Allow me to reintroduce myself: DJ Maseo of De La Soul

Gain more insight into significant hip-hop figures by checking out their revealing answers to our questionnaire.

Canadian turntablist phenom Skratch Bastid has put together a monthly showcase at the Revival Bar in Toronto for hip-hop talent that inspires him, and he recently went out on a limb, inviting DJ Maseo of the legendary De La Soul to take part. The lucky Bastid had his dreams fulfilled, as Maseo will be in the house on Friday, Aug. 31, stoked to leave his Florida home and come back to Canada.

“I mean, Toronto has always been very supportive of every aspect of hip-hop, new and old,” Maseo (a.k.a. Vincent Mason, Mase, Plug Three, P.A. the Pasemaster) explains. “I like the fact that Canada keeps an open mind when it comes to music. It’s a great place to perform, a great place to DJ. There’s definitely something in the air in Toronto and I like to visit.”

It’s a rare break in Mase’s busy schedule, which includes at least two current recording projects. He’s hard at work on a solo album called DJ Conductor, which has already yielded a popular single featuring Mac Miller called “I Bring the Soul He Brings the Funk.” And then of course, there’s De La, who, earlier this year, announced that its new album is titled You’re Welcome and, according to Maseo, is coming along “pretty good.”

“Every where we go, the fans always say ‘thank you’ for what we’ve done,” he says, explaining the LP’s title. “‘Thank you for the music you’ve made,’ ‘Thank you for staying together and 25 years of your efforts in hip-hop,’ so we decided to call the album, You’re Welcome.”

Here is DJ Maseo tackling our questionnaire.

What was the first hip-hop record you ever bought and where'd you get it?

It was T La Rock, “It’s Yours.” I bought it at a record shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I forgot the name of it but it was definitely off of Myrtle Avenue. I remember hearing it on Mr. Magic’s radio show. Just the whole idea of the beat, the lyrics and the scratching all on one record — that was the record that pretty much inspired me to wanna make records.

Where did the name that you perform under come from exactly?

My last name is Mason, so that’s where you get Mase and Maseo. The whole P.A. System, Pasemaster, that was something that I got from my crew. Plug Three is another code name. All our code names and nicknames, y’know, you get them from your friends. Obviously, I got Plug Three off of the chant, "Plug One, Plug Two and Plug Three."

What was the last book you read and how was it?

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. It’s my second time reading it. It’s a pretty cool study guide based on having conversations that can be pretty sticky on all different levels. Y’know, trying to have conversations that you normally would avoid. I think that’s a situation we all find ourselves in, not trying to discuss anything that might be too personal some times or even embarrassing to your blood.

Where is your favourite place to eat on planet Earth and what are we having?

Oh man. I can’t say I have a favourite place to eat. I guess at home, really. I guess we’d have a porterhouse. I like steaks. I don’t eat 'em all the time and I like them really best cooked at home. I don’t think anybody can cook a steak better than myself or my wife or my mother-in-law. There’s just a certain way that it’s cooked here and it’s to my liking.

Which artist, living or dead, would you most like to collaborate with and why?

Well, the person that I would love to collaborate with that’s alive is LL Cool J. LL, to me, has been one of the most fierce MCs in the business. Still, pretty much to this day, holds his notoriety as being one of the best MCs. He just made great music and he’s one of the people I’ve been inspired by all these years. Great performer, great delivery on the mic, made great records. I think I could make a hit record with LL.

Skratch Bastid Presents DJ Maseo at the Revival Bar in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 31.