KillaKam: TURBED
A good DJ can make or break the concert experience. From setting the mood to keeping the energy up, a skilled DJ is essential to creating a memorable and enjoyable night. KillaKam, a 24-year-old DJ from the Bronx, not only understands this assignment, but excels in it. We first came across one of his sets at Terminal 5 in NYC, for Lucki’s “Flawless Like Me” Tour.
With a lineup of Lucki, Eem Triplin, Micro, and KillaKam, this was truly one of the most enjoyable concert experiences that I’ve ever had. As we discuss in the interview, with smoother artists like Eem and Lucki, it is much more important for DJ’s to carry the energy between sets, especially in a city like New York. This was something that Kam and Micro did incredibly well. While most concerts calm down during artist intermissions, this one seemed to turn up.
Outside of DJ’ing KillaKam is a very multifaceted creative that dives into multiple other avenues. He has experience in photography, modeling, and of course producing. Nowadays focusing on more production, he is looking to land some big features and new collaborations this year, to really solidify his victory lap of a year it has been touring.
In this interview, we explore KillaKam’s daily life, creative process, and insights into the future. At its core, this interview is really just two people talking about good music. So whether you’re looking for more information on how to become a successful DJ, or simply just looking for some good new music, you’ll surely enjoy the conversation.
First, just tell me a little bit about yourself.
My name is Kam. I’m from New York, in the Bronx. About it.
How did you first get involved with music?
I started when I was younger. I used to be in guitar lessons and stuff, and then I stopped when I got to middle school because I thought that shit was lame. I was a big ass Pro Era fan back in the day, like Pro Era & A$AP stuff. So I used to just go to all their shows. Shit was cool.
I was originally going to be a photographer, but then my friend Ty told me I should be a DJ because I had good music taste.
Yeah, I heard the Capital Steez shout out at the concert. Growing up, what other artists did you listen to besides Pro Era?
*Laughs in good faith at the impossibility of the question*
How young are you talkin? High school stuff or just like, everything?
Well first, how old are you right now?
I’m 24.
Okay, got you. So, yeah, like high school, middle school stuff. That era.
Okay, middle school. I can remember Wiz Khalifa being my favorite rapper ode at one point. Early on it was like New Boyz, Soulja Boy, and Chris Brown. I liked Lil’ Wayne, Drake. I liked Tyler. I was a big Tyler fan. I don’t know though, when everybody hopped on the OF wave, I was over that shit. So then that’s when I started to fuck with Pro Era. The Underachievers! I was really big on that sound, that movement, Bodega Bamz, all that stuff. I was really into all that. Logic. I had a little Logic period. Shoutout my boy.
I think everybody had that little Logic era.
Broooo! Some people will not admit it, but I don’t care. For me, the guy that he is now, I don’t know that guy, but Young Sinatra him. Under Pressure him. Ya feel me? That’s what we’re going for.
Yessir. Did growing up in New York play a role in your music involvement?
I used to always go to the events and shows. I don’t know, once you kind of just get into the scene, I feel like things just find you. I feel like I’m answering this question bad.
Nah I got you. Your talkin’ about just being in New York gives you that stage in general, like to jump into that scene.
Yeah, you just meet more people and you shake the right hands and you never know, bro. I remember running into people in the city, and they already know who I am. One thing leads to another, especially in this city. You know how it is.
Yeah, for sure. How long have you been working with Lucki?
I started working with him right before the pandemic, literally a day or two before the pandemic. It’s been about 3 years.
Is this the first tour you did with him?
Third tour.
Oh, wow. Okay.
Well, four if you count the 3 day Canadian one, but that felt more like a festival run.
Okay. I got you. So far out of this tour, the Flawless Like Me. What’s been your favorite stop?
Houston, Chicago, and New York.
Mmm.
Special mention goes to… San Diego… and… San Antonio.
Do you produce?
Yessirski.
Is that the main thing you want to get into or do you want to focus more on the DJ’ing?
Producing is definitely something I want to get into. I also need to start modeling more, but producing is definitely the main thing I’m trying to get into right now, as of right now, for sure. I’m trying to land that big placement, we working on it though.
What type of producer are you? Are you sample-heavy? You start from scratch?
Definitely heavy on the samples. I like to collaborate with a lot of producers. I have a lot of friends. I hit the studio with them. If I have an idea, or they have an idea, we start it and just make magic. I’ve been locked in with one of my friends in the Bronx. Name is Gen Loso. He’s hard. We’ve been doing like: I’ll start something, he’ll start something, we link up, finish that shit. It be hard as hell.
