R.I.P @DjTapedek

March 8th, 2010 | By Isis

Christian Hales aka DJ Tapedek will be greatly missed. He was one of my good buddies. His ideology regrading culture and being a well rounded educated individual will resonate with me forever. I wish you all had the chance to know him as I did. Check out the interview below.

Download and listen Here

On a cold winter Chicago day I decided to meet DJ Tapedek at Simone’s Bar in Pilsen. After hearing his project ” The Manifesto” I felt it only right that I sit-down with him and offer his project to your ears for a listen and offer your minds insight into a Dj that is everything but local.

Isis: So how are you doing today
Tapedek: I’m maintaining you know how it is and hoping my boys come threw on a victory today. Arsenal is playing today and I’m a big Arsenal fan.

Isis: Arsenal as in soccer
TApedek: Yep as in the soccer team, it’s the only kind of fan to be

Isis: Well thankyou for taking this time to sit-down with Snewty while the games on
TapeDek: No problem I support those who support me

Isis: So talk to me a little about your journey. You are Dj Tapedek but as I understand it. You are more than a DJ?
TapeDek: (Laughter) You’re right I wear many hats , it just depends on the occasion. I’m originally from Hartford Connecticut and believe it or not growing up I started off in middle school as a rapper. My rap name was Double Negative. I wasn’t that bad either, me and my crew had garnered some recognition and paid our dues. Interestingly enough that’s how I made the transition to djing. I always had a good support basis. If you wanted to do anything, the encouragement was always there from my peers in my crew to do it. The crew was known as S.U.P (Some Unknown People). The Source actually did an article on us. I also am a producer as well.

Isis: You are from Connecticut, what brought you here to Chicago?
Tapedek: I came to Chicago to attend St Xavier. I graduated from there in 2002 with a degree in Computer Science

Isis: That’s definitely an accomplishment to have recognition in the Source when it was in it’s prime. Talk to me more about your 1st Djing Gig.
TapeDek: My first gig Djin was opening up for the Lost Boys. It was unbelievable but I believe that is what set the pace for my hunger to push myself. It was the Lost Boys man..after that I had to make sure I was always on my A game because I knew people would be checking for me.

Isis: So Where are some of the places you have Dj’d and some of the residency’s you have.
Tapedek: I’ve dj’d in France at bars and in store appearances. I’ve dj’d in Amsterdam, Italy, and Germany. I am a resident DJ at the Chicago Art Department and here at Simone’s Bar.

Isis: Okay I see you, an extensive passport. What other responsibilities do you have aside from your residency’s.
Tapedek: I am also a member of Swank Society. Every week I do a radio show. I also teach DJ classes at the Chicago Art Department. I am also a resident artist at the Chicago Art Department. Aside from that I work on building up my company “After Cool Society”.

Isis: Talk to me about what Afters Cool Society is?
Tapedek: For Me Afters Cool Society is what houses all my talents. I got the name from the concept that I was a kid who spent his life in detention LOL but beyond that I like to think that in this industry people get caught on trends, they are stuck on being cool. I don’t care about what is cool..I’m here to be first, I’m here to make dope music and get busy. When trends fade I’m still here consistent.

Isis: So this project “The Manifesto” was really a refreshing piece of work. What was your motivation behind it. How did it come about?
Tapedek: The Manifesto only took me one month to complete. But in that month I really started to treat music like work. Music is my 9 to 5. When it was all said and done I had twenty to thirty tracks to pick from. All the tracks I did the beats for and arranged the music.

Isis:Let’s switch gears here for a second. I’ve compiled some question’s that I think the viewers of Snewty would love for you to answer.
Tapedek: Okay go ahead I’m ready

Isis: Is there a record that changed your life?
Tapedek: I have a few records that changed my life based off the time-frame and the mindset I was in when I heard these records. They either introduced me to a completely new sound or changed my way of thinking about genres etc. Let me see, I’d have to say Defttones “Around the Fun”. That was the first rock cd I ever owned. Then there’s Tricky ” Maxinquaye”, Donald Byrd ” Street Lady” and Company Flow.

Isis: What is your favorite pair of kicks?
Tapedek: My Dontrell Dunks (the red and orange pair). I copped them in Italy as I was browsing for records and sneakers.

Isis: What are you currently listening to im your IPOd? The top ten songs in heavy rotation
Tapedek: Jay Z – Already Home, Mos Def- Wahid, Boys Noize- Shine Shine, The Chap-Proper Rock, Art Blakly and the Jazz Messengers- A Night in Tunisia, Pete Rock, Jim Jones, Max B- We Roll, Tv on the Radio- DLQ,

Isis: Who is your favorite artist?
Tapedek: De La Soul. They have continued to show growth over the years and are still relative.

Isis: Favorite Porn Star?
Tapedek: Jada Fire and Lacy Duvalle, just give me 25 minutes.

Isis: Book you’d recommend we read?
Tapedek: I’m Glad I Look Like a Terrorist by Ray Hanania

Isis: Favorite Alcoholic Beverage
Tapedek: Anything “Totally Platinum” makes at Simone’s and Whiskey

Isis: Anything you wanna say in closing, any shout outs.
Tapedek: I’d like to take the time to thank you and say keep up the work at Snewty.com, I love the site… um lets see.. oh yes people can reach me on twitter @Djtapedek and check out the website afterscoolsociety.com . Also be sure to go check out swanksociety as well.