The U.K. hip-hop industry is full of talented artists, but from what I heard from many peers in the business over there it’s tough to blow. One case is due to the market itself and along with that not having the musical outlets with powerful machines like the U.S. Hip-hop always falls back to the DJ at the end of to make and break artist taking them to a new level.

One man who is showing love where he’s at is the U.K. Mixtape Messiah DJ Ames. The savior of U.K. hip-hop scene gives much respect to DJ Ames and while he’s not the biggest in the U.K. you can say he’s on his way. For that matter DJ Ames in all ways possible uses his time to grind as his mixtape series says it like it is “Grind Time”.

You have pretty good resume, especially out in the U.K. You call yourself the U.K. mixtape messiah so from a starting point how it feels being one of the biggest DJ’s out there?

Technically I’m not the biggest DJ in the U.K. The mixtapes in the U.K. are not as big like in the U.S. I’m am one of the biggest DJ’s for doing that putting tapes out, but technically I’m not the biggest.

Well your on the grind so you will be on the way!

Well I came a long way that the average DJ can do. I do think about stuff before I do it and I’m way clever. I do represent the big names, but I like to show love and represent all people. I do it for the ones that ’s grinding hard and ones that people want to see. Basically a lot of DJ’s do that just pick big names and that’s it. They don’t really reach out to many people. They should reach out to many people as possible as you can easily break a person and turn them into superstar. If you got part in that your DJ resume will grow as well. Doing that your name will grow and you will get to a certain level as a DJ.

They say the hip-hop scene out in the U.K. is different compared to the U.S. What’s it’s like out there speaking on your experience from what you say?

There are tons of artists in the U.K, but then a lot of artists out here just disappear they get quiet. Now whether if the label is not treating them right or doing the business properly I don’t know. You don’t see many U.K. artists breaking through unless you do in the U.S., but I don’t know why. It’s just different out there, the mixtape scene is not established out here in the U.K. as it is in the U.S. There is not many mixtape DJ’s and if there are they are not doing it right. It’s about four or five that I know that’s cool people.  I’m still building up my respect and exposure. I think within a years time I will have a lot more reputation that I have now.

You just spoke on the mixtape scene in the U.K. being not as established as it is in the U.S. As a DJ what will you do to take it to the next level?

I’m basically working with more U.S. artists than in the U.K. It depends on how much you can do, give mixtapes out, give good taste. Not enough people do that in the U.K. and that’s why the music scene in the U.K. is not established as it could be. There is a lot of talent here, there is a hell of a lot of talent. It’s just the way you used your talent and the way you show people you got talent. Not a lot of people out here try to do that.

Getting into your history when did you realize you wanted to be a DJ and who was your influence?

I realized it in about 2004 and the biggest DJ in the U.K. is Tim Westwood. I do respect the guy and he’s been on the scene for a hell of a long time. He’s established people in the U.K. as a whole and basically built half the scene in the U.K. That’s why he’s where he’s at now. He inspired me to do what I wanted to do. I want his spot and that’s what at the minute what I’m aiming for is his spot. Through hard work I think I can do it.

You have a popular mixtape series out right now called Grind Time. How did that whole series begin?

Basically last year I did a series called “U.S., U.K. Takeover” and it was just basically U.K. and U.S. I just wanted to do something different as I felt I was on the grind. I’m on the grind constantly and just thought “Grind Time”. I decided to put the U.S. and U.K. as one individual which was better for the worlds. I want to get the artists heard that’s in different cultures all-over the mixtape.

I know for a fact plenty of artist hit you up asking for a spot on your mixtapes. Before you give them that spot what do you look for?

When I go through emails I get a lot of tracks. If it’s on somebody else’s beat they’ve got to kill that beat and I would play the track. Also the quality as a lot of people send me stuff that was not properly recorded like it was in the bedroom. It’s not recorded correctly and you got to spend money to make money. If it sounds decent I will still play it, but a lot of people I do represent have good tracks. Those are the things I kind of watch out for in a mixtape.

How do you go about picking the artists when it comes to hosting the mixtape?

Obviously if he’s grinding and whoever shows me the respect that’s who I go for. I look for someone that will help me push the tape as well. A lot of people they put me on their tapes and you will never hear nothing from them again. People who have good work ethic that’s the people I look for. I look at peoples pages and se if their actually promoting stuff. Myspace is good, but promotion goes a long way.

I was on your MySpace page and would like to know what’s your affiliation with the Slip-N-Slide DJ’s?

I’m no longer a Slipe-N-Slide DJ.

So you have a new crew you running with?

Nah I’m still with Noise Mob DJ’s, Fleet DJ’s, The Real DJ’s all those three crews.

You call yourself the 'U.K. Mixtape Messiah' where did that and DJ Ames come about?

I called my self the U.K. mixtape king originally. I’m the king, the messiah, and I’m doing my thing out here as nobody else is doing what I’m doing. I call myself DJ Ames because basically my real name is James.

Who are some of the other DJ’s in the game you like?

I like DJ Chuck T as I do like southern music and I do listen to his tapes quite a bit. I like DJ Drama as well and I listen to a lot of DJ’s to improve on what I’m doing. I listen to DJ Green Lantern as well. This whole DJ thing you are always learning, because you never get it all of what your doing. You are always learning non-stop.

What’s next up for DJ Ames and final message for Sixshot.com?

I’m dropping mixtapes all year. I got projects dropping with Lil Zane as he’s making a come back in a few weeks. The “Grind Time” tapes is still going and it’s a lot coming this year. The myspace is myspace.com/djamesuk

This interview was conducted and written by Quinton Hatfield for Sixshot.com