Manchester AfterDark meets the DJ Timbaland won't go on tour without...

He has been called the ‘world’s hottest DJ’. Timbaland refuses to do a show without him. And according to some sources, Sony BMG just paid £40,000 to get him over to Manchester for Shayne Ward’s album launch. But who is DJ Freestyle Steve? We meet him to find out...

DJ Freestyle Steve is best known as Timbaland’s DJ, but he has actually been playing at parties for the last 22 years. He first became known for playing New York hip hop on an underground radio station in Miami. This attracted the attention of DJ Uncle Al who was one of the most influential DJs on the Miami scene until he was murdered in September 2001. “Back in the early nineties in Miami there wasn’t no hip-hop,” Freestyle Steve explains. “All the hip hop was in New York. I was taking trips to New York, trips to Atlanta, going to all these different states. I used to come back home and play all this different music on the radio. DJ Uncle Al came to me one day and he said, “You know, I’m going to call you Freestyle because you just play all different kinds of styles, you rap, you do everything.”

By 2003, he had built up his name and was playing celebrity parties and packed out clubs. Timbaland’s manager, Big Rick, happened to see Freestyle play and was immediately impressed. “He was telling Timbaland, ‘This guy is the best. You need to come meet him,’ but Tim was like, ‘Nah, nah, nah, fool,’” laughs Freestyle. Eventually Big Rick booked Freestyle to play at a party in South Beach. Timbaland turned up to find people dancing on the bar and on the tables, while people fought outside to get in.

“He sends Big Rick over to the DJ booth,” says Freestyle Steve. “Big Rick has to climb the stairs and I feel this guy pulling on my pants leg. I’m like, “Yo, what? What are you doing?” And he says, “Timbaland wants to talk to you”, but I’m like, “Tell him he’s gotta wait, man, just wait. I’m DJing.” I brushed him off for thirty minutes. Finally I was like, alright. I go down to his table he looks at me and he tells Big Rick, “Freestyle Steve is my DJ from now on. Put it in my contract. Wherever I go, he goes.” So now if Timbaland’s doing a party and they don’t book me, he’s not going. If he goes to do a TV show and I’m not there, he’s not going. If he’s meant to be doing a video and I’m not coming, he’s not coming.”

The endorsement of one of the world’s greatest producers has given Freestyle Steve the opportunity to play huge celebrity events and sold-out shows around the world alongside Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado and 50 Cent. However, what really interests him is the opportunity to travel gives him to continue discovering new music, just as he did in his early days. “When I come over to somewhere like Manchester, I put my style of DJing, which is a Miami style, over UK music or French music or whatever, and it’s like a marriage. It’s something different.”

Freestyle Steve continues to play eclectic hip hop sets which range from the funk and dancehall-influenced tunes coming out of the East Coast to southern crunk, which he is quick to defend. “When you go to a club you want to get a drink, dance, sweat, have fun. Sometimes you don’t want to play a song that’s too lyrical where you’ve got to sit there and think. Sometimes I don’t want to do that. If I want to think, I’ll sit in the car or I’ll sit at home,” he says. However, even he has his limits. “I’ll be honest with you, I hated that Soulja Boy record,” he groans. “Uh, that was ugly. I heard it yesterday when I got here and I was like, Soulja Boy is everywhere... That song had to grow on me. Though you know what? If it’s accepted across white America I’m happy for him, because it takes him to another level that he wouldn’t normally see because he’s urban.”

He is excited about being able to bring new American hip hop artists to the attention of audiences in the UK, namechecking Trina’s Single Again and D.O.E’s Bottom to tha Top as tracks he would love to break. But audiences who have seen him play alongside Timbaland and other hip hop royalty are likely to be surprised by another act who he raves about – X-Factor winner and Mancunian singer Shayne Ward.

The pair met recently after Freestyle Steve was booked to play at the launch party for Ward’s second album, and the singer made a big impression. “Make sure you put this in there,” he stresses, “Shayne Ward is the next to blow. Freestyle Steve says Shayne Ward is the next to blow. That guy right there, I’m going to take him under my wing. I’m going to show him like Timbaland showed me and that guy there is going to be the next to blow.”

The pair are already making plans to work together in Manchester in the near future, which means Freestyle Steve expects to be spending a lot of time in the city over the next few months. He already has a special place in his heart for Manchester after visiting the city on tour with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake last year. “Last year I had my birthday party in Manchester, at Sugar Lounge. We were on the Justin tour and everyone in the city was trying to get into the party. So I love Manchester. Any time anyone tries to get me to come do a party in Manchester, I am here. I am here. Manchester is like my second home. I love this city.”

Words: Claire Symonds

Comments:

28 Dec 2007 DJ AKAY

I had the pleasure of DJIing with Freestyle when he was in Manchester for the launch of Shane Ward's new album at Manchester235. I ve played with lots of big name DJs all round the world and he was one of the nicest blokes and a real breath of fresh air. Very technical and his cuts and scratching were great. I loved sharing the DJ spot with him and would love to DJ with him again. Having him as a guest was great and we spent a bit of tome chatting and he actually really liked my style and my tunes - 10/10 top bloke tope DJ but hey watch out for DJ AKAY I am Manchester's best kept secret, those in the know can book me via Arnie Hira !!

5 out of 5

23 Dec 2007 DJ AKAY

I HAD THE PLEASUREW OF DJING WITH HIM AT MANCHESTER235 FOR THE EXCLUSIVE SHANE WARD SHOW. IVE BEEN DJING FOR 15 YEARS AND WHILST I AM REALLY GOOD AND C AN ROCK IT OUT WITH THE BEST OF THEM THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE. THIS BLOKE IS REALLY REALLY TECHNICAL AND IS AN AWSOME DJ ! DUNNO ABOUT THE £40K FEE TO COME TO DO ONE GIG IN THE UK ! I GO OUT TO MIAMI FOR A GIG FOR NO MORE THAN £20K

5 out of 5

03 Dec 2007 Dj Tarique

Dj Freestyle is one of the best Djs to ever do it, I got the pleasure of learning under him before he went on tour with Timb and Nelly and Justin and he was like this different type of talent i hope one day I can get an article just like this one when I am on the road with a big name superstar

5 out of 5

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