Interview: DJ Sku

The idea for a DJ Week on Food Republic started with a simple premise: We asked ourselves, who besides chefs travel the world eating amazing food and drinking awesome cocktails while often staying up all night and partying? The answer came easily enough, but what we couldn't have predicted was the depth of knowledge these guys brought to the table (not to mention the turntables). You can follow along all week as we bring you interviews, food journals and maybe a mixtape or two. First up, DJ Sku.

Los Angeles DJ Corey Aguilar worked out a pretty good formula for amassing a dedicated audience. "I'm a walking handbook of DJ skills," boasts a guy with 15 years of experience. Sku, or Sku Dizzle if you're on familiar terms like we are, helped to establish the Lawrence/Kansas City area's underground dance scene, winning The Pitch's Best DJ Award four years running. In 2006, he toured internationally with Mac Lethal and Atmosphere, and continues to headline across the nation.

Next up for the 2012 Red Bull Thre3Style Kansas City winner: Defending his title and hitting the nationals. With a sponsor like that, who needs energy? But before Sku goes all in, a few food-related questions from us. Dude knows his tacos.

In terms of food, what is your favorite city to visit while on tour?

I live in Los Angeles and I honestly think this is the best place to eat food. LA is so diverse culturally that it makes it hard to even decide what type of food you want to eat after you've decided what "genre" of food you're gonna eat from. But with that being said, Kansas City is probably my favorite place to visit while on tour. They have AMAZING BBQ. Oklahoma Joe's, Gates, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant's...the list goes on. I always make it a point to eat BBQ when in KC.

What are three staples in your refrigerator at home?

Without a doubt I always have sriracha, Virgil's micro-brewed 100% natural cola and homemade salsa.

What is the most exciting thing in there right now?

The most exciting thing right now at this very moment is a package of the most bomb-ass chorizo from the Mexican butcher shop up the street. Chorizo is only good when it comes from a butcher shop. Not the pre-packaged and processed stuff.

Last meal you made at home was...

Baked chicken in Italian dressing with fingerling potatoes.

What's the first food to hit your lips in the morning?

It's either one of three things: a bowl of Apple Jacks, a bacon burrito from Taco Bell (YES, Taco Bell) or a banana.

Do you have any pre-show food rituals or habits?

I always take a shot of whiskey or vodka and have one drink, usually a Red Bull vodka or a vodka-7 with lime. And of course, drink throughout the show because we like to get ratchet.

Last time you bought food from a street cart: what and where?

I got one taco de carne asada, one taco al pastor and a quesadilla de carne asada from TACOZONE. I think they have the best street food in all of LA.

Earliest cooking memory as a child?

I remember for my 5th birthday my family threw a huge birthday bash in my honor. My Dad bought a huge pig (alive, mind you) and they shot it and skinned it and carved it all up and made everything we ate that night. Bacon, chicharrones, tripas, we ate every last ounce of that pig. It was a huge family affair with the men doing all the hard gross stuff and the women cooking and showing the men how it's done, haha! It was AWESOME.

If you get hungry during a set, what kinds of food do you snack on that won't get the equipment all messy?

I've been in this predicament before. I've learned that granola bars or fruit nutrition bars are the way to go. They're easy to carry and store in your DJ bag while on the go.

Have you ever had a really good dinner at a club? When/where?

Yes, a couple years ago in Minneapolis. We played at a spot called Pizza Luce. I know pizza is kinda hard to mess up and it's about as common as burgers are in America, but GODDAMN that pizza was so good! Whenver I'm in Minneapolis, Pizza Luce is the only thing I will eat when I'm there.

Do you have a tour rider?

For tours when I'm touring with hip-hop acts or bands, it's a necessity that boxer briefs and socks are on the rider at every tour stop. There is a good reason behind it. There's kind of an unwritten rule that nobody on the bus or tour van pack boxers or underwear or socks of any kind. They stink up the vehicle and clothes and make touring miserable. A brand-new pack of undies and socks is an amazing feeling while on the road. It's the little things....

More DJ Week on Food Republic: