Kirk
Kirkpatrick, otherwise known as DJ Wicked, scratches during Wicked
Wednesdays at Jezebel's in Southeast Portland.
"DJ
soothes that midweek chafing"
For the Portland Tribune, 8/10/01
by Malik Qadr
So
you're
sitting at home on a Wednesday at 11 p.m. wondering, "Where
is the party?" or "How can I stop this itch?" The
answer to one of your questions is that the party is at Jezebel's
in Southeast Portland.
That's where all-star Portland party hero DJ Wicked has been spinning
his vast collection of wax for the better part of two years. If
you are a B-boy or girl, still listening to those lame Master P
albums, what you need is a dose of Wicked's underground, butt-shaking
grooves. Mr. Wicked -- a.k.a. Kirk Kirkpatrick -- will do his best
to disarm you with his weapons of sound.
The 27-year-old Benson High School graduate has been doing his thing
since 1992, when he first received inspiration from DJs Aladdin,
Miz and Joe Cooley, among others. In Portland, he has worked with
hip-hop acts Cool Nutz, Emerge MC's, Alter Echo, LifeSavas, Innernational
Crew, Audio Orphanz and G-Izm.
Few local DJs can say that they have opened for such big name acts
as the Wu-Tang Clan, Eminem, The Roots, Alkaholiks and E 40. Wicked
also has opened for less well-known groups such as Planet Asia,
The Grouch, Live Human and Blackalicious.
From his day job in a Portland print shop, Kirkpatrick describes
why he likes the space at Jezebel's. "It's not like a club,"
he said. "It's more like you're hanging out in someone's basement.
Everyone from skaters to alternative kids show up."
DJ Wicked thinks the current state of radio-friendly hip-hop is
"completely screwed up." Despite the sorry state of mainstream
hip-hop, he also thinks that things are getting better and people
are starting to seek out music with a message.
There's a lot of good music here," he says. "You've just
got to dig a little deeper to find the good stuff."
If you want to taste the bass on Wicked Wednesday, you'll be listening
to some of the best scratches this side of the Mississippi. It just
might help you with that itch.
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