When Spinderella Spins, She Spins Mackie
Spinderella is without question one of the true pioneers of hip-hop music. Best known as the DJ for Salt ‘N’ Pepa—whose hits like “Push It,” “What A Man,” and “Shoop” showed the world what three women with a beat and a plan could accomplish—Spin has been there, done that, and is still running the show.
After co-writing the hit single “None Of Your Business,” Spin gained inspiration to pursue her writing and production talents. Now she and co-host DJ Mo’Dav can be heard via the syndicated Superadio show The Back Spin, which airs in six markets across the country. Armed with her new Mackie d.2 mixer, Spin is poised to take her game to the next level. Here’s what she had to say.
Hey Spin, It’s Mackie waking you up!
Finally we get to talk! (laughs)
I’M IN TROUBLE ALREADY! I EXPECTED HER TO BE HALF ASLEEP—A PLIABLE VICTIM FOR THE CRASS, COMMERCIAL MANIPULATION I PLAN TO UNLEASH!
What do you think of the d.2? How’s it been treating ya?
Its been really good! Its beautiful, and everybody that comes by—all my DJ friends—are like “Yo! That’s the new d.2!” But I’m like, “hell no! Get up outta here and don’t touch my setup!” It gets people excited, cuz it’s so pretty (laughs), and it really works for me.
I do my syndicated show radio show with it. I use it to record
On Lip Service?
Oh no! Lip Service is waay old… I used to do that for MTV!
DAMN THESE ONLINE BIO’S TO HELL!
Just testing, Spin… I want to make sure your on the ball here for Mackie!
For the last five years I’ve been doing I have a syndicated radio show called Backspin. Its old-school hip-hop and, rock, funk—you know, the classics. It plays all over on Friday nights. It’s a lot of fun and I love doing it! I host, produce, and DJ the program along with my boy MoDave.
What does Spinderella like about her d.2?
Umm… I’m a fader person, and I just love the feel of the fader crossfader, the way you can set the feel—it just feels right!
You know, our staff of experts had just that in mind!
(laughing) It makes me nicer as a DJ—it really does! It feels like I’m kinda cheatin’ up there because that fader feels so good!
Better mixers ain’t cheating Spin, It’s technology in action!
Oh yeah! All the other mixers I’ve used weren’t this kind to me–ya know what I’m saying—but this one, I’m pretty nice with it!
GIVE YERSELF SOME PROPS, GIRL! YER SPINDA-FREAKIN’-RELLA!
Miss Spin, You have never failed to impress, even without a d.2!
Why, Thank you! But I’ve improved a lot. What’s interesting to me about DJing is that the way you perform depends on what aspect of the art you’re doing. I was a soul DJ with Salt ‘N’ Pepa, but being on radio and doing mixes and recording—doing parties, it keeps you aware of the cutting edge.
I spoke on the phone with that guy who did the d.2 launch party—that guy who was doing all the hot scratches?
DJ Rocky Rock?
MY GOD! THE TIE-IN TO ROCKY”S INTERVIEW MAKES ME SALIVATE! A CROSS-MARKETINGASAM SURE TO MAKE MY EMPLOYERS LOVE ME.
Yeah! I was so in awe of his skills. He hit me up and asked me how my d.2 was working out. I was like “oh my god, I wanna learn from you! (laughs hard) I was like “Damn! This dude knows all of it—he knows how the setup goes!” So he let me stand behind him while he was doing his thing.
What did you learn from the champ?
Rocky Rock and those guys really focus on what they are doing— and they don’t stop there, they keep going they look for every nook and cranny of the art to explore.
YEAH— JUST A SANDWICH IN THE MORNING AND HE’S GOOD TO GO!
So, Is the d.2 worthy of Spinderella?
At this point, I haven’t even explored all it can do! I haven’t even gotten into the Firewire, but I know DJs who can totally get in there and utilize it to the fullest extent of what it can do, but even just as a straight mixer, it’s the best.
I like the way it maneuvers, the EQ—I love the extra click in the transform switch, and that you can make them work up or down, or left and right—it’s crazy.
How did a girl like you wind up in a business like this?
I got my start, lets see… I was in high school and my boyfriend was a DJ and I just hung out and helped him with his records. Then one day we were in his room—and we wasn't doing nothing, mind you… (laughing)
HMMM—SPINDERELLA IS MOST CHASTE!
…and I was just talking to him about something. I just started scratchin’ while I’m talking to him—you know, just in passing conversation, and I’m like “that girl said)…(makes jigga-jigga scratching sound) “and why is she messin with me?” (jigga-jigga). and he says “wait a minute—shut-up! Let me hear”. Then he was like “let me hear you do this” and “let me hear you do that”, and from then on, I just took off. I loved music, my dad played music when I was a kid and everybody had a DJ at the house parties and I was just around it a lot.
Well, it must’ve sunk in!
Next thing, Salt ‘N’ Pepa were looking for a DJ and I auditioned and got it!
SOME GIRLS HAVE ALL THE LUCK!
Yeah, I was instantly on big tours and my first show meant a lot. I was so freakin’ scared in front of like hundreds of people. It was when Salt ‘N’ Pepa were just hitting the scene in a huge way. When it was time for me to drop the record, and I was just so scared I froze! (laughs).
So how does the hip-hop community treat their lady DJs? Ever get disrespected just because you’re a woman?
Well, back then, yeah, but I always held my own, and I’ve definitely grown as a DJ since. Nowadays, it’s a great thing because female DJs are in high demand!
Seems that an awful lot of models have become DJs…
Well, yeah there’s girls like that—really nice with it, and it’s really cute—but at the end of the day can you really rock a party? Can you keep a crowd going? Can you keep the feel of the music together? That’s the bottom line… I don’t care what ya look like.
Well, I have to tell ya Spin, you’re damn fine yourself!
I’m lucky! I dunno… I guess I get it from my mom (giggles). I come from a family of beautiful women and we all have it—inside and out!
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