Freestyle Steve (Timbaland’s DJ) Talks Miami Roots, The Art Of DJing, & More w/ @MixshowPrime

DJ Freestyle Steve recently sat down with Mixshow Prime to discuss his come up under Miami legend Uncle Al & his current status with Timbaland.

Mixshow Prime: You grew up in Miami during the 2 Live Crew era, what made you want to become a DJ as oppose to a rapper?

Freestyle Steve: Here’s the funny thing, I did want to become a rapper but I knew I wasn’t good enough. So back in those days watching 2 Live Crew going to the Pack Jam, I mean man, just listening to when Chico got on the mic you know as a kid I was like whoa! I think I was in middle school maybe, yea I was in middle school and just listening to Chico I was like holy crap! Now going back thinking about it,I was like yea I’m going to rap. But I always knew I wanted to do something in music.

Do you remember the reaction you go the first time you performed in front of a crowd?

The reaction was crazy. The people showed love and the crowd showed love. It was actually in Miami on the beach. It was a fundraiser for my boy Al. The crowd was crazy. The feeling was good. It was the first time really doing the club by myself. With the encouragement of me and Al’s mutual friends. He was like “Yo, you should DJ and DJ for Al and just do it”. So from that it was like while. I can really do this. So that was just an amazing feeling. It was 2 feelings in one because I just lost my best friend but at the same time it was like I can carry on his legacy.

Was there any DJs outside of Miami that you would say influenced your style?

The New York style. Jam Master Jay. Kid Capri. Jazzy Jeff. Those were the guys when it came down to hip hop. Those where the DJs you knew about. Grandmaster Flash. I was a New York guy. Even though I came from Miami I loved the New York sound. I loved the bass music too but I was more attracted to Hip Hop. More attracted to east coast music. So yea Jam Master Jay, Kid Capri. Those guys were like wow. But I was still like, I got this guy in Miami who was still known throughout the state of Florida. I knew that if I can take from what he taught me and mix it in with the New York scene then wow. I guess you can say I foreseen it. I mean ain’t nobody doing that. I don’t wanna do all the things the DJs down here doing. Nah. Which is why he gave me the name Freestyle Steve.

Did you ever go the mixtape route or were you strictly for the party?

I wasn’t really a mixtape guy. My thoughts about mixtapes is anyone can sit at a computer and put something together and make it sound good. But when you get in the club it like wait, your garbage. My thing was I did a couple. I did one with Slip N Slide with Ross, Trina and Trick Daddy. I did that a long time ago but I was never like ok I’m gonna sit and make a mixtape like Clue. Nothing against Clue but I was like you’ll see my talent in the club. Like I said I put out a couple. I did it just to show yea I did it. In the club, live… yea that’s me.

You can give the full interview a read via Mixshow Prime Magazine!!!