Stuntdouble, Joseph Sullivan, Esquire, J. Strickland & Sonny Phono Discuss Their Roles Within Stuntdouble & DJ Kayote's "Where's Your DJ?" Music Video (Serpent City Records)
Stuntdouble (@stuntdouble40lbs) and I have been messaging back-and-forth about the impending release of his latest single, "Where's Your DJ?" B/W "Tune Villains Crew" with DJ Kayote & DJ Unite. It was quietly released physically on a number of multi-colored tagged up vinyl 7-inches on Serpent City Records. It's now nearly sold out on Bandcamp, and both "Where's Your DJ?" & "Tune Villains Crew" are also available digitally on Bandcamp and across like-minded streaming services. However, its companion music video went live on YouTube as recently as the Fourth of July. It's a rather trippy, nearly eight minute-long sonic adventure that was filmed in San Diego with many special guest features directed by J. Strickland starring DJ Sonny Phono.
Honestly, it's just something you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate. Through chatting with Stuntdouble (@stuntdouble40lbs,) we got in touch with director J. Strickland (@mrstrix8825,) video super-star Sonny Phono (@sonnyphono,) producer and Serpent City Records founder DJ Kayote (@criminalattorney505) AKA Attorney Joseph Sullivan, Esquire, and featured artist Unite (@djunite.) All of whom gave us their unique takes on writing, recording, producing, creating, directing, starring in, and featuring on "Where's Your DJ?" and its companion video. Check all of that out below and, maybe, you can learn a few lessons from it! Plus, if you like what you see and hear here, go find Stuntdouble & DJ Kayote's "Where's Your DJ?" & "Tune Villains Crew" on your streaming service of choice.
Stuntdouble: "The collaboration between DJ Kayote & I began during The Pandemic with "Tune Villains [Crew.]" The song is an exercise in wordplay and rhyming dexterity. As an emcee, I strive to be original. Finding ways to flip acronyms into sentences and bars is a fun way to make things fresh. Kayote's production style is sample-based and mid to uptempo, which I love. Still, it's a significant departure from the styles of my previous collaborators, Tenshun and Mr. Henshaw. Putting out projects that don't sound alike, even if only two tracks, is always a goal. The concept of "Where's Your DJ?" is born from several years of hosting the monthly event, Hip-Hop vs. Punk Rock at one of San Diego's oldest dives, The Tower Bar (prominently featured in the "Where's Your DJ?" video.) For years, DJ Unite, Mr. Henshaw, DJ Sesh, El DJ de TJ, and myself (all members of the collective, First Power Crew) would invite local and touring Hip-Hop groups to play along side Punk & Hardcore bands."
"Growing up in San Diego, most of us came up in scenes consisting of both groups, so we knew there was a connection to be had. Hip-Hop vs. Punk Rock, indeed, became a unique cross-scene event that celebrated each genre's shared ethos and grind. Over and over, we found cats from both scenes bonding over drinks, good times, and artistry. Unfortunately, we found Hip-Hop heads would often show up to do their sets unprepared, unpracticed, and breaking what we considered a "cardinal rule"—not having a DJ. While some might call us traditionalist, we believe performers should be self-contained and ready to rock without reliance on the house DJ. As an emcee myself, it seemed only natural to take aim at this issue within our community through verse."
"I mean, how else do we as Hip-Hop heads solve issues like this, other than by making songs that address 'em? Featuring Unite was appropriate, as he can relate more than anyone I know. Often, it was DJ Unite who would find himself in that supporting role at Hip-Hop vs. Punk Rock, searching through rappers' USB drives, queueing up their instrumentals, and listening to some New Jack repeatedly demand he, "run that back." While the song isn't about anyone in particular, it's very much in the vein of "if the shoe fits." It's my hope that heads won't take it personally, but, rather, do better in the future. I know it sucks having to fork over a portion of the meager door money you get at the end of the night [to a DJ], but, fam, I've never had a band show up expecting the house drummer to jump on the kit. [Get the] F.O.H. [f**k outta here] with that lol."
Joseph "DJ Kayote" Sullivan, Esquire: "Yessir! [I'm a] criminal defense attorney. Homicide, D.W.I., your best friend when all others can't help you. Before all that, I was a Hip-Hop DJ. Gradually learned all these Funky beats were re-purposed from vintage 60's and mostly 70's vinyl records. So began the adventures in digging. In 1996, attorneys ruined Hip-Hop beats, via sampling lawsuits, so I'm hoping to counter-balance that problem. All Serpent City [Records] beats are vintage loops from the original pressed vinyl. The beat for "Where's Your DJ?" was looped from a 80's Soft Rock private press LP out of Northern California. I've looked up to Stuntdouble, Unite, Jay PJoe, and Mr. Henshaw for many years, so this is a real treat!"
J. Strickland: "'Where's Your DJ?" was a super-fun video project to work on with the fams. I love the message! I've known Stuntdouble & Unite since they where [little] knuckleheads in high school. From the First Power Crew's inception in PENG's (R.I.P.) garage over a couple decades ago, our crew has put in a ton of work for the culture/community and continue the legacy of our brother, PENG. Kayote is the real deal when it comes to Hip-Hop sh*t. I've known him over a couple decades and look up to him as mentor/major influence with my art/spray[paint] sh*t. Stuntdouble hit me up months ago about doing a video project; I'm always down for the crew and was on-board, especially, with all these heads coming together, as we live in different areas. When I heard the track and we discussed the narratives and his ideas for the video, I was blown away and super-hyped for the challenge."
"As I don't do music, but from being around all the years with the guys, seeing them deal with all the "Whack 'ems" out there this sh*t was perfect lol. Sonny Phono is the fams and goes way back, too, so when he was gonna come down play both characters I immediatley knew sh*t would be funny [as] f**k. It was, actually, hard to film some of the stuff with Sonny as "Whack 'em," as I was laughing too hard. He's like a natural and powered through; it was super-fun. The whole shooting process was fun, especially, The Tower Bar with Luke & Nicholle. Shout-out Mick for letting us shoot there. I like how the visuals deliver the message in a fun entertaining way, as well, with the promos giving an insight of how torturous these real-life "Whack 'ems" can be. It's like a P.S.A. for aspiring rappers. Thanks to everybody who helped make it happen."
Sonny Phono: "Stuntdouble & I go back to elementary school in Golden Hill. I have a tattoo of his 7-inch cover art for The Hunchback of Golden Hill [EP] on my leg. Unite is my DJ mentor and one of my best friends. J. Strickland is a fellow wandering soul and old friend, as well. We would all hang and do Hip-Hop sh*t at DJ Disko Rick's (R.I.P.) garage called The Land of The Lost in the early to late 90's. I had acted in a few plays and [Indie] films in my youth and have cut my teeth as a DJ in San Francisco for the past 20+ years. Stunt called me hyped about a video project and asked if I'd be down to portray a DJ that got lost on his way to a gig; I enthusiastically jumped on board and we got to work. Stuntdouble flew me down and we attacked the shoot. J. & I speak the same language, so we got everything really quick and all the dialog was almost entirely improvised. The end product is far more than I could have imagined. I'm very proud of the project."
