Episode 373: 2025 WRAP-UP “Reviewing the Year's Best & Worst in Music & DJing”

This week on @RoadPodcast we're joined by @Kazi, @Shwcase and @DJMarcoPenta to close out 2025 with a full wrap up of what actually mattered this year, breaking down Top 5 Club Bangers before diving into why songs are taking longer to connect, the lack of label support, and whether release dates should move back to Tuesdays so audiences can learn records before the weekend (14:13). The crew gives @Kehlani her flowers and talks about the success of “Folded” (19:33), then unpacks how rappers who once made club hits are now making gym or car music, GRWM and ‘vibey’ records, why “Whim Whammiee” feels like a novelty song, and how labels treat these tracks like penny stocks for quick money (31:10). A standout conversation follows on whether NYC DJs play edits or originals, genre flexibility in New York and what actually makes an edit better than the original (41:08). This leads into the Top 5 Edits (41:20) and a discussion on edit oversaturation after viral moments and why DJs lean on edits before developing their own style (51:32). The crew then reveals their Top 5 Editors of 2025 (1:23:01) and moves into Top 3 Overrated Tracks (1:39:40). The episode continues with Top 3 Artists (2:01:01), a wider Top Artists of 2025 conversation featuring Bad Bunny jokes, Drake talk, Beyonce’s unmatched versatility for DJs, and why legacy artists remain essential in 2025, ending with Crooked’s top three (2:18:03). They also cover Top 3 Back in Rotation (2:16:01), Crooked’s stories from @Moochie’s party at @RecordRoom in New York and why it stood out (2:47:00), Top Live DJ Sets (2:33:01), Favorite Moments from the year (2:53:01), and the most valuable lessons learned heading into 2026 (3:03:01).

This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!

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Episode 372: LAIDBACK LUKE “Discovering Avicii, DJing on an iPhone, and the Rise of Pre-Recorded Sets”

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @LaidbackLuke for a rare deep dive into his Vegas roots, the peak of EDM, and what keeps him inspired after three decades behind the decks. He recalls returning to Las Vegas and the opening of Hakkasan in 2012, a moment he calls the “we won” era of dance music when pop stars like @Pitbull and @IAmWill jumped on the EDM wave (01:66). Luke breaks down those early residencies that felt exotic at the time and how Vegas became a second home (06:10). The conversation turns to his most viral controversy: DJing on an iPhone. Luke explains the real setup behind it, the backlash, and how he uses feedback from that experience to push technology forward (11:27). Between laughs about “Do Not Disturb” mode during sets and Optic calling him the “Kevin Gates of EDM,” Luke shares how he balances innovation with the physical toll of performing that way. Luke also opens up about his respect for open-format DJs, calling them “heavily underrated,” and breaks down his approach to preparing for festivals while staying spontaneous on stage (28:01). Comparing DJing to martial arts, he says the real mastery comes from being prepared enough to adapt in real time (34:01). From there, he dives into the darker side of modern EDM: pre-planned sets, ghost production, and DJs who are “famous for being famous.” He estimates that 80 to 90 percent of festival sets are no longer fully live (36:35). Luke also revisits his time mentoring Avicii, running one of the first online DJ forums, and the wild story of downloading “Levels” on Limewire after fans wouldn’t stop requesting it (45:59). Later, he gets personal about burnout, sobriety, and finding longevity in an industry that rarely slows down (53:01). He shares the creative spark behind “Show Me Love” with @SteveAngello (1:19:05), and how that track evolved from “Leave the World Behind” into one of EDM’s defining remixes. The episode closes with Luke reflecting on control, collaboration, and his remixes being available on @Beatsource as he continues shaping the next generation of DJs (1:30:01).

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Episode 371: RNB & RIBS “DJs, Stop Chasing Viral Moments” Feat. Knowpa Slaps

This week, the crew chops it up with @KnowpaSlaps, the Bay Area DJ and founder behind @RnBandRibs, one of the most influential R&B parties in the game. Knowpa opens up about the love of DJing that sparked the party and how he keeps each set fresh while juggling his roles as both DJ and promoter (06:15). The conversation dives into the explosion of RNB day parties and how over-saturation has made it harder to stand out (08:03). Knowpa explains why intention matters, from the cities they choose to the way they honor local culture, and how he proved RNB & Ribs could work far beyond the Bay, from Austin to Japan (12:49). He breaks down what songs work overseas (14:20), how he curates lineups based on respect instead of social media numbers (19:14), and why DJs chasing viral moments often miss the real magic of the night (26:55). The crew gets into the economy’s impact on parties (39:01), the rise of “de-influencers” and DJ haters online (49:30), and how attention to detail is key even when thousands show up (52:05). Knowpa also speaks on separating his identity from the brand (1:01:01), stretching the genre to keep crowds engaged (1:01:08), and what’s ahead for 2026, including RNB & Ribs London, the Super Bowl block party in San Francisco with @TPain, and his favorite cities of the year: Vegas, Honolulu, and LA (1:05:01).

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Episode 370: DJ BOOGIE BLIND "The Death of Originality in DJ Culture"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @BoogieBlind to talk about his Bronx roots, coming up with Lyrics to Go, and learning from Roc Raida (2:10). Blind shares how he chose DJing over basketball after seeing Roc Raida’s success and reflects on the original “X-Men Rules” (9:10). He pays respect to Clark Kent, opens up about his battle DJ mentality, and talks about “protecting his energy” in an era where copying is normalized (12:10). Crooked and Blind discuss the “me against the world” mindset of battle DJs, how relationships change as you grow (15:16), and the difference between people’s online personas and real-life character. Boogie calls today’s scene “the most cut-and-paste generation of DJs” and addresses imitation, technology, and Serato’s impact (26:05). They debate content vs. ability, give props to younger DJs pushing boundaries (24:01), and Blind shares his approach to sets: half battle DJ, half party rocker (32:01). He recalls playing @Shaboozey at Dante’s Hi-Fi, discusses vinyl culture, and opens up about self-doubt, crowd control, and staying a fan of the craft (44:01). Blind also speaks on his party “Easily” (51:01), the mic game in the 2010s (1:00:01), his love for island music and production (1:13:01), and the crew’s take on quick mixing (1:27:01).

This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!

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Episode 369: DJ NICK DAVIS "How a Midwest DJ Is Breaking Into Bigger Markets"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew chops it up with Kansas City’s @djnickdavis. They reflect on meeting Nick early in his journey and stress how crucial it was to travel and experience other DJ scenes at a young age (00:55). The conversation shifts to the Midwest nightlife explosion, with cities like Wichita and Salt Lake City hosting incredible parties (06:50), and Nick breaks down how he’s built his out-of-town bookings through word-of-mouth and collaborations with Salt Lake City’s finest @bangarangthedj (10:04). He shares the origin story of his party Goodies and how it became a way to bring major DJs to KC who otherwise wouldn’t have come. Nick also reveals how he approaches travel gigs, opens up about wild KC “bottle wars,” and partying with Chiefs players like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes (19:54), as well as how a single Chiefs game can shift the entire nightlife energy. Crooked dives into the KC sound with shoutouts to Kstylis and Tech N9ne (21:11), while Nick discusses the differences between KC and St. Louis artists (31:10) and the Bay Area’s influence on Kansas City’s culture (34:20). He opens up about doing everything himself to build Goodies (38:01), and the crew speaks on the risks and sacrifices they’ve all made to pursue DJing full-time (45:01). Later, Nick reflects on the internal conflict of balancing his identity as a solo artist vs. his event brand (1:05:01), and the group talks about work-life balance, delegation, and building long-term movements rooted in community and humility (1:14:52). Toward the end, Nick shares where he sees himself in five years, speaks on launching his Patreon, and vents about what grinds his gears (1:17:01). The episode wraps with a conversation about DJ goals, DMC dreams (1:21:05), viral routines from legends like @skratchbastid and @trayze (1:32:02), and why Nick hates the word “content”—even while feeding the algorithm (1:33:02).

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Episode 368: DISCO_NECT "Abandoning The Open Format Grind To Form a Disco House Collective"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @TheDisco_Nect (@DJWS, @PartyWithStrategy_, and @CautionItsHeavy) to share their journey and vision for disco’s revival. At (02:34), White Shadow recalls meeting Strategy and Heavy during a Will Ferrell event that bonded them through disco, leading to their takeover of @CelesteChicago. By (10:57), Crooked introduces the idea of the “working class DJ,” sparking candid talk about burnout, money struggles, and questioning whether DJing was worth it. The crew reflects on DJs struggling to see themselves as artists (11:20), the evolution of Chicago’s house scene, and how nightlife has shifted from ticket sales to social media clout. At (23:50), they debate whether open format is oversaturated, with White Shadow emphasizing musical identity and Crooked calling it “the most selfless job.” Strategy shares his moves between Chicago and Houston (32:30) before the trio break down curating disco nights, creating edits, and fully committing to Disco-Nect with four weekly residencies at Celeste (40:01). By (54:01), White Shadow explains why he asked his partners to quit other gigs, outlining the crew’s roles (1:06:10) and how Strategy has never been happier DJing (1:08:15). The episode closes with a discussion on staying relevant across genres (1:09:13) and a critique of bookers’ misplaced priorities (1:28:01), reinforcing Disco-Nect’s belief that the DJ remains the centerpiece of nightlife.

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EPISODE 367: SIDEPIECE "6 Years Strong & Sober"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew chops it up with Grammy-nominated duo Sidepiece (@partyfavor + @nitti). At 01:51, they share how they came together, the story behind their name, and their dynamic in the studio. The duo gets candid about testing tracks in the club (17:20), early support from @Diplo, and Nitti’s production work on 200 MPH by @BadBunnyPr (36:01). They reminisce on the Mad Decent era, and break down releasing hits like Cash Out, A Milli, and On My Mind while resisting industry trends (41:01). At 49:10, they discuss re-igniting tech house, facing criticism for sampling, and the challenges of pushing original music in a short-attention-span culture. The fellas reflect on evolving their sound (56:35), Dylan’s late start in production, and Ricky’s roots in Haiti (59:01). They close by revealing why holding back unreleased bootlegs, like their sought-after Cry For You edit, keeps their live sets unique (1:17:14).

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Episode 366: THE BEAT JUNKIES "Why DJs Need a Retirement Plan"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DjMeloD, @DJDStyles, and @DJ4Real24 to talk about their careers, @theBeatJunkies, and their Cali pizza spot @MadeFromSkratchPizza. They kick things off with Melo-D gives flowers to @DJAngieVee’s “Yer Not Down,” and D-Styles celebrates the iconic “Low End Theory” party that helped launch artists like @FlyingLotus, @Tokimonsta, and @Daedelus (03:55). The crew also reflects on how today’s DJ competitions differ from the Beat Junkies era (18:45). Jaime introduces the Beat Junkies Institute of Sound as “the Avengers teaching you how to be superheroes,” while the fellas joke about bad DJ habits, online instruction, and even a ROAD discount code. D-Styles on “Phantasmagoria” (20:01) and Suneel sharing how he first met the Junkies (39:45). The junkies revisit how the pizza concept was born at Icon LA, tracing its roots to the legendary “Red Cup Sundays” (40:20). By (44:55), the fellas dive into how the idea took shape: three years of persistence, unexpected obstacles like finding an old gun in the concrete, and the vision of turning it into a retirement plan for DJs (1:01:01). They break down the musically inspired menu, the goal of franchising (1:13:10), and the hurdles of navigating city rules (26:01). The conversation then shifts to DJ culture: Suneel shares how he built the sound at Made From Skratch (1:18:45).

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Episode 365: DON DIABLO "The Visionary of Future House on Imposter Syndrome & Humanizing A.I."

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with future house pioneer @DonDiablo for a deep and personal conversation. At 01:55, Don talks about running on little sleep before his Pier 19 show and why NYC remains his biggest market. By 06:55, he explains why he avoids repeating sets, preferring Tomorrowland’s smaller, darker stages over the main stage. At 12:20, Don reflects on his teenage years in the Dutch scene, from being taken advantage of as a young producer to being labeled a “weirdo” by peers. He admits that sometimes he hates being Don Diablo, finding true acceptance only through his fans. At 18:10, he recalls his production roots and the joy of creating purely for fun. By 24:55, the tone shifts as Don shares a powerful story about his father’s illness, the lessons from their final conversations, and how this shaped his outlook on time, purpose, and music. He recalls writing songs like “The Artist Inside” as a tribute to his father, and performing it at his funeral, the most difficult moment of his career. At 37:55, Don speaks on the therapeutic nature of songwriting, before offering his perspective on AI at 44:01, viewing it not as a threat, but as a tool to make creativity even more human. Closing out at 1:01:44, Don dives into his Hexagon label, the video for “Anytime”, and the contracts he gave artists. At 1:05:01, he shouts out @BeatsourceOfficial, and at 1:18:45, leaves us with a quote to remember: “The devil works hard, but the DJ works harder.”

This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!

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Episode 364: DJ TRAUMA "From ATL to Dave Chappelle, Navigating the Celebrity DJ Scene"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DJTrauma to reflect on his journey from New York to Atlanta and beyond. At (00:55), Trauma recalls growing up in Manhattan and how his DJ name came from a friend’s little brother. By (04:30), he’s reminiscing about partying in the Meatpacking District and what it meant to be “outside.” He explains what it means to be a “vibe DJ” (07:15). He compares the craft of DJing to stand-up comedy (10:35). Trauma then shares how a free event unexpectedly led him to working with @DaveChappelle (12:52), and a relationship that grew into legendary gigs like First Avenue in Minneapolis and Radio City Music Hall in NYC (15:56). The conversation dives into Trauma’s reputation as “Chappelle’s DJ” (30:01), @PhifeForever performing at his 21st birthday, and the rise of Atlanta’s unified scene with @Outkast, @GoodieMob, and @JermaineDupri (34:40). He speaks on the epic Freaknik parties (45:55), the power of ATL DJs (1:03:40), and throwing LA house parties where @mr_Camron once performed in his living room (1:20:20). Trauma also reflects on early trips to Africa, how Chappelle’s Retreat and Summer Camp shaped his career (1:35:01), and why soulful events like Soul in the Horn keep him grounded in the music that matters.

This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!

Try Beatsource for free: btsrc.dj/4jCkT1p

Join DJcity for only $10: bit.ly/3EeCjAX