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Interview: Exquisite

 BADH: What’s going on with Exquisite?
EXQ: Well we got a lot of things going on right now. We have not done anything in six months, but now we are booked straight. To name a few: Beez Birthday Bash (October 19, 2002) at Club Warehouse, Spragga Live in Concert (November 27, 2002) at Club Warehouse, Club Large (New Year’s), Al Famous and Chippy Birthday Bash (January 11, 2002) at Warehouse, and other things in Florida and Atlantic City.

BADH: You say that Exquisite is a juggling sound system, but do you all do clashes? If so, who have you all clashed with?
EXQ: We like it, but we have not done any. We just play music for people to hear.

BADH: Al, you state that you are based in Florida, are the rest of Exqusite in New York or Florida as well?
Al Famous: I am the only one in Florida, Beez goes back and forth, and everyone else in here in NY.

BADH: How long have you all been together?
EXQ: We have been together for ten years.

BADH: Do you see sound systems using CD’s instead of dub plates/records in the future?
EXQ: Some may try, but records are much better. There are both good and bad sides with CD’s. CD’s are too easy. With CD’s, there is no work to be done; no scratching. CD’s don’t skip so songs will just play straight and many other things. We will stick with records always. However, some selectors do use CD’s these days.

BADH: What do you see can be a problem with some of the dances today?
EXQ: There are too many sounds playing at one dance. We believe there should be no more than four. If you have six sets, how is everyone going to get paid...very little. If you have six sounds on a flyer, four is going to want prime time and bun out the other selectors before their time. It's not all about the money also. We love selecting and we want to show the people what we can do. A good mixture of three to four sounds is all you need. Another thing are Round Robins. Round Robins killing the business. We're promoters as well and we see how it is ruining the business. People work all week and want to spend their money on the weekend. If people working and going out all the time, their not going to want to spend any money when the weekend comes. Everyone is searching for the hype, but for good vibes, you have to analyze and know who is doing the promoting, who is going to be there to know what you will bring to the table.

BADH: How do you all feel about selectors who are going solo?
Beez: “To each his own”
Al Famous: I think the door stop with Steelie. It’s not good to do because although you have made a name for yourself you still need people to help you out. Also, it’s selfishness to just leave your team because it takes teamwork to make it big.

BADH: Who would you all say are the hottest DJ’s right now?
EXQ: In New York, Exquisite, Stone Love, Matterhorn & Kolours. In Florida, we would have to say Matterhorn & Twitch. For Jamaica, Fire Links.

BADH: Where did the name “Exquisite” come from?
EXQ: Other than it defines us (jokingly), our founders, Orlando and P. P. saw it on one of our cars and said “I’mma name my sound that one day”, and he did.

BADH: Would you all consider yourselves pretty much established or do you all still have to put yourselves out there to get jobs?
EXQ: In New York we are established, but out of town we have a lot of hard work to do, and out of the country we have a whole lot of work to do. When we go out of town, sounds that play there don’t like new sounds playing so what we do is keep our own parties and get our sound out that way. Right now, we are booked until May 2003. We are focusing on DC, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. We wanted Atlantic City, but when we preformed there, they shut us down - saying it was "gang related". We would like to bring Dancehall to the south. Scorpion Sounds in North Carolina is doing a great job in that.

BADH: Can you name everyone on Exquisite Juggling Machine?
EXQ: Beez- selector, Rikster- mixer and selector, Al- MC, Ringo- critic and management.

BADH: Do you all have any embarrassing moments?
Beez EXQ: I let Al and another guy - who is not a member anymore- get on the stage at Neil Pearl's dance at Rose Castle last February to give them a chance to play since they were the youngins - BIG MISTAKE. They put on the wrong song at the wrong time...it was too early. (i will survive)
Al: I got booed for playing “My neck, my back” at a kid’s block party this pass summer - and it wasn't by the adults.

BADH: Al, how is the dancehall in Florida compared to up here?
Al: It’s very different in Florida; it’s not as live as up here, but it’s not boring. Everywhere you go, you get different vibes.

BADH: Has there ever been any crazy moments while playing?
EXQ: Turn table broke while Rikster was playing, but he kept playing without anyone knowing. He spinned the turn table with his finger all night and no one noticed.

BADH: Do you think internet media is doing enough to promote reggae, dancehall music?
EXQ: Yes, because everyone around the world can see what it is about and you can talk to people all over about it. Also, a lot of people that don’t go out can see what goes on and they may eventually start to go out.

BADH: How does it feel to be playing alongside veteran sounds such as Stone Love, and Afrique?
Al Famous: It is a very good feeling. To play with Stone Love, it is an inspiration and it feels good to earn respect from them after you done play.
Beez: I don’t want to play as good as them; I want to play better than them.
Ringo: Their just another set to me.

BADH: What’s your age bracket that you all play for?
EXQ: When we first started we were for the 18/19 yr old crowds. Beez kept a few parties at Wingate High School and we just grew from there into the twenties crowd; over21. Older people don’t really want to give us young people a chance, but they should. “Dem never let we in so forget dem” is how Beez feels.

BADH: What do you think about Bobby and Jabba in a dance?
EXQ: When Bobby and Jabba are in a dance, they are very much different from on the radio. They are good to play for the Hip Hop crowd.

BADH: Please, tell us all those involved with the Exquisite Family?
Exquisite, Johnny Cash and C-Money from CMB and Tone Capone

EXQ: Well, you have Exquisite Family Entertainment and Exquisite Juggling Machine. All those involved are Al Famous, Chippy, Beez, Ringo, Rickster, Lando, Pea, Looka, Chris, Benton, Chris & Gregory.

BADH: For booking info, how can one get in touch with you all?
EXQ: Get in contact with Ricksta at 718.804.9536 or 347.678.8533; Al Famous at (NY)347.623.8204, (FL)954.803.0820 or by email at alfamous@aol.com; Beez at 646.773.4302 or by email at exquisite_ent@yahoo.com.