Behind the Music miniseries: DJ Semtex on gaining Drake's trust and the tortured genius of Kanye West

Straight Up

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3+ y ago 1:03:08

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How do you bag the only interview with Drake, and get Kanye to open up to you?

DJ Semtex’s interviews are the stuff of legend, so over a bottle of Semtex’s favourite drink – Ruinart champagne – Straight Up quizzed him on how he gets the biggest names in music to open up to him and nobody else, his most amazing behind-the-scenes anecdotes with everyone from Travis Scott to J Cole, and his surprising interview fails.

Semtex also revealed who from the UK rap scene throws the most iconic parties, how he’d pulled together a Drake interview at a DM’s notice and what he thinks of cancel culture, including which artists and songs he no longer feels comfortable playing in his sets. In this episode, Semtex and Straight up also discuss the damaging impact of fame on artists’ mental health, and the complicated and corrosive nature of artistic genius.

This episode of Straight Up has two incredible sponsors. First up, Pioneer DJ, the biggest DJ focused electronic hardware brand in the business, stocking everything from players, mixers and controllers to speakers and headphones, and where every DJ, producer or music lover in the know gets their kit. For DJs just starting or music fans after studio quality sound at an affordable price, then check out Pioneer DJ’s new (and super compact) HDJ-CUE1 headphones. Head to Pioneerdj.com

Our second sponsor is the unbeatable Bleecker Burger – winner of the National Burger Award and hands down London’s juiciest burger (don’t believe us? Check out its mouthwatering Instagram). Excitingly for those not lucky enough to live near one of Bleecker’s London restaurants for local delivery, Bleecker has now launched an epic range of DIY burger kits for delivery nationwide, which includes a full bottle of Bleecker's signature house sauce for you to enjoy long after the burgers are gone. That’s our Friday night sorted...forever. Head to Bleeckerburger.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy

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