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DJ Supreme talks Boss Strutt Riddim, Hijack and staying independent with DJ Sammy Jay
DJ Sammy Jay caught up with DJ Supreme at Itch Radio HQ for a wide-ranging conversation covering his new “Boss Strutt Riddim” project, the early days of Hijack, working with Ice-T and why owning your music still matters.
Supreme may have built his name through some of the most important years of UK Hip Hop, but he is quick to point out that he is not simply looking back.
After spending years working quietly behind the scenes, he is back with new music and a different approach to releasing it.
Boss Strutt Riddim
At the centre of the conversation is Boss Strutt Riddim, a project built around the idea of the rhythm in reggae and dancehall culture. DJ Supreme invited different MCs to put their own versions over the same production.
Masta Ace, Durrty Goodz, Dre Styles, MCM, Dolby D and others bring different flows to the track.
DJ Supreme says he chose the MCs based on how they reacted to the music. For him, the vocal is another instrument, so the flow, lyrics, attitude and energy all need to fit the production.
That approach has produced a project where the same rhythm takes on a different character with every version.
From Hijack to the Present Day
The interview also looks back at DJ Supreme‘s early years, including his involvement with Hijack and the wider UK Hip Hop scene.
Before that, music had already been a major part of his life. He played bass in a reggae band with his cousin and learned classical guitar at school. He also remembers being surrounded by reggae, sound systems and music from a young age.
His introduction to DJing came through Cosmic Jam, who helped introduce him to scratching, digging and the wider DJ culture developing around London.
DJ Supreme describes himself as shy and private during those early years. He often practised in his bedroom while following the city’s DJs and crews.
That changed after a battle with Pogo and Swift, which helped push him directly into the scene. It was not long before the Hijack chapter began.
A Career Beyond Hijack
Although Hijack remains one of the best-known parts of DJ Supreme‘s history, the interview covers much more of his work as a producer.
He talks about his long-running relationship with The IcePick, his work with Ice-T and the Arctic 2 project, as well as the music he has continued to make across different styles.
One of his key points is that he does not want to be restricted to one sound.
His influences range from Hip Hop and funk to rock and film soundtracks. That helps explain the range of his production.
As he puts it, “Don’t put me in a box.”
Taking Control of the Music
DJ Supreme also speaks openly about the modern music industry and the importance of ownership.
He believes independent artists can gain more control by building a direct relationship with their audience. He has taken that approach with Boss Strutt Riddim, releasing the album through Bandcamp rather than putting the full project on Spotify.
DJ Supreme “Boss Strutt Riddim” ft. Masta Ace, Durrty Goodz & More
The album includes multiple versions of the rhythm, a remix from Spats, the original instrumental and acapellas. Vinyl is also planned, continuing a format DJ Supreme says still matters to him.
For an artist who has watched the music industry change across several decades, ownership has become an important part of how he approaches new projects.
From Brixton to Switzerland
DJ Supreme has lived in Switzerland for 26 years, but the move came after music had already taken him around the world.
He remembers Switzerland being the first country he visited through touring, describing the experience as opening his eyes to a world beyond Brixton.
When he eventually relocated, he returned to DJing and built a new network in Switzerland. He went on to become one of the country’s prominent DJs for a number of years, while maintaining his connection to UK Hip Hop.
That distance has not stopped the music. Instead, it has given another perspective on how different scenes develop around the world.
A Piece of UK Hip Hop History
Towards the end of the interview, DJ Supreme talks about Beyond The 16th Parallel and the wider coming together of UK Hip Hop artists around the anti-apartheid movement.
He recalls how different crews and artists came together to create the record. That spirit of collaboration also runs through Boss Strutt Riddim.
Decades after the early UK Hip Hop scene began taking shape, DJ Supreme is still bringing artists together through music.
And this time, he’s doing it on his own terms.
Listen to the full show and Interview below and check out DJ Sammy Jay Live every Saturday from 8pm