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During one particular heyday of New York
nightlife, it was possible to hit Roxy,
Limelight, and Spirit - and hear the
signature ferocity of DJ Chad Jack at
all three clubs. A deejay as noted for
his extraordinary immersion in the deep
roots of house music as he is for his
dynamic performances in the booth, Jack
recently teamed up with Nasty Pig
partners, David Lauterstein and Fred
Kearney for a series of hook-laden, old
school bitch tracks that has the kids
kiking and the queens shrieking for
more.
MRNY: You do realize, of course, that
the one stipulation about this interview
was that you were to show up in our
office wearing Nasty Pig, right?
Chad Jack: It's an amazing clothing line
- so of course I did!
MRNY: Well, thank you for that. And you
wear it well. We heard from a certain
Nasty Pig that you have a great gag
reflex. Or did we hear that incorrectly?
CJ: Next question.
MRNY: Oh, well, all right then, moving
on... Maybe what he said was "Gag On
It," which just happens to be the title
of your latest track with David
Lauterstein, who just happens to be the
CEO of Nasty Pig. Talk to us.
CJ: David came to me with the hook and
we recorded it in my studio where I lay
down some beats. I sent him a snip with
the "clanks" in it and he gagged. We
knew we were onto something.
MRNY: There - that's what we were
talking about: that gag moment. When
everything comes together. The gag
reflex. Does the track's refrain "I love
house music" sum up your heart and soul?
CJ: The track itself doesn't say that,
but yes, I love house music.
MRNY: It doesn't? Well, what were we
hearing then? Maybe it was the mini-mix
- or else it's our medication. We'll
have to get the kids to give it a closer
listen.
CJ: [laughing]
MRNY: "Gag on It" is your follow-up
bitch track to "eZbreeZ," which had the
bitches gagging. Clearly you and Nasty
Pig collaborate well. How do the two of
you determine who's on top?
CJ: David and I have been friends for a
very long time and we contribute equally
to Chad Jack vs. Nasty Pig. It's
actually very cool.
MRNY: What is it about the Nasty Pig
sensibility that appeals to you?
CJ: Nasty Pig - you can't pin them down.
They just keep gagging the boys. Also,
David and I have a deep appreciation for
house music.
MRNY: We heard that Nasty Pig was born
on the floor of Sound Factory. Were you
there?
CJ: No. I moved to NYC in 1995 right
after Sound Factory closed.
MRNY: Oh dear, someone should've called
you sooner. But hey, you've got the
End-Up in San Francisco. As the resident
deejay, you must be aware of that club's
iconic status in the history of SF
nightlife. What do you think the End-Up
has that makes it so unique?
CJ: The crowd that goes there are pure
house music heads.
MRNY: Exactly. We won't even tell you
when we first started partying there -
but yes, that's exactly how it was, even
then.
CJ: For me, it's a deejay's paradise
because I get to play what I want and
the crowd really appreciates it.
MRNY: It's a great crowd, with the same
kind of cohesiveness that always marked
Body & Soul here in New York. Recently,
we spent a weekend partying in West
Hollywood. Do you believe in that East
Coast/West Coast thing? Is there a
different vibe in San Francisco, say,
than in New York?
CJ: Years ago, I would have said that
there was a completely different vibe,
but now, I don't think that there's much
of a difference.
MRNY: The world got smaller.
CJ: It all really comes down to the
crowd and party.
MRNY: Exactly. It's what we make it.
Which reminds us - your new track
references ball culture. Why do you
think ball culture came out of New York?
CJ: NYC is always giving rise to
culture. It's just my opinion, but I
think ball culture has its roots in the
same energy that gave rise to hip-hop.
MRNY: Oh, that's a dissertation right
there: "How Ball Culture Birthed
Hip-Hop." Speaking of birth, you were
born and raised in Michigan - just like
Madonna. Did you vogue together at the
balls in New York?
CJ: [laughing] Nope, can't say that I
did.
MRNY: Well, Madonna got Jellybean to
take her promo - and one of your big
breaks in nightlife happened back in the
day when Junior played your mash-up of
Vernessa's "Reap" and Whitney's "Whatchulookingat"
at Earth.
CJ: Yes, that was one of my first
“breaks” into the NYC scene as a
producer.
MRNY: In spite of what some people might
think or believe, most deejays are
supportive of one another. You've been
gifted with strong friendships with
people like Danny and Victor and Hex.
CJ: Yes, I have. Those guys are
incredible artists. I will always have a
tremendous amount of respect and
admiration for all three of them. They
were all very helpful to me in the early
days of my career here. If you guys read
this: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
MRNY: I think they heard you. Can you
name a classic bitch track for the kids
who were still in diapers, one of those
that still works you over - and makes
you gag on it.
CJ: Hmmm. That's a tough one, but off
the top of my head, I guess I'd say
“Beat that Bitch” by Johnny Dangerous.
MRNY: Why do you think we love bitch
tracks so much?
CJ: I don't know. I guess because it's
the “queen's language”? [laughing]
MRNY: [laughing] Which is the opposite
of King's English. Historians sometimes
cite Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"
as the birth of hip-hop. Is there a
similar track for house?
CJ: I'm sure that every deejay has a
different answer for this but for me it
would be Marshall Jefferson's “Move Your
Body.”
MRNY: Oh, that's good - one of the first
with piano, very Larry Levan.
CJ: Or actually anything from Farley
“Jackmaster” Funk.
MRNY: In the hour-long "Gag On It"
mini-mix, the track samples a number of
classic bitch tracks. Share some
details.
CJ: Well, I just wanted the podcast to
have a theme to it, so I tried to think
of tracks that I felt would be very
representative of that sound, whether
old or new. When selecting tracks for
the mini-mix, I had to be able to
visualize the kids battling at the end
of the night. [laughing]
MRNY: That's a brilliant image. That's
our history. You've got Barry Harris,
Coletta & Lacava, as well as Superchumbo,
doing their own "Gag On It" remixes.
They're all servin' it up for you.
CJ: Yes! I'm very happy with all of the
mixes. They all did an outstanding job!
MRNY: What do you think, are we going to
be hearing "Gag On It" at this year's
Black Party?
CJ: We will, if I spin that party. Are
you listening, Stephen? I'll kill it for
you!
MRNY: We'll second that emotion. Thanks
so much for the time, Chad. And in
answer to your song's hook, "Why you all
gagging?" Because you're working us
over. Serve on, Mr. Jack!
“Gag on It” (Remixes, Part 1) on
SoundCloud:
http://soundcloud.com/chad-jack-vs-nasty-pig/sets/gag-on-it-remixes-pt-1
“Gag on It” Mini-Mix on SoundCloud:
http://soundcloud.com/chad-jack-vs-nasty-pig/gag-on-it-dj-chad-jack-promo
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