of fact, I have one coming out soon. Its called "Dance All Nite." As long as they don't ask me to sing live, we don't have no problems ... that could be a tragedy :-)

Tell the people about your upcoming projects.

Speaking of upcoming releases:
Marti St Michaels - produced by The Brothers in the Struggle - POJI records
Brothers in the Struggle feat :Una - Yearnin - Look At You
DJ Oji presents Terri Browning - Feel Your Power - Sovereign
DJ Oji - Dance All Nite - Caus-n-ffct

Then there is inventory a mile long. Always shopping. Now that Pope and I have revived our label (POJI) you can expect to hear a whole lot more.

Thanks, Oji, for this interview!

Thanks!

We here at the 'Underground Files' would like to wish DJ Oji the absolute best in his travels and his undying devotion to underground culture!!!!