DJ Mo Beatz is Finally Famous. But don’t expect him to be content with where he’s at now. Even with a regularly scheduled mixshow at the Detroit radio station he used to listen to everyday as a kid, a post at the leading independent online radio station--Dash Radio, and a busy tour schedule with G.O.O.D. Music’s Big Sean, Mo Beatz has plans to continue to turn heads with unpredictable moves and hard work. He’s been grinding since day one and he hasn't looked back since. We chatted with him about everything from his first DJ battle routine to his plans for a project that you wouldn't expect from a Hip-Hop junkie.

How are you doing man?

Doing alright. Just knocking out some stuff for these radio mixes.

So you’re all set for the Power 105 set tonight?

Not really. I don't really make sets. I kinda just go. With radio and parties, I just get a feel as opposed to a pre-programmed set. I'm gonna go off the top with it.

I know with live shows, you can get a feel off of a crowd but when you’re in a radio station, what do you base your playlist off of?

It's pretty much playing mostly hits and dropping new music. There are certain songs you know you’re gonna end up hearing on the radio. I don’t necessarily have an order. I just have a pool of songs that are in rotation on the radio and I like to spice it up with some other joints.

Will we get to hear any new Big Sean tonight?

There’s a lot of new Big Sean on deck but there aren't a lot of cleans for it. So that we’ll have to hold off on those.

Just sneak them in there. I don’t think anyone will notice.

(laughs) Yeah, the #1 station in the country, I think they’ll take notice.

"I would see him DJing, and I was like, 'Man, I wanna do that.' "

 

You’re probably right. Let’s go back in time to when you were 14 and making beats on the lunchroom table. Were you always into music then or was that your first interest in music?

That was the turning point. I had already played instruments. I played clarinet, saxophone, drums, and then at lunch time, I would be making beats on the table and guys would be rapping to the point where I wanted to manipulate the beat another way. And my 8th grade teacher was actually a DJ. I would see him DJing all the school parties and I was like, “Man, I wanna do that.” He was the main influence as the first DJ that I saw in person.

Wow. You played all of those at that age? I had enough trouble with one.

(laughs) I guess I was just musically inclined.

You mentioned your friends rapping over the beats. Were you always into Hip-Hop? I know that Detroit has a huge EDM scene.

Yeah, I was always into Hip-Hop. It wasn't until more recent that I started digging into the EDM type stuff. You’re right that Detroit is known for its Ghettotech, House music, and that kind of vibe. I was always into Hip-Hop.

You entered your first DJ battle pretty young and did well. What was that like at a young age?

Surprisingly, I wasn't stressed or anything. Even when the battle started, I wasn't aware of who the judges would be and everything. I was just there to do my thing. Then I saw the guys from the radio station come in and they took notice of what I was doing. It blossomed from there. I remember this DJ gave me his card and I started practicing with him. It came like full circle from me doing a battle in my high school and a DJ from the radio that I looked up to came, and now I’m the guy on the radio at 5 o’clock, Monday through Friday, at the same station. It’s dope.

Do you remember the records that you spun at that competition?

There’s actually one that I remember. It’s a Ghettotech record called “Bounce.” The routine I did was one that I heard by a Detroit DJ, DJ Fingers. When I was coming up, he would be doing the 5 o’clock mix on WJLB. I would listen to that almost everyday after school. Friday, he’d play Ghettotech. He’d do a specific routine with “Bounce” and I did that. And they took note. They’re like, “Whoa, that’s the Fingers routine!” I remember that so clearly because they recognized what I was doing.

Somewhere after that competition, you linked up with Big Sean. How did that happen?

Back in Detroit, I would do pretty much all the main clubs from the 18 and up clubs, when I was younger, to the 21 and up clubs before I was 21. Finally Famous is pretty much a group of individuals. Some rap. Some produce. Just different walks of life. We’d get together and throw parties. I’d DJ all the parties. All of them would be banging and super crowded. This is just when Big Sean signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music. Before everything popped off, I would play his songs on the radio. I’d play his songs at the clubs. He was like, “Yo, when this stuff takes off, I really want you to be there for me.” At that time, I’m like, “Cool.” I wasn't banking like we’re about to go on tour and turn up. And then everything took off and he really stuck to his word. We've been together ever since.

What was that moment when you realized that working with Big Sean was becoming a big deal?

It’s crazy because it’s been a long journey to get to this point. A lot of people don’t realize the time that we all put in, as far as shows. It wasn't paying much--traveling to certain places and shows wouldn't be packed. Now, we’re doing arenas where people know all the words. People know Sean and me. It’s a gradual experience. It took a minute for me to realize that we’re really doing it. I’m in it so I don’t really realize how crazy the situation is--we’re touring worldwide and we have a #1 song on the radio.

What was your daily routine like before you made it “big”?

