If there was ever someone who could tell you how the Atlanta rap scene was in the early 2000s, then DJ Scream is the guy to go to. Remembering the iconic “Hoodrich Anthem” which had 2 Chainz, Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane and Yo Gotti all on the same song, Scream has shown that he’s always been tapped in with the best in his game. Now transitioning into the media world, Scream shows he has his hands in different parts of music.
Scream spoke with rolling out about pivotal moments in his career, and what it takes for an artist to survive in the music industry today.
Back in the day, you had songs that had several prominent rappers on them at one time. How could you recreate that now?
I think that a lot of times people don’t master longevity because they don’t master flexibility. At that particular time to be able to call all of those artists — some of those artists weren’t best friends with each other whatever the case — but they said “I’m gonna do this for Scream because he went hard for me.” I’m playing their record on the radio, the radio threatened to fire me, all of this craziness. I salute them for doing the “Hoodrich” record. That’s a record that I wanted to kind of repurpose in some type of sense because that’s a historical staple and moment. I’m okay with saying I was the hottest DJ in [the] mixtape [genre] for whatever tenure. That happened, probably all the way up to the Migos mixtape and maybe a little beyond that tape. But I’m okay with [that] — and I knew that. I would be an idiot to think that this was going to last forever. It dawned upon me because I’m doing interviews here and there, but I’m not taking it seriously. I feel like, to a certain extent, you look at all those classic mixtapes, that’s a body of work that my name is attached to.
I’m not pressed because I’m comfortable and confident with what was accomplished. [A]nd I’m comfortable and confident with knowing that, if you write a book on Future’s success, 2 Chainz’s success … a lot of people’s success, I think I get a mention. Maybe I won’t. But I think I would. So, I got a mention in Gucci’s book. That I’m okay with, and what you’ll never be able to accuse me of is not opening the door for more DJs, more producers and more people.
What does it take for an artist to separate themselves in the music industry?
You have to be an individual. No one sounds or looks like Future, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph and so many names that I can name. I think we get mixed up in too many people trying to look like or sound like Chief Keef, Lil Baby and Future. Pride yourself on being an individual. I adored and saluted so many mixtape DJs on the way up, but I made it a point to say I don’t want to be like them — in a respectful way. How can I craft this, how can we craft our brand to be different? Have a purpose and focus on being an individual.
I always use this analogy. Where would Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole be if they jumped off the porch, trap rapping on autotune? People have made some great music doing it, but that’s not who they are. Kendrick had to be comfortable with being the modestly dressed guy who could write his a– off. J. Cole had to be comfortable with being the kid from North Carolina. Be comfortable in your own skin. Be comfortable in yourself. Know why you’re doing this, regardless of what field of creativity you’re in.
