DJ Ron Slomowicz: How did you start the NYC tribalism scene? What were the musical influences?
T-Pro: I arrived In NY in 87, during the commercialization of Chicago's House and NY's Freestyle, everything was merging together... except in the Extreme Case of Acid house... very simple melodies often around a basic Tribal beat. I sought long and hard at the beginning for those beats and would start the intros over and over till the crowd could take no more... eventually, I got tired of working so hard and made my own tracks.
RS: Did the scene start at clubs or at private parties that you played?
T-Pro: Private parties, but I did get a huge break at the now infamous Tunnel NY, circa 88...
RS: How did you get started as a DJ?
Angel Cantu: I first remember my Junior High School dances in the cafeteria, but to be honest I didn't really pay attention to the guy on stage. I do remember a small curiosity in what he was doing, but as I began high school it became a different story. I used to walk around the surrounding neighborhoods at night, to go to my friends house or whatever, and I used to pass by a house that would have a lot of people in the front and backyard. I would see flashing lights and hear pumping music. I was young then and didn't have any older friends to get me into these parties until one day my friends sister had a party and I got to go. I was amazed by everything but moreso by the guy who was in charge of the music. I didn't know that music could be mixed together like that. So I quickly started playing with my vinyl collection that I already had. I started back around 1986 using my parents home stereo system that had a belt driving turntable along with one I purchased at a thrift store alongside a $100 dollar mixer I saved up for and bought at Radio Shack, which was really a basic microphone mixer. My friends knew I was fooling around with DJing so they asked me to DJ a birthday party for them and that's when I the really caught the DJ bug!
RS: What about your musicality do you think made you successful in the very fickle Los Angeles clubs?
Angel: Yes, I had to be versatile playing different types of music in order to be able to get hired by different clubs and companies.
RS: Moving from Los Angeles to New York, did you change your style to play to the crowds?
Angel: Yes, there is a big difference in scene and culture here in NY. The music taste amongst the people is different. I think New York is a little ahead of LA, as far as music and fashion. I think that they can accept something new a little more easily than LA; I said a little, not a lot. Because they also are falling into that typical clubgoer who say: "We hear it on the radio or in our houses 20 thousand times so we have to hear it in the club too," just like the people in LA.
RS: How did the two of you meet up?
T-Pro: Well I was traveling back from England on the Concord's last trip, and he overheard me on my cell phone laughing about the millions of dollars I just made off of a big record deal, and struck up a conversation. No, seriously, Millions in Dance Music? Not unless you get in a car commercial. We met through a mutual friend just shortly after Angel arrived from LA.
Angel: I met T-Pro when I came to New York, I believe the second time back around 1995-96. He was spinning at a club called Milk. He says he doesn't remember me then, but as a DJ I completely understand why he says that. The second time was back in 2002 when I was shopping myself around to the different clubs. We became good friends ever since.