I was already doing radio and clubs. That was my thing. I was doing school at Eastern Michigan University. I would be on the radio Friday nights and Saturday nights after the club. Sometimes I would go do it live. Sometimes I would record a mix and send it in. I would also have club gigs, sometimes Thursday through Sunday, every week. That was pretty much my job. That paid for everything. That’s where I made a name for myself, clubs and radio. I would go to class, be at work, get ready for these clubs, and I’d have weekly frat parties... Doing parties... Doing parties. That’s the kind of house party where I’d bring speakers, my turntables, my friends would help me pack all things into the house and set up. I was doing stuff at different schools: University of Michigan, Oakland University, Wayne State, Michigan State. I did kind of a college tour.

You were already prepared for this tour life before you even graduated then.

Yeah, I would DJ a club weekly in Pontiac, Michigan, which is maybe about 45 minutes to an hour or so from my school and I would be there every Thursday. No matter if it rained, snowstorm, or whatever. I was there every Thursday from when there was nobody in the club to where it was banging every week. You can see the progress man, from doing house parties to being booked in Japan.

I noticed that you’re also a part of the Heavy Hitters. I know it’s an elite group of DJs but what’s that really like?

It’s pretty much a network of DJs from different areas. From Japan, Europe, New York, Miami, Atlanta, L.A.. It’s a frat for DJs. If you ever DJ a city and you’re down with the crew, you guys can link up and chop it up about music. And if you want to know what’s popping in different areas, you can always call one of the members. All the DJs in the squad are already doing their own thing in their respective market, whether it be on the radio or in the clubs or tour DJs. It’s a network of turnt up DJs.

I saw that you had a little cameo in Big Sean’s “IDFWU” video. What was that shoot like?

It was cool. It’s funny because right before we shot that, I was in the trailer just chilling. Then somebody came in and was like, “Yo, Mo Beatz. They need you out here.” I’m like, “Cool.” I went out and got my shot put in and chilled. It was a cool process. It wasn't anything super crazy. It was a long shoot. They started shooting in the evening and wrapped up everything at like 5AM or so.

Damn. That’s a long night. Well, now you have your own meme for it, at least.

(laughs) Yo, they didn't waste any time with that. The person who actually made that is a fan over in France. He put that together real quick.

I’m guessing that you’re also in NYC today for the Global Spin Awards. Congrats on being nominated for the Midwest Mixshow DJ of the Year.

Yeah, good looks… with a couple of the homies. Steph Floss in Cleveland, Tim Buck 2 in Chicago, Pharris in Chicago, and 33 ? in Chicago. Yeah, the Global Spin Awards is dope. I’m glad they started it and giving DJs the recognition that they haven’t really been given, as far as the guys on the radio or producers. There are so many different aspects of the DJ.

I've seen some original track from you with some big names on them. Do you have any plans for an album?

I actually just thought about this a couple weeks ago-maybe doing an EP. Now it’s a matter of thinking of which way I want to play it. I feel like it’s expected of me, if I were to do an EP, that it would be Rap or have a Big Sean feature. I want to maybe steer away from that for the first thing that I drop and do that later. I would probably do an EP like EDM/Trap or more chill vibes like SangoBeats. It’s really just cool, mellow type music.

That would be very unique. I know that Big Sean has his Aura Gold brand. Do you have anything that you’re working on behind the scenes?

 

"I own a taco shop. See, that wouldn't be expected..."

 

Out in Detroit, I own a taco shop. See, that wouldn't be expected (laughs). I opened it at the top of the year. It’s called Alley Taco. It’s in Midtown. It’s me and a friend of mine that I've known for a number of years. It came from us speaking about my interest in real estate and he brought the idea to me about a taco shop. He had a location and everything. I was like, “I’ll give it a shot.” It would be expected of me to do a production company or a label. No one expected me to own a taco shop. It’s been doing good. I’m glad I got to try something different.

Last Call

1. What is your favorite movie of all time?
40 Year Old Virgin.

2. As a young DJ, who was the one DJ you looked up to?
A-Trak.

3. As a DJ, what's your biggest pet peeve?
DJs yelling too much over records. It’s like, “I came here to hear the song. I didn't come to hear you yell over the tracks.”

4. What is your current DJ set up at home?
Technics 1200’s turntables. Rane 62 mixer. For production, Ableton and I have the Ableton controller, Push.

5. What’s your favorite record of all time?
One of my favorite records is The Roots and Erykah Badu, “You Got Me.”

You can catch DJ Mo Beatz on FM 98 WJLB in Detroit Monday through Friday at 5pm and on Dash Radio’s LOUD channel at 1pm. All times EST. For those not in Detroit, you can listen to his daily mixshows on iHeartRadio. He’s also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also check out his bio on his featured DJ page at Digital DJ Pool.

Bryan Hahn is still waiting for his invite to the next Big Sean music video starring Kanye West. He's on Twitter @notupstate.