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Tony Touch Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Tuesday 6th August 2013 | Mark
With the release of Piece Maker 3: The Return Of The 50 MC’s, we chopped it up with Brooklyn native, Tony Touch, to find out a little bit more about of one hip hop’s most prominent DJ’s, how he rounded up some of the features on his album, and his view on hip hop today.
IHey how you doing?
Alright hey buddy, how’s it going?
Ah man I’m good man, my week just took a turn for the up ‘cause I’m talking to a hip hop legend.
*laughs* Thank you man, thank you so much
I’m an old man but I’ve been listening to your s*** for a long time
Ahh that’s good to know man
So Tony when you were coming up, who were the hottest djs that you were aspiring to be like ?
Kid Capri, Mister Cee, most of the guys dj you know, Doo Wop, those guys that were doing it, Craig G and before that of course we had Louie Vega, Marley Marl… guys like that
Ok so would that mean you describe yourself as the first generation of hip hop mixtape djs ?
Ahh yeah I guess I would say that you know. 1990’s I started, like 1991 when hip hop was kind of a movement in the 80’s
How many mixtapes approximately have you put out in your career ?
Ahh I would say somewhere in the mid 300’s
300? Wow! And how many of them were reggaeton ?
Only a few of them, I did Reggaetony One and (Reggaetony) Two on EMI and the Guatauba album in ‘96, and then maybe two or three mixtapes
You’ve got a new album coming out, but since that it’s been seven years since the last one, is that right ?
Yeah Reggaetony 2 came out in 2006, so it’s been seven years
So what have you been up to Tony, spending all that money?
*Laugh* I wish, no you know I’ve just been touring you know, family stuff. Actually took on a few other projects producing to parties here in New York. I have two residencies that I developed, Sunday nights is House music, The Funk Box Party, Tuesday night is Toca Tuesday’s which is a classic hip hop night, both parties feature guests so I’ve taken a bit of a promoter roll here and tryna like errm help out the New York nightlife scene.
So you're not just reppin hip hop here you're taking on house music over there
Yeah definitely I mean I have been a house head for a long time as well as a Reggae head you know, all of the above, so yeah I’m a big fan of house music and I thought the scene was lacking a little bit so I started a sunday night party here about five years ago and it's been incredible since, man we've had the best of the best guys like Todd Terry, Louie Vega, Ferrier and all of the best guys.
I bet that’s poppin off
Yeah man its a really really great party
What time do you lot finish on monday morning ?
Ahhh man I’m still working I haven’t finished I’m still working usually till like 5 / 6 in the morning
Then you take on board a hip hop night on Tuesdays yeah ?
Yeah Tuesdays is my radio show from 8 to midnight here in New York, and then we move the party to the club and switch around which can be seen on Breal.TV, as well you know we stream the party on Tuesday. So I guess London time that would be what, 5am to 9am
Well we have to get up early to catch that man. Your new album Piecemaker 3, how’s the response been for that?
It’s been incredible man you know critically acclaimed, I felt we made history you know, you know the greatest rappers in the world are on the album, the concept is great, I’ve been getting great feedback on it you know
Nice, I mean that one of the things you’ve kinda always had is the hottest rappers around on your mixtapes, is that because you’re friends or because you’re the hottest djs, what’s happening there ?
Yeah there’s a lot, I dealt with a lot of folks I’ve already worked with through the years, the majority of the album is, you know MC’s I worked with over a 15 year period. I worked with a few new artists as well but its all about maintaining relationships and things like that and staying relevant makes it easy to put something like that together you know
Ok and is there anyone you haven't managed to get that exclusive from or anyone left that you still need to work with that you haven't ?
Rakim
Ouch
Yeah I’ve toured with him, you know we’ve got a pretty great relationship but the stars haven’t lined up for us yet to record, but I’m sure that’s gonna happen soon
It’s a nice return to the old school, and what made you decide to have Action Bronson on the track ?
He’s one of the newer guys that’s holding the torch for the guys who represent real hip hop, and we have the same friends, same associates so it made perfect sense.
Ok I mean you’ve been around for all of hip hop man, what's your classic decade ? Like any era that was special, or a golden year or moment for you ?
Anything from like ‘85 to ‘95 were my favorite years ‘cause of music and hip hop and stuff like that, it was pure it was like we were giving birth to a movement and everything came after that, and I was there and it was the birth of it all you know
Who’s the latest artist to get you excited ?
I like Action Bronson, Joell Ortiz, guys like that, I like the music Willie The Kid is putting out, he’s on the album as well and he’s got a project coming out with Alchemist you know.
Ok do you think there's ever gonna be a rapper who comes along and kinda changes the game like a Pac or Biggie ?
You know we got guys like Eminem, Jay Z that are still taking it to whole new levels.
I mean they’re living legends for real but I was thinking can you see anyone else on the horizon with that calibre ?
It’s too soon to tell, I mean you know there’s a lot of artists I like now and I’ll have to see where they end up in 10 years. I mean you gotta create your legacy and then it’s a process. Some guys can do it for three, four or five years, but to do it for 12-15 years is more of a challenge so...
Thats right, it's hard work to last as long as you right haha ?
Exactly
*Laugh* Ok so what are you looking forward to most in your future Tony ?
I got a project I’m executively producing for a female vocalist, her name is Soni WithanEye. We just released the first single with Raekwon from Wu Tang, the music’s a combination of hip hop, rock, soul, funk and some house, and just my first full hand with a female vocalist’s project, so you know I’m looking forward to getting her out there.
Nice so you can make that Nicki Minaj money and take another seven years off
Yeah I need that Nicki Mina money!
*Laugh* I feel you playa, ok so if you could go back in time and change anything, is there anything you would change ?
Hmm is there anything I would change? Erm naa I’d probably do it all again the same way, there’s not much I’d change. I’m on the right path you know, I’ve kind of stuck to my guns. I’m in a great place you know but I wish a lot of the guys I’ve lost. Friends I’ve lost.....I wish they were still here, I wish there were ways to have dealt with the issues that they faced. You know with guys like Guru and Pun and you know I miss those guys you know.
Ok all family I’m sure?
Yeah
Alright so if there was one thing in the world that you could change if you had the power to, what would it be?
I would probably change all the wack rap music that’s on the radio *laugh*, you know I think that there’s an over saturation, theres an imbalance of the way our culture has been presented and I wish that it was a little different.
Nice, you must be happy that you’ve been able to play your part in keeping your side of the music story straight?
Exactly you know I’m an advocate for the authentic
Nice and what are you most proud of in your career ?
My kids, you know my daughter just graduated with honours, it feels good to know that a lot of hard work paid off, and the dedication and time I spent working to provide and making sure things were cool paid off.
Congratulations, so if you could choose what your kids do, what would you have them do in life ?
Whatever makes them happy you know
Are they rapping or mixing yet ?
Yeah you know they’re music fans, my son writes rhymes, he does his thing you know, it’s just fun you know, finding their paths.
I’m sure they’ll be taking over New York one day
Exactly *Laugh*
So when you coming to London Tony ?
Man it’s long overdue, I haven't been out there in over a year so I’m looking to visit some time in the fall, maybe do a nice promo for the album as well
Nice I’m sure you get a good reception out here, you get all the real hip hop heads out
Yeah for sure man it’s always been a lot there you know I look forward to going back
Alright nice one, so when you come over Tony we can catch up and do a video
Sounds good man love to do something live for sure
Catch Tony Touch in the flesh on the decks
No doubt aight wicked
Pleasure talking to you man, I love catching up with hip hop legends man and I look forward to meeting you one day, good luck
My man thank you so much
