Interview – 4B

Published: 12/14/2016

New Jersey native 4B is having an amazing year. With support from industry heavyweights such as DJ Snake, Diplo, and RL Grime to collabs with DJ Mustard, Flosstradmaus, Aazar, and Mercer, there is a reason why the highly talented producer has been featured on labels such as Dim Mak, Main Course, and Mad Decent. His Jersey Club, Jungle, and Trap infused sound has landed him at some of the biggest events, festivals, and nightclubs in the country, and he’s only just beginning to take over. We sat down with 4B following his amazing set at EDC Orlando to discuss his career, music, and friendship with Diplo and DJ Snake.

How did you get started as a DJ/Producer?
About 7 or 8 years ago when I was around 14 or 15 I started DJing teen nights in my area. After a few years, I was throwing my own parties around New Jersey and New York. Then I got into doing mashups for Crooklyn Clan and Crack 4 DJs. From experimenting with mashups I started doing my own originals. I loved the exclusivity of having my own edits, and it was even better to play my own music because nobody else had them.

What three words describe your style?
Ignorant. Loud. Jersey!

Who are some of influences?
DJ AM was my idol when I started. Being from Jersey and constantly hearing Jersey Club, guys from Brick Bandits (Tim Dolla, Tameil), DJ Snake, and Diplo.

You’ve had a long friendship with Diplo, how did you guys first meet?
I’ve been following him since 2006/2007 when he was still living in Philly, but I finally had a chance to play a show with him in 2011. I kept flooding his e-mail after that show sending him my tracks. Around a year-and-half ago I ran into him again at the Mad Decent Block Party and asked him if he had been getting my tracks, so he whips out his laptop and it was every single track I had sent him over the years. Ever since then, we’ve been close. I released an album on Mad Decent, played the Mad Decent Block and Boat Party, and he comes to my shows when he can.

DJ Snake kind of put you under his wing, can you tell us about that?
There was a point in time when every single DJ was playing my music. At Ultra, I was the most supported artist with 11 tracks being played by around 9 different DJs and Snake was playing 4 or 5 of my tracks in one set. When he came to play in Jersey, I went to his show and asked him what I had to do to get to the next level. He saw how hungry I was to get there, so I would send him a song and he would tell me to send him five more so I did. Then he would say the same thing “send me five more” and I’d send them, and he just kept asking for more and more. When he saw my persistence and hunger, he took me under his wing.

What keeps you grinding and going at it everyday?
A year ago, I was ready to quit. I went from DJing 3-4 nights a week in Jersey to not being booked at all. The nightlife scene took a fall with clubs closing and Hurricane Sandy had a lot to do with it. It was a rough time, I wasn’t motived, people told me to get a job, I was broke, and I dropped out of school. That was the point I decided I needed to make a change. I literally worked all day-and-night as hard as I could on my music. Looking back, I don’t ever want to be in that spot again. I see where I’ve gotten in a year and want to keep doing more and more.

You’ve been playing for a long time, how do you maintain your creativity?
You have to love it. It’s not a job to me, I just love it. I experiment with different sounds, lots of trial and error, and finding out what sounds good to me.

What is something many people don’t know about you?
I still produce in my dad’s garage in Staten Island. When I go to LA, I’ll produce in some fancy studios, but when it’s grind time I’ll head home to my dad’s garage. People always ask me if I’m going to move to LA, but I honestly get the most done at home (Staten Island). I’ll wake up, work, eat, sleep, and repeat that process.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Hennessy and pretzels.

What is in your DJ bag?
2 laptops, GoPro, needles, USBs, wires, Serato vinyl, and actual vinyl…just in case everything else goes bad.

What words do you have to aspiring DJ/producers?
Really learn what 110% is because there is no such thing as luck. If you work hard enough you will be successful.

What can we expect from you in 2016?
More heat! Lots of songs, big collabs, and more tours.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Thank you for being so loyal and supportive. You guys go crazy at all my shows.

Look for 4B’s latest remix “Look at My Dab” with DJ Mustard, and “Pop Dat” with Aazar, and make sure to see him live when he comes to a city near you.

Follow 4B (New York)
Website: DJ4B.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LIKE4B 
Instagram: @DJ4B
Twitter: @DJ4B 
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/DJ4B