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Despite being one of hip-hop’s elder statesmen, with a phenomenal catalogue of classic records under his belt (as both an artist and a producer), 2014 marks only the second time that Pete Rock has graced Australian shores to showcase his abilities as a DJ, this time bringing fellow rap royalty DJ Premier along for the ride. Having been involved in two of the most influential albums of the 90’s – Illmatic and Ready To Die – as well as the timeless anthem that is ‘They Reminisce Over You’ with his former musical partner CL Smooth, Pete is revered as a master record-digger and programmer. We caught up with him as he changed flights on his way down under to have a quick chat about his early days as a DJ.

DJ Premier and Pete Rock are touring Australia from May 1 to May 9. Get tickets and more info.

Who gave you your DJ name?

My cousin gave me the name. He started calling me “Pete Rock” and I liked it. I’ve had that name since I was seven years old.

Seven? How old were you when you first messed with a turntable?

Probably around three. When I started scratching was about seven, but I was always into the records that my father collected and always tried to play them on the record player at home.

How important is the deejaying aspect to your career?

I always loved deejaying at parties – it gives me a sense of who I am and how I started in the business. It keeps me grounded, so that’s the main reason why I do it.

What are some of your best memories of working on Marley Marl’s ‘In Control’ radio show?

Riding down from my hood, downtown to Manhattan, to the city – big lights and the place that never sleeps – to DJ something that I loved doing from my bedroom. I was lucky enough to get a job with Marley Marl through Heavy D – that was the main thing. Without those two guys I wouldn’t have been heard of, or it would have took me longer to come out, so I’m very grateful.

That must have been a great place to develop your production and remix skills with all the ‘Special Mixes’ you guys would drop.

I was playing a lot of breaks and cuts on the radio at that time, and everything that came out in that era, like Special Ed and Chubb Rock, when they were all new artists. I was playing De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest and a lot of unknown artists. Doing ‘Special Mixes,’ remixes, bringing my drum machine there and taking acapellas and playing them over a beat that I made – we used to do all that stuff, it was fun.

Can you speak on the importance of James Brown to you personally?

I met James Brown when I was seven years old. My mom took me to a concert in Mt. Vernon, New York. He came and performed and me and my younger brother met him. My younger brother was six and I was seven and we met James Brown. It was crazy! When we met him I think he passed something on to me. I wasn’t the same after I met him.

Do you agree that James Brown is the foundation of hip-hop music as we know it?

James Brown is definitely the creator of hip-hop because he’s the creator of “the one” and the snare hit, and the one and the two. “On the one” – that was important to him, and he wanted people to know how that’s done and what he was listening to in his head.

What’s your best memory of Heavy D?

That he’s my cousin and I love him to death. I miss him daily, and it’s always tough losing family. But he’s there in spirit and he’s going to live on through his music.