DJ Peter Rosenberg Interview

Monday, 09 July 2007 18:23

Editor's Note:
There's much to be excited about if you've been clamoring for balanced hip-hop coverage on FM radio stations. Many of us can consider the newest addition to Hot97 late Sundays a step in the right direction. Peter Rosenberg has been learning his craft and paying dues in Maryland, before getting his shot at the "pulse of hip-hop." I'm sure most of my peers at ThaHipHop.Com are rooting for him and hoping for more of the same at other so-called hip-hop stations worldwide. And we're also greatful to Josh for taking an initiative to get us the interview.

What's up Pete? Introduce yourself to everyone and tell us about what you have been up too.
well, lets see. A lot recently I’ve been doing radio for a long time, DJ'ing for a long time. And these days I have been makin lots of videos and most recently I have been doing a mix/talk show on Hot 97.

Yo so the Hot 97 show has been really big. How did that end up coming your way?
Just a lot of hustle and grind over the years -- also a lot of luck -- and a forward thinking program director. I got some buzz over the years doing different stints in radio and honing things -- though I still need to do more of that -- and then my Throw Some Cheese On It video got me a lot of buzz in the hip hop world.

And how is it having a show on the biggest station in hip hop?
It's an absolute dream come true every time I swipe my key card in the building. Hot 97 is and has been the pulse of hip hop for so long. It's a true honor getting to pick records that play on Hot 97.

They giving you any restrictions at all?
Not at all. Mister Cee just told me to do me and rep what I rep -- and that's what I've done so far.

Peter Rosenberg (with the Zidane jersey)

True. Can you give us, an overview of the show, what it is and what you plan for it?
It's basically an all in one hip hop stop. You're gonna get the best and newest music out. You're gonna get intelligent discussion and you're gonna laugh and be amused. This show is a smart hip hop show. The hip hop audience is arguably the most informed smartest audience out there and it deserves a show that understands that and I think I do.

Dope. I know you have had some pretty heavy guests like Talib Kweli and Just Blaze. Are there any more dope guests in the near future for Real Late with Peter Rosenberg?
I want to start mixing it up a bit actually. I love having rappers on the show, but I plan on having some politicians and porn stars too. Some wrestlers and writers. You can expect some of the most different and in-depth interviews that you're ever going to hear. Also, I just put out my video piece featuring Pete Rock, Premier, and Ninth all together.

Dope, dope. And speaking of Premo, I have been doing some web Surfing and I saw that you and Premo are doing some stuff. Is there any chance of him being a guest on the show?
Without a doubt. I was just on his show a couple of weeks ago and he will definitely be on my show in the very near future. In fact, I'm working on an ill intro idea which will be produced by Preem. So we'll see.

Damn, bro! That would be a great look for the show. Have you had a lot of artists sending you music to play on the show?
Yeah man. I have so many great artists -- established and otherwise reaching out to the show. It's a real blessing to be on the front lines of all this great music. Don't get it twisted, there's a lot of great music out there, it's just being covered up by all this bullshit. AY BAY BAY…AY BAY BAY.

[Laughs]

So when did you get into DJ'ing, man? And when did that lead to radio?
Well I started DJ'ing when I was 14, and I started doing college radio the summer before my freshman year at Maryland. I got on commercial radio after that as an intern at first, and then later running the boards and doing over nights. And then one thing led to another. There were definitely bumps in the road and years when I did barely any radio at all, but I seemed to always come back to radio.

Do you ever DJ out? Or you only spin on the radio?
I DJ out. I mean I have never had a 9 to 5. So for the last 13 years I have been pretty much exclusively DJ’ing which has allowed me to live. I've DJ’d some great places, some big clubs, I've DJ'd at McDonald's, literally. I've done it all.

That's grind. You a vinyl dude, you do the Serato thing, or both?
Both, I have a huge record collection, but these days I use Serato most of the time.

Away from the music thing now. I know you are HUGE into wrestling. You plan on doing anything involved with that in the future?
Yeah man. Wrestling is my shit. I think it's the most interesting business in the world for so many reasons. And it's not hip hop to me, but I love it a lot and I plan to be involved on a commentary/manager level in the very near future. On September 7th I will be part of Pro Wrestling Syndicate's second show in Jersey. I'm going to be doing some wild shit involving wrestling on YouTube in the coming weeks and months as well.

True and you definitely have some dope shit on Youtube, that Summer Jam video is hilarious. How was it meeting all those Artists up there?
Thanks man, umm i mean it was cool. I’m used to doing interviews but doing it at Summer Jam with that many people around at the same time is pretty surreal. It was like the BET awards but not wack. So it was a blast.

Yeah man. So can you tell us what you got in store in the future?
So much man I really want to take this smart hip hop talk thing to a different place. I plan to be in this for a minute. I’m here man

Well, thanks for doing this interview man. It was a pleasure.
Thanks a lot man.