If you dabble in the DJ or remix trade at all, you’ve probably heard of Mix Master Mike – he’s one of those musicians who maintains a spiritual outlook on his craft but also a very down-to-earth personality, one that obviously attracted the Boys to him and paved the way for classics like Hello Nasty and To the Five Boroughs. I caught up with Mix Master Mike as he was waiting to take over the Red Bull 3-Style at the Playhouse in Hollywood, a DJ showdown between some of the country’s best and brightest aspiring Mix Masters like Morse Code and Cheapshot. Mike approaches the craft as someone with a creative and open mind — he’s kind of like Jackson Pollack splattering oils on an unfurled canvas that just seems to keep going. But there’s a method to his madness, and his outlook on life was inspirational. Regardless of how you feel about MMM, DJing, or The Beastie Boys, this should be an inspiring read for artists of all kinds who want to expand and explore their craft. And that to survive, practicing 100,000 hours isn’t always enough– it’s a never-ending process of exploration and expansion.
