Warped
Tour Feature:
Mr.
Dibbs on baby wipes: “I mean they have showers, but
some days you’re just like ‘…Why?’
By the end of the day you see baby wipes and it just makes
more sense.”
Atmosphere
Interview w/ Mr. Dibbs
Sat. August 7, 2004
Randall's Island NY
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Cityzen:
Could you introduce yourself and your role in Atmosphere?
Mr.
Dibbs:
I am Mr. Dibbs from Atmosphere and I do the beats for Atmosphere.
CZ:
So how did you guys get started? What first lured you into hip-hop?
Mr.D:
For me it’s the same story every DJ will tell; I saw DSP
on MTV and that’s what made me want to become a DJ. That
and there was a The Clash video called “Radio Clash”
and that kind of sparked my interest.
CZ:
So are you guys all from Minnesota? How did you guys all meet
up to form Atmosphere?
Mr.D:
I have an event in Cincinnati called Scribble Jam, and that’s
where I met Slug. That was around ’96, and Atmosphere had
been a group since ’91, sort of a rotating lineup, people
coming in and out, but Slug was always the main guy. Well, actually,
he was the DJ and eventually he ended up being the lead MC and
different DJs would come and go. Then we met and just kind of
fell into it. Shawn (Slug) is from Minnesota, Ant’s from
Minnesota, and I’m from Cincinnati.
CZ:
Why did you guys choose Epitaph, a mainly punk label?
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Mr.D:
It was the best deal for what we were trying to do. It wasn’t
like they were going to tell us to do this type of song
or that type of song; we pretty much were given free range
with our music. Also, Epitaph has really good distribution
- that’s what it is, a distribution deal.
CZ:
You guys were on Warped last year too. How does this year’s
Warped compare to last year’s? You guys are playing
a bigger stage this year and drawing a bigger audience,
definitely.
Mr.D:
I think it has a lot to do with the Epitaph deal. Kids that
listen to everything Epitaph are out there supporting us
so you’ll see the kid with the big Mohawk in the front
row, which is unusual but awesome. There were always a lot
of punk rock and indie kids at the shows… somehow
we managed to attract that crowd as well as the hip-hop
crowd.
CZ:
I read that you guys have a huge chick following?
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Mr.D:
(laughs) Well that has more to do with Slug than anything else.
CZ:
Who’s your following?
Mr.D:
All the hardcore kids I guess. Shawn (Slug) gets all the girls
and I get all the guys and the girls who are like “Wow look
at all the tattoos and piercings.” I get all the assholes
and Shawn gets all the nice girls (laughs).
CZ:
Can you handle the assholes?
Mr.D:
Oh yeah I can. I don’t mind at all.
CZ:
What’s one set besides your own that you would suggest checking
out at Warped?
Mr.D:
Underoath are really good. There are a lot of bands that
were on the tour but aren’t on it anymore. The main
stage bands are all very good, and seeing them live in front
of all these people is definitely an experience, but there
are some great bands on the smaller stages making some noise.
CZ:
Where do you see mainstream hip-hop going?
Mr.D:
Nowhere (laughs). Well, actually, it depends on who we’re
talking about. There is a lot of mainstream hip-hop that
I like. I like Jay-Z. That’s about as emo as it gets;
the whole last album is about his life. It’s not that
far removed from what we’re doing, it’s just
a different context…it’s more accessible to
a lot of different people. We don’t listen to that
much hip-hop on the bus because that’s all we hear,
especially on a regular tour. That’s all we hear so
when we get back to the bus it’s a lot of Johnny Cash,
more mellow stuff.
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