From Mixtapes to Streaming: A Conversation About Hip-Hop, DJ Culture & Music's Evolution with DJ Mello

In Episode 2 of No Matter What, It's Okay, ITS KY sits down with legendary Long Island DJ DJ Mello for a conversation that every hip-hop fan, music lover, and aspiring creator needs to hear.

From carrying record crates and burning mixtapes by hand to breaking records in New York clubs and navigating today's streaming era, DJ Mello shares the journey that built his career—and why the grind behind the music mattered just as much as the music itself.

The conversation dives into the golden era of mixtapes, the unforgettable New York nightlife scene, breaking artists before social media, the impact of technology on DJ culture, and why relationships—not algorithms—once determined who became stars.

KY and DJ Mello also debate some of today's biggest music conversations, including:

• Is streaming helping or hurting music?

• Can any artist ever surpass Michael Jackson?

• Jay-Z's Roots Picnic appearance and the State Property reunion

• Hip-hop beef in the social media era

• Drake's place in music history

• Why today's DJs have it easier than ever

• The hustle it took to build a name before the internet

Whether you remember standing in line at record stores or only know music through playlists, this episode bridges generations with stories, perspective, and plenty of laughs.