Published in the January 2010 Issue of DJ Times Magazine
Volume 23 - Number 01
By Jim Tremayne

In the world of pop music, it’s not completely uncommon for acts to succeed with work that reflects their faith. In arena rock, you have U2. Indie rock? The Hold Steady. Electronica? Moby. But hip-hop? Aside from some one-off moments like Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks,” not so many.

At the International Gospel DJ Conference—held in NYC this past September—we met Samuel Edwards (aka Sam Smite), a native New Yorker, who hasn’t set aside his love for hip hop when pursuing his faith. A winner of several regional DJ battles, the Huntsville, Ala.-based Smite is a turntablist torch bearer for the Christian hip-hop genre. Accordingly, he’s toured with Christian rap artist Viktory and he continues to play a variety of venues that welcome the genre.

We caught up with the 32-year-old DJ, who offered some new-school perspective and some old-school advice.

DJ Times: What got you DJing?

Sam Smite: I loved the hip-hop culture so much, I needed to be a part of it. DJing was my way into that world, and it looked like loads of fun.

DJ Times: Who influenced you?

Smite: Jam Master Jay, of course, but also Tony Touch, king of the mixtapes, DJ Skribble, who I listened to every morning on Hot 97, and DJ Premier of Gang Starr. In that era, we didn’t have YouTube, so I learned to mix by listening to those DJs. Battle influences? Hands down, DJ Craze and DJ Klever. From an artist influence? DJ AM and DJ Shortee, the queen of turntablism.

DJ Times: What was your first DJ setup?

Smite: A pair of belt-drive Technics, but the straight-arm models with a little wheel as the pitch. You should see those dusty things. Also, I had a Gemini “Jazzy Jeff Edition” mixer. The faders on that thing were so thick and big. That should be in a turntablism museum today.

DJ Times: How did you transition into Christian hip hop?

Smite: My beliefs and lifestyle were no longer in sync with the music I was playing. I felt God pulling me into this direction, creating a new path for my life, and that scene is incredible—it’s like a baby hip-hop genre. But money is not the driving force behind the music. There are people from all walks of life who are a part of that scene, people who are looking for something different. I’m happy to see it develop from an infant state to a mature state.

DJ Times: How does DJing in Sunday services go over?

Smite: My church, like many other churches, is very traditional. Many feel that a DJ shouldn’t be in their midst. You don’t know how many older adults come up to me and say, “Turntables don’t belong in the church.” But after the service, they realize that the younger people like it and it brings everybody together.

DJ Times: So, when it comes to battles, what makes a winning DJ routine?

Smite: There are different strategies, depending on the competition’s format—I think it’s all regional. For example, on the East Coast you better know how to beat-juggle. On the West Coast, you better be a technical scratcher. In the Dirty South, you better know how to merge both.

DJ Times: What about music?

Smite: Before, DJ competitions were more hip-hop-based. Nowadays, lots of electronic music is used. Most of all, experience is what carries you to victory. You rarely see someone win a battle their first year out. As for preparation, it’s more mental than anything else. The diligence in practice goes without saying, but most importantly, you have to see your winning set all the way through before you even perform it. That’s the secret right there.

DJ Times: What’s your ideal DJ setup now?

Smite: It’s two Technics 1200s, Pioneer HDJ-1000 headphones—I love those things, gives incredible sound. Also, Shure M44-7 needles, a Rane TTM-57 mixer and Serato Scratch Live on my Toshiba PC Laptop.

DJ Times: What do you make of the modern Digital Vinyl Systems?

Smite: At first, I was totally against it, but faith-based music was not pressed on vinyl, so I was thrown into the digital realm. I’m glad for it now because it takes my DJing to another level. Gotta love Serato’s Relative Mode with all the cue points. It does not take away from turntablism at all. It actually helps me become more creative. I think turntablism goes away when you take the vinyl option out of it. If anyone were to say that using Serato makes you less than a straight-up vinyl jock, then tell ’em to come see me. [laughs].

– Jim Tremayne