Interview with DJ CityRich: The Multi-Talented Creative Being who toured with GZA, R.A. The Rugged Man & A-F-R-O

Peace CityRich, how have you been? First of all I want to thank you for taking the for this interview. We came in contact through the track we did with Innocent?. Your name already sounded familiar in my ears at the time! You DJ'ed for names like GZA, A-F-R-O and RA the Rugged Man. I would like to talk with you about that!

First of all, can you introduce yourself briefly to the people that don't know you?

First, Peace and thanks to Innocent and you for the collaboration and this Interview. Let me introduce my self as Dj CityRich. How did I get the name? It all started when I got affiliated with the Wu Crew in late 90s -2000.  Many thought I was pretentious with wealth. It was much more simple than that. Gza would say to did you catch up with Rich? They be like Rich who. Rich from the city. Ooh yea CityRich,
So that’s how I got the name.

How did you start DJing? In which year and who were/are your inspirations?

So early 90s my inspirations were mix tapes. Chill Will was one my favorite series of tapes to get. But if you were a tape head you’d get all the new cats Ron g, Rr ,Craig g, Flex , doo wop. They were all special.
It wasn’t long after that that I started collecting records. And bought equipment to practice and play.

How did you managed to be GZA's tour DJ? Can you tell me how you guys connected and what was the international touring like?

Great question. I also ask myself how to f*** I got in this position. Well, one day I got a call from a friend saying he needed turntables and a mixer for an event he was hosting. It was a small town and it was at a time no one had any tables or mixer to rent. And couldn’t be any old turntable. They requested technique 1200s. And a Vestax mixer which is exactly what I had. He tossed me some cash and then asked if I wanted to open. I said: 'sure for who' and he says Gza. I was like 'Wtf'. Anyways: damn, I played my ass off at the show. Gza was super late. And crowd was getting anxious. I was prepared for a couple hrs but not 4. I was definitely put to the test. Beyond my Belief Mathematics sneaks up behind me hand me a record says drop this when he gives me the queue. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Math gives me the que. I was about to exit stage and he asked me to stick around. Now question. That I did. First Dreddy Krueger jumps on stage then Prodigal son Priest . Then Gza crowd went wild. After the show I was invited to the green room. Where Dreddy , prodigal and Gza were like we were listening to you,  you played some fire we all chilled smoked exchanged numbers and went our ways. Months later I got a call from Gza asking if I wanted to play his first Europe liquid swords show. And it was on from there. 2002-2003 ish. And performed all GZA’s Europe tours till about 2009.
If anyone caught a live Gza show in Europe in between those times more then likely it was me.

You also DJ'ed for A-F-R-O and RA the Rugged Man. How did you managed to get to them?

Well, one of GZA’s hype men Dreddy Krueger was good friends with R.A.
R.A was doing a bunch of shows no DJ. Dreddy told home to step up his game and use me. I bugged Rugged a bit till he finally caved in we toured Us and Europe. And in 2018, R.a was bringing A-F-R-O on his first tour, I was invited Europe at that time already so I hopped on with R.a , A-F-R-O, and Locksmith.  It was a great tour.

You are also a DJ as in recording artist DJ. You do scratches and cuts on tracks. Any special names you worked with or would like to work with?

Producer Krohme was first to put together some track with some minimal cutting. I was never a scratch chemist. And the skill level of DJ's nowadays is alien like.  But I still get asked and will happily do my best. It’s all in good practice.
Our track Da Block with Innocent.
And unsure if it’s gonna be used or not but I have something out with Chubs in the works.

I noticed you have various creative outlets and also do modeling and photography. How did you get into that and can you tell something about those skillsets as well?

That’s a whole other interview . But what’s paid my record and equipment habit in the beginning. Was a modeling career that started off being scouted skateboarding in Miami Beach. Then sent right into the Italian fashion industry. I did pretty well for myself. With a highlight of being the character idea as Hansel for Zoolander, in which I taught Owen Wilson for a month the ins and outs of the Business.

Any news or projects that the fans should know something about? What do you have coming up?

Well besides this little things with Chubs “shameless plug'' but Chubs is on Europe tour with I’ll bill starting May 8th. If you can catch that, you won’t be disappointed. What I’ve been paying attention to in priority lately is the fans. My ig @dj_cltyrich has a lot of new and unheard talent.
That I try push on a daily basis . And I have an acquired taste. You may become a fan. At least hoping so!

Thank you for your time! Where can the people find you on social media?

The best way would be @dj_cityrich on ig.
Thank you again on this opportunity and interview.  Peace for now!!!