DJ Sega – Philadelphia

Posted: April 4, 2011

At 24 years old, Robert Taylor Jr. espouses a knowledge of and enthusiasm for the finer points of music better than heads twice his age. Taylor’s father DJ Brother Rob raised him on classic soul, and his obsession with music grew from there. “I love every genre, from classical to heavy metal,” he beams. “I understand it and love it all. If you see me without my headphones, then I’m going through something and there’s a problem.”

He used to hold residency with quite a young black teenage following at Jamz Roller Skating Center and at Pinnacle Nightclub during the summers, both with DJ Dee Square. Taylor is known as one of Philly’s most respected “party music” DJs.

As a producer his stock has exploded on the scene with his club remixes of “Woo Hah!”, “Last Resort”, and around 100 other tracks; made only for himself prior to a career. Sega is a man with a mission, “I just want people to hear my music and feel whatever bad situation they’re in either doesn’t exist or won’t be a problem for long. When you dance and hear music that makes you move, you get a feeling that it’s gonna be all right.”

DJ Sega-The Angry Birdz Theme by maddecent

At first, Sega was merely a creative wizard. Taking songs we knew in the most non-club setting and riddling them with a hail of drum and bass patterns. However, something great has happened to Sega. He has developed his style yet further, and is applying his trademark intensity to dubstep, electro and pretty much anything in his path. Toddla T, Donaeo, Dr. Dre, Diplo, Major Lazer, Rye Rye, Young Chris, and Caspa have all recently been remixed by the boy turned man who dares to be king.

Influenced by a slew of recent remixes involving popular European bass and dubstep tracks alongside the same Top 40 material familiar to the work of many northern based club DJs, Sega has finally matured as a professional. He’s become a recognized name both nationally and internationally, and recently cemented himself as a headline talent with the most talked about DJ sets of the Mad Decent Block Parties in Philadelphia and New York City, and an Australian tour last year that is still widely discussed on the continent. In both the northern and southern hemisphere Sega has set a precedent for people demanding more.

The one thing about this man is you have to see him live and in person. All of his sets vary by selection of about 99% his own productions. His broad selection of his own music collection takes you on a journey within your own subconscious. The energy he brings is sometimes even unbearable to the average soul there to experience all the remixes he takes time to compose himself. There’s even been rumors of amnesia occurring the morning after seeing him spin.

Sega’s mastery of unique sampling over the hardest of breaks and creating deliriously fun tracks is what makes him one of the more inventive and most important disc jockeys on the planet. His intellectual quotient is far higher than you give a man credit for who took the time to sample Quagmire from Family Guy, Bill Nye the Science Guy, or even the current top selling game, Angry Birds. Sega just wants people to dance, and imagines a universe and landscape where there’s nothing better or more pressing to just get down. On his initial Mad Decent Records full length compilation New Jack Philly, the 80s and 90s cultural explosion harnessed on record ensures that not only will you get down, but you’ll be so intrigued and amazed that you’ll stay down with Sega’s cause forever.

He recently mixed and produced half of Rye Rye’s highly anticipated ”RYEot PowRR” mixtape. And is currently releasing a six song mini-mixtape collection called ”The DJ Sega’s Sixer Series”

An Interview with DJ Sega

How did you get started as a DJ?
I was already producing my own club music as a hobby for two years now. There were a few DJs here in Philly battling over being the #1 Party music DJ. And somehow my tracks got involved. I ended up meeting DJ Dee Square, who was at the time the go-to DJ for club music here in Philly. A week after we both linked up at DJ Touchtone’s house and recorded mixtapes. His was called ”School Bus”, which featured some of my tracks. After he was done I recorded my 1st mixtape called ”Uno”. That was the first time I ever touched CDJs or any turntable; and I recorded the mistakes and everything!

Where is your favorite club to perform?
I’ve spun in so many places and see so many cultures all dance to the same music. I honestly can’t pick anywhere as a favorite because each club has it’s own quality that stands out to me.

What club brings in the finest ladies?
Way too many to name! It seems like where my music and I go, the ladies are there and ready to bounce, shake, and drop some things I can’t mention here.

How old where you when you got your first turn tables?
Still til this day, I don’t and never owned turntables. Anytime I’ve spun on any tables, it was live in front of an audience going nuts. When I’m home I’m in production mode. I don’t get to practice mixes, cuts, and scratches like most DJs can. It’s not until I’m up onstage being blessed with a crowd and opportunities where I can actually spin my own tracks. But I’ve been spinning for about 5 years now; and producing for 7! (Damn time sure fly by when you doing something you love dearly.)

What separates you from other DJ’s?
Besides me not using headphones during my set, I try to summon the crowd’s imagination with my music. Another thing is the fact that when I’m spinning out at a gig, people expect me to come with only the best hard hitting tracks of mine. My whole set consists of only my productions/remixes. I like to give a show that’ll make people keep me and my music in mind at an alarming rate.

What sounds and artist got you into DJ’s?
Nobody. It was something that came along with me doing my own productions at home. It was 2 years after I was producing as a hobby where I finally touched any DJ equipment.

Who is your favorite Rapper?
The first one ever (at least to me)…James Brown!!!!

What is one of your most memorable experiences as a DJ?
I can’t help but bring up the 3rd annual Mad Decent Block Party. I only had 25 minutes to get my point across in my set and entertain the folks. As soon as I started, the attention on me was kinda unbearable. I actually blacked-out during my set because it was so surreal. I had my friends and kids crowd surfing in the middle of the street. Ask anybody who was there…or see the footage for yourself!!!! I felt so loved by my own city that I was overwhelmed when I was cut off and the crowd started to chant my name. I can play anywhere and it’d be fun; but there’s absolutely no place like home.

Who is your favorite Mixed Magazine Model?
I really can’t pick. These beautiful women all seem to have great and feisty personalities; I favor whoever’s more likely to love my music…lol.

What’s the hottest song right now?
Lol…My Angry Birds Song is generating quite a buzz online…have ya heard it yet?

What is your favorite song ever if you had to choose just one?
Wow…I CAN’T choose just one. But right now randomly, it’s Rain by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Who will win the NBA Championship?
I actually rather buss some ass in NBA Jam or NFL Blitz. But I always gotta represent my 76ers!!!! AND ALL HOMETOWN TEAMS!!!!!

How could life for you get any better?
When I’m more able to take care of my family financially by playing crowds; I’m talking HardFest!!!! I want to continue producing music that’ll change the bad moods of many into motivated to have fun and be happy.

Who is your favorite DJ of all time?
Wow! Once again, there’s so many; and most of them are from Philadelphia. But if I really had to choose, I’d be DJ Jazzy Jeff. His shows and mixes are incredible. I’ve seen him live quite a few times and only met him once; at the 1st Annual DJ Day. But his cuts are insane to me. I wish i could do half the things he can with two turntables and a mixer.

Do you have a schedule where people can catch you do work on the ones and twos?
I can pop up anywhere in the world, at anytime, and at any party. It may be promoted or it may be a surprise. They can keep updated on dates and music, if they follow me on twitter and like me on facebook. It’s not hard to get me near you…just ask anybody near you!!!!!!!!