DJ SMV
Mel James, more commonly known as DJ SMV (born November 11, 1978, Tokoroa) is a Samoan, Cook Island turntablist, DJ and composer. James currently resides in Hamilton, NZ. He is often referred to as the mix-tape king of the NZ underground, known for his signature street style and exclusive music with rappers through out New Zealand.
SMV is a member of Hamilton hip hop crew 4 Corners and Villains collective. He is currently co-host of the LRG Hip Hop Show on Contact FM 88.1. SMV has toured with Savage, DJ Sir-Vere, Young Sid, Nesian Mystik, Adeaze, Katchafire, Chong Nee & Mr Sicc, to name a few.
In August 2011 he created the Hamilton City Hip Hop Facebook page, and released his first album as an MC, Soul Train'd.
Mixtapes
- 2003 F**k Music - BreakinWreckwordz
- 2005 Stealth Mode
- 2006 What you in it 4? - 44Meta4z
- 2006 Transitions - 4Corners
- 2007 Stealth 3
- 2007 Loose Cannon from the creek - DZIAK
- 2007 Speed of Sound vol.3 - Young Sid & Ethical MTC
- 2008 All Aspects - Lo Money
- 2009 Tha Ghetto Blast (previously completed 2008)
- 2010 On Deady Grounds - Mr Sicc
- 2010 I don't give a Damn - Mr Sicc
- 2010 Gettin' Mine - Tha Movement
- 2010 Sixteen Sixteen's - Basic One
- 2010 Killemwitsteez Vol.1 - Paakz
- 2010 Get Ready - Sir-T
- 2010 Shakedown Vol.1 - Iceman
- 2010 How the West was won - Paakz & Albino
- 2010 Paper Chase - Tyson Tyler
- 2010 Albino A.K.A Willy Buck - Albino
- 2010 Tha Killa & Tha Lunatic - SiccFace
- 2010 Back yard home grown - Tha Movement
- 2010 Episodes of a hustla - Mr Sicc
- 2010 Return of tha BOOM vol.1
- 2010 Funk Villains
- 2010 Stealth 4
Words from DJ Sir-Vere:
- “There is a bunch of new school mix-tape DJ’s and one of the best is DJ SMV” DJ Sir-Vere. DJ Sir-Vere Blog 17 July 2009.
- “DJ SMV is top 5 mixtape DJs in NZ, that’s my word” DJ Sir-vere Ripitup Blog, 3 Aug, 2010
Featured artists on SMV tapes include: David Dallas, PNC, Cyphanetik, AL, Louie Knuxx, Ethical, Usual Suspects, Tourettes, Askew, Albino, Ermehn, Juse1, Temple Jones, USOuljah, 4 Corners, Tyson Tyler, Hyclass, Tyna, JB, 44Meta4z, Tha Wanderers, Young Sid, Dziak, Heavytrade, Jay Roacher, Pakkz, Neesh, Chong Nee, Percieve, Mr LT, Jet-G, Kalisima, Ebony Fields, Nikki Montana, P-Money, J-Star, Blaize Murphy, Scribe, Tha Movement, Face Killa, R.E.S, Flowz, Seka, Mission, BasicOne, Sir-T, Derty Sesh, Tyree, Deach, Smashproof, Delani Jae O.
Battle History
- 2001 NZ DMC NORTH 2nd
- 2001 NZ ITF NORTH
- 2001 NZ DMC FINAL 2nd
- 2002 NZ DMC NORTH
- 2002 NZ DMC FINAL
- 2003 NZ ITF NORTH 2nd
- 2003 NZ ITF FINAL 3rd
- 2003 NZ DMC 2nd
- 2003 NZ DMC FINAL 3rd
- 2004 NZ DMC FINAL
Extra Info
- SMV raps/freestyle/write/compose music and performs live.
- Recorded & produced an album/double mixtape worth of material with The Wanderers between 2005 - 2007.
- Co-founder of NZ's longest running open mic night 'The Lyricist Lounge' - Catalyst club, Hamilton 2001 - 2006
- Remixed P-Money's 'Expedition' featuring 4 Corners for the 'Rap Related Mixtape' - 4 Corners 2004
- Former ITF & DMC NZ Finalist 2001 - 2004 (Top 5 NZ for most of his season)
- Has been in battles judged & by Atrak (Kanye West DJ), Infamous (Producer for Lil Wayne, Fat Joe etc) DJ Klever (2 x US DJ Champ), Craze (3 time world DMC champ), DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Mixologists.
- Favorite food - Sushi
- Learnt the flare scratch from DJ Kerb, Wellington 2002
- Featured on DJ Sir-Veres Major Flavors vol.2, 2002 - Universal
