So are you out DJing live again?

I'm getting back to it. It's really watered down now with this garbage music and cats that didn't come up in that golden era. It's just not the same. It's all about the money and that's what kills it. I was never all about the money. We did it for the love. That's why you're asking me about scratches at 3am my time.

I still have that mentality - do it for the love and the rest will follow. I bounce around on the club tip but cats don't want to pay. They know the time but they're funny wit' the money. Then you have so many dudes that will say "Hey I'll spin for $50". That kills the market. Promoters here aren't loyal. And that's worldwide I'm sure - they all shady.

Are Philly crowds harder to impress because they have so many quality DJs on their doorstep?

Well the vibe is that they haven't done what we've done so they hate. They hear me talking about going overseas and calling from overseas and they can't take it. It's too much for them to comprehend. And bringing shit back for cats, like cigars and whatnot – it blows their minds. Then they see the video of me walking down the street in Japan or something, or watching the sun set in Thailand - it freaks them out.

How often do you get to tour overseas these days?

Whenever I set something up. Like I said I took my first break in the past two years, you know so I could make sure my kid was cool. But now I'm on my grizzly. I'm talking to some people in Ireland and Spain right now on doing some dates over there.

Are you still involved with the local scene in Philly? [Tat had been watching an MC battle between local crews Ice City and Take Down]

A bit. I'm still looking for that next hot cat. That's what I started doing mix CDs for - not the money. That's one of my dreams - put someone out and get that plaque. The love don't die.

Do you ever see any of the old crew? Three Times Dope? Kwame?

Saw Wood last week; talked to Chuck about two weeks ago. Those are my peoples man. Chuck Nice is still making music and wants me to shop some tracks for him. He's still nice.

EST is writing mad shit now. He did five cuts with Beyonce – co-wrote 'Baby Boy' and 'Me, Myself and I'. Kwame is producing. He did Lloyd Banks 'On Fire', Tweet's new single, and now he's working with Janet Jackson.

And Steady B?

I just saw him like two months ago - of course you know he's in jail. He's been there for nine years. So sad. It was killing me to see him like that. But I heard he was doing that for a while before they got caught. Mad people were telling me about it. I was on the street moving my mix CDs and I would hear it all day. I was uninterested. That's something that I didn't want to hear. That catches up to you in a hurry. My whole camp went to jail for basically the same thing.

Sounds like you run with a pretty wild crew.

Ran. Past tense. I'm not trying to see the inside of a jail cell. Not my style. I love women too much. And of course my baby girl. That's my strength.