Do you see mixtapes as a starting point in your career, what goal are you trying to reach?
I've been djing ever since middle school when I saw my first tables. I've been into music ever since I was a little, so turntables came easy to me. I was murdering competition locally, and mixtapes were a way for me to critique my mixing and blending skills. They were also one of the best ways for me to get gigs outside of my own city - it was like my own demo.

How big was DJ Screw's influence on your style/career?
DJ Screw is a legend... he broke the barrier and raised the bar of talent and skill in his own city. I always try to be different whether it's my radio show, mixtapes, or party rocking. When everyone goes one way, I like to be left field. That's the way I play ball.

What about Luke?
Uncle Luke is incredible. He was one of the founding fathers of southern hip hop. Without Uncle Luke, many forms of southern hip hop would not be around, especially Crunk music. Doing a mixtape with Uncle Luke was a dream come true.

Tell us about your working process: where do you get your songs from, how do you record your mixtape (equipment) and how long does it take from recording to pressing
I have a formula and style different from any other DJ. I try to pack in as much crack as I can in 80 minutes - I load it up with a lot of personal exclusives that I get from a lot of major celebrities that no one has access to. I do a lot of blending and remixing, between the tracks to showcase my skills. I usually do an insane scratched and blended intro - and I NEVER talk or echo on any of my exclusives...

What mixtape got the best response and why do you think it worked so well?
The whole "Southern Smoke" series has received an incredible response. Each edition is unique in its own way - and every edition has surpassed my expectations. The exclusives and celebrity hosts are always huge - and I've received incredible reviews and support for my "Southern Smoke" series.

Back in the days, DJs like Tony Touch would beat-juggle, do blends and scratch on their mixtapes, what do you think about today's situation, DJs could still do it now with CD turntables like the CD-J.
I can't speak on what other DJs do, but I incorporate the new age of blending, scratching and remixing to my radio shows, mixtapes, and parties. I own a pair of Technics 1200s and SL-DZ1200s. I love CD Turntables - they are extremely helpful. With CD Turntables you don't have to wait for major singles to get on vinyl to chop them up - as soon as you get them you can beat juggle and scratch them…

What's good with "Southern Smoke Radio" what makes it so unique?
"Southern Smoke Radio" is insane. It's an all exclusive pass to a 2 hour V.I.P. party on the radio. It's raw and uncensored and I break the hottest music, incredible exclusives, and remixes. I always have a surprise celebrity co-host as well. It's currently syndicated on Sirius Satellite Radio and DISH Network every Friday night from 12-2am. Southern Smoke Radio will be syndicated in 6 countries next month. For more information, schedules and show times, log on to www.southernsmokeradio.com

The line between mixtape DJ and A&R is so small, you're also doing official mixtape for Bad Boy South, and do you also help them with their artists?
I'm half-DJ, half Street A&R. I established Southern Style Marketing in 2002, which is a multi-dimensional marketing and advertising company that specializes marketing artists, music products and more in the southern market. We have a clientele list of over 50 companies worldwide, and hold accounts with almost every major record label in the hip hop industry. The Bad Boy South project was one of the hottest street projects we've done in the south. We helped break their new group Boyz-N-Da-Hood (Jazze Pha's project) in the streets in the south. Look out for their new single with P. Diddy impacting radio this month…

You're also part of this crew of Celebrity DJs and Hip Hop artists founded by Roc-A-Fella producer Just Blaze and DJ Sickamore, can you tell us more about it and what's the main goal of this association?
It's a crazy crew of A-List DJs and some of the biggest celebrities in hip hop music. We break the hottest music from the east to the west and fuse the relationship between DJs and Artists closer together.

I heard you were the official DJ for Slim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz, who recently signed to Star Trak/Interscope.
Yes, I'm the official Mixtape DJ for Slim Thug, Killa Kyleon and the Boss Hogg Outlawz. We are working on a major mixtape series, "Outlaw Season," releasing the first assault next week. We have some incredible collaboration with T.I., Young Buck, Juvenile, Jae Millz, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, and more…

Can you give us some name of what you think are the hottest up and coming artists to come from the South?
Texas is boiling right now. Look out for Slim Thug, Killa Kyleon, Chamillionaire, and Play-N-Skillz. These guys have incredible talent. As far as ATL - look out for Playaz Circle and Young Noah. Lil' Wyte is breaking down barriers in Memphis. Down in Miami, we pushed the hell out of Pitbull, who is dominating the airwaves right now. Look out for the next wave of talent in Miami, including Dirtbag, Cool & Dre, Jacki-O and the Beat Down Click.

What projects are you working on right now?
I'm working really hard on making Southern Style Marketing the "go to" marketing and advertising firm in the South. I have Southern Smoke TV in its final stages of production. We have national distribution in Japan and the U.S. in 2005 for the project. Fear Factor Music, representing the next generation of southern hip hop, is underway, and lookout for PartySouth.com Spring 2005.

Any last words for the HipHopGame visitors?
First and foremost, I wanna shout out all my fans for supporting me since day one! I want to thank all the artists and celebrities that I've worked with in the past and the artists I continue to work with; I also wanna give a fat shout to my man Minati, Animal Steele, Chad Brown, Ron Mills, Justo, DJ Infamous, GDB, Spark, Andre, Ray Face, Boris, Kraze, Tapemasta, Monique, JB, Dennis, and can't forget... HHG!!! Don't forget to visit my official website www.DJSmallz.com. Thanks again for your incredible support!

Interview by Dee Jekyll