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He was part of the original NikeiD dream team, hand picked to give your soles some character. Besides success and recognition through Nike and design entrepreneurs, The Wilson Brothers, and the fact that this hardworking boy genius has a clientele list ranging from the likes of Ill Bill , Didier Drogba and beyond. There is far more to this DJ, than what meets the eye.

To add to his list of cool, he has recently joined the force that is, The Doctor’s Orders. In the words of Nas, this budding DJ certainly is “half man, half amazing”.
So if you haven’t met him at the Nike London studio as a former senior design consultant, or haven’t heard him destroy the Secret warehouse or hold his ground at London night and What’s Good you inevitably will at some point this year.

When you do, I ask you to take a breath, ex-spell all thoughts you have at the time and listen! He is a remarkable all-round across-the-board DJ, with such an eclectic medley of beats and breaks, you’d think he was a 50 year old teenager, plus not forgetting the skills and technique worthy of most up coming turntablists. I remember someone referring to him as a breaks encyclopedia. I can now say after hearing extensive mixes like Chew The Fat and Going In, and not to mention the new Love Is Blind mix tape that WeAre giving away today to all you HeadQases as a free download.
Chris P is seriously a ‘cuts’ above the rest!

I went to have an informal chat with him earlier this month on his thoughts for this year which then turned into a civilized mixing session- in civilized, I mean tea instead of tea-quila!

Without further a due, let’s find out a bit more…

First things,first, You’ve got quite an unusual alias, I got the idea you loved donuts…Where did you get you really your stage name from?
I’ve been a massive Fat Joe (Joey Crack) fan for ever. His first two LP’s are that real hip-hop shit! I was recording my first mix tape with my mate Dave and we started doing some voice overs pissing about, and he starts calling me Chrissy Cracks! That’s almost as stupid as Chris P Cuts! It basically evolved with a P and to Cuts as I got more cuts than a self harmer! So yeah, it’s ended up as Chris P Cuts, Chris P for short. Who knows!

If you had a dream line-up constructed of your favorite and most influential rappers & musicians. who would be in it?
There are just too many to name and I’ve started thinking too deep, like what personalities would clash.
Herbie Hancock would have to be in it. Vocals and stage entertainment from Ozzy. Rap and stage presence supplied by Pun or maybe RA The Rugged Man. Would need some soulfulness from someone like Bill Withers. Preemo would put some scratch hooks on there and help Herbie with production and if the group recorded an LP it would be done at King Tubby’s with the man himself, and Lee Scratch Perry mixing down the final cut.

Can you tell us about your first and any other early gig experiences?
Thinking way back we used to go to metal gigs. Skip the train there, pay 4 quid to get in, get 3 pints for £2 each and basically have the time of our lives for a tenner, then somehow get home.

My first DJ gigs were messy! One gig was spinning records in between bands. I played at a few house parties and played at the end of high school show which was hilarious. No one really knew I DJ’d- we had a band and thought we were Limp Bizkit or some shizz and I got a little solo at the end. I started scratching “smoke weed everyday!” It went down a storm- just ask Nathaniel!

What is your little pick me up track?
‘Your Time Will Come’ by Iron Maiden. Why? Who knows but it’s a banger. If I’m allowed another it would be Fat Joe – ‘Part Deux’. Joey goes in on that track!

How do you come up with the names for your mix tapes?
Mix tapes kind of come up with names themselves. I put a lot of time into doing tapes because I think as a DJ that’s what I should be doing. Others influences like stupid words being said at the time like ‘Going In’ or something that describes what I’m trying to achieve ‘DubWot’. Everything’s to be taken with a pinch of salt anyway.
I record all my mixes with my mate Stu, who is fucking hilarious and usually has something to do with the name. Plus he’s an awesome sound engineer and makes shit sound right. Cheers Stu!

What would you class yourself in terms of genre and ability?
I’m a hip-hop DJ and have always practiced as one. I basically play anything that’s good ranging from hip-hop to dub to electro and loads more in between. I’ve got mad skills and have put way too many hours in to DJ’ing, not to be any good. Pretty modest about it too! (smiles)

What is your favorite line or song catch phrase?
“Dead in the middle of little Italy, little did we know
That we riddled some middleman who didn’t do diddly.”

You also have an eye for design, and have worked with design entrepreneurs the Wilson Brothers. whats it like working with them?
Yeah I worked as a kind of intern for Ben Wilson. That was real cool as at the time I started, him and his brother were doing the Nike 1948 shop installation. Ben helped me out a lot and showed me what its like to make a living through design work. Not easy but rewarding and everyday is different. Ben taught me a lot about design and planning ahead, as it saves ball ache in the long run.

Are there any records that have changed your life?
The Prodigy – ‘Experience’ album was the first album I bought. That LP basically made me a music head and made me love heavy drums. Deftones – ‘White Pony’ was crazy good and came out at a time when I was a care free teen having the time of my life, so it always sticks out!
Task Force’s EP – ‘Voice of The Great Outdoors’ was the one though! At the time I didn’t know much about US hip-hop and couldn’t really see its appeal as I couldn’t relate. I had bought things like Busta’s ‘Woo-Ha’ when I was real young, but then got more into rock music. At about 16, I became UK hip-hops number one fan. Me and my mate Dave went to every rave that didn’t check our ID’s! Task Force – ‘New Mic Order’ and Mud Fams – ‘Mud Files’ were the pinnacle records that changed everything for me. I got hooked on hip-hop after getting into those releases. It’s kind of funny now that I know the guys I used to listen to religiously. Shout to Tom at Mr Bongo’s for pushing those vinyls on me.

I’ve caught and heard you at numerous nights and parties over the last three years, are there any that really stick out for you?
Anything at Commercial Road warehouse has been crazy, especially before it got done up! Think the first time was the best though. I remember dropping Skream – ‘Midnight Request Line’ and people going bananas. I got the record a day before and didn’t really know much about it, just stuck it on. Market Place is always fun too.

What has been the most slept on record for you last year? will you be waking people up with it, this year?
Everything by Samiyan is being slept on. I think he’s got the right balance between authentic hip-hop and the new electronic slash 8-bit sound. Look out for a tune called ‘Snake Cola’. It was the highlight of DJ IQ’s latest mix as he got Ransom Bad Bones spitting over it. I think a lot more rappers should be hitting up Samiyan for beats as they’re real good.
For all the other slept on records and some of the more well known ones from last year check my ‘Going In 2009’ mix.

Who do you appreciate on the scene.. who do you think we should keep an eye on?
I appreciate DJ’s who got skills! The Extended Players are for me the best hip-hop DJ’s in London and will kill any party. Benji B’s got the best radio show on 1xtra and does a real good job. Klose One and Rattus Tattus, the Urban Nerds are ones to watch as they smash any party.
One of the best names and shows I’ve seen is The Gas Lamp Killer, and musically Dam Funk and Joker are crazy and are apparently collaborating in 2010!
Another band to keep an eye are Die Antwoord, go check that on Youtube. You will not be disappointed!

Where can we hear or find you, have you laid out the blueprint for this year?
I’ve got a couple of sets coming up so come check me out:
3rd March at The Social at a new night called ‘Supa Lusa’
6th March is ‘Whats Good’ at Market Place
19th March at The Old Queens Head, Islington
I got my own night called ‘What’s That Sound?’ starting back up at The Westbury, Kilburn on the 22nd April and a website under construction.

Finish the sentence? WeAre…… Out of here!

My Funny Valentine Mix by chrisPcuts

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