Okay fire. You still live out in New York?
Mhm. You can still catch me, l be around.
In a word or two how would you describe your production sound?
*deep thought*
One word to describe my production?… Turbed. Turbed! T-U-R-B-E-D. That’s my one word answer.
What’s your definition for that word? I think I got an idea, but what’s your definition?
Turbed ya know?… That’s just another way of saying fire.
Got you. That’s some new Bronx slang or that’s been around?
Some stupid shit. *Laughs* It’s something I heard from a cartoon.
Okay, I got you. Are there any other genres you work in outside of hip hop?
I lowkey been fucking with house recently, like, on the low. That’s like, on the low, though. I feel like everybody always comes out and say, they fuck with house. It’s actually kind of cool.
That makes sense as a DJ.
I really like that Jersey music. Liike, the Jersey Club, that shit’s hard.
With the beats?
Yes bro, that shit’s hard. I’m thinking about the bop in my head right now and I want to dance. That shits hard.
Yeah. I’ve been big on Brock and Bril, 2Rare. Them dudes. They have all that production that same way.
Odeee. For sure, Uzi kinda of put that sound in the light, feel me? But there were already people on that that sound that made me a fan of it. You heard of Bandmanrill? Sha EK?
No, I don’t think I heard them.
Ooooo, I’ma send you something. They got this one record called Who You Touched. I played in New York. That’s one of their best collabs. If I was putin’ someone on their best song, it would definitely be that.
Yeah definitely send me that. That set in New York was crazy. I was there with my friends. We were talking about how with artists like Eem and Lucki, they’re not really, like rager artists. So there’s more pressure on the DJ’s to keep that energy going between sets and stuff. Y’all was killing shit though.
Yeah, shoutout my boy Micro.
He was the DJ before Eem?.
He DJ’s for Eem and $NOT. My boy’s hella talented. He taught me everything I know.
What’s been your favorite project recently? Within a year or so?
Damn. Who dropped? Sha EK project was hard, Face of the What. I actually enjoyed that one a lot. People be saying what they want about the drill. But for me, Sha EK worked hard for that spot he got right now. Central Cee dropped this EP called No More Leaks, he got this one record on there called Chapters. I like songs like that, he’s tellin’ a story, it’s just hard.
Also Melvoni, he just dropped a project called This is Not a Drill. A Boogie project, too. Me vs. Myself. That’s what we want.
Yeah that was tough too.
Basically: Face of the What, Me vs. Myself, and This is Not a Drill.
Valid. Valid. What are some of your upcoming goals? As a DJ, producer, or artist in general?
Really focusing on trying to land that big placement man. Hopefully music takes me a lot of places. I’m trying to go to some more places like in Europe and stuff.
This summer we got some festivals coming up. So I’m just tryna cross some more big stages off the list. Regular-degla, stuff like that.
I got another question that kind of goes back to something we talked about before, but what’s life like on the tour? What’s that process like?
It’s cool. The most annoying part is when we have to travel somewhere that’s above 10 hours. If you’re going somewhere less than six or eight it’s straight. Being on the bus all day is mad annoying.
It’s kind of sweet ‘cause in this final stretch, everything close as hell. Everything been like 4 hours or less. New York, DC, Charlotte, everything really close to hell.
It does get tiring, but you just gotta take care of yourself. You’d get mad sick easily on the road.
Another annoying part is not always having fire food. Like sometimes we stop at the gas station, all there be is like Subways and Wendy’s. That shit be annoying as fuuuuck. Mad burgers and fries every day, chicken wings and bullshit. When you get a chance to have a good meal that should be bussin’, and a good shower too. Oh my God. Yeah, that’s it for me.
The last question I have is: What’s next for you?
What else I got coming up?… Going back to the city. Gotta gear up for a couple of festivals we got overseas this summer. Like two as of right now. Some other stuff might pop up, maybe start doing some more parties around New York. Just regular shit like that.
Also just gunna keep cookin’ up. I really want to get that placement feel me? Gotta work for it.
I got you. That’s all I really got. Is there anything else you want me to throw in the interview or anything else you want the people to know?
Nothing else I want to plug for me. I’m just happy to be here. Glooks for havin’ me.
Yessir. Happy to have you.