Philip Kochan a.k.a. Phil K Swift™ (that’s me) grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois U.S.A. during the Atari, Pac Man, Donkey Kong, and original wave of “breakers” generation.
In the early 1980’s, It was at the roller rink that I learned about Disco/Soul and R n B, (now they call it house music), the DJ mixes, Cool cat fashion, and Breakin’; it was a place where I turned from a kid to a cat; a hip-cat.
When Break-dancing took over Chicago and the USA during the early 1980’s, it was all I did 6ththru 9th grades
My break crew and I hit up the malls, parks, street corners, and roller rinks and threw down with breakin’ every freakin’ day. It wasn’t just a hobby, it was and IS a way of life. A B-boy way of life.
As a young B-boy, I began collecting 12-inch dance records, which is a must for any true B-boy/girl. This vinyl addiction sparked my main path in life; a real deal turntable DJ.
In the mid 1980’s, Breakin’ was growing overseas and as House music and DJ-ing became de rigueur, the tables began to turn - literally. While I still vowed to remain a B-boy and keep on breakin’ for the rest of my life, I bought my first pair of Technic 1200 turntables during the summer of 1985 and I have been DJ-ing and Breakin’ ever since.
In 1986, I started mixing at dance parties (now they call them raves) where I played House music, Freestyle, Italo, Disco, Hip-Hop, Hip-House, and Techno music and was sure to be seen mixing, tricking, scratching, beat juggling, and Breakin’ every weekend.
Ultimately, it wasn’t enough for me to just spin at parties and clubs, the competitive B boy in me had to prove that I was the best DJ around. I entered numerous DJ battles throughout the years: DMC DJ battles, A Chicago radio-station mixer search, Nightclub DJ competitions, and “One-off” dance parties were among the places that I had entered and won many DJ battles.
I have held top nightclub and teen club residencies and have DJ-ed nationwide but now I’ll give it to you straight. The one thing that has always stood out about me is that I can Trick, Scratch, Mix and Funk the heck out of any set of turntable decks with a DJ ear that was developed in Chicago during the original wave of breakin’ and house music.
When you come watch me mix live, you might even catch me jump away from the decks for a minute and throw down with breakin’ right on the stage or on the dance floor with the crowd, this is why many B-boys/girls like to follow my DJ sets.
Even though many “DJs” have abandoned turntables, I have remained a staunch devotee to the turntable. Phil K Swift is a turntable DJ for life. I sleep with records under my pillow. If you want to book this “real deal DJ” for a gig, you best be sure to have turntables on your stage or in your DJ booth. And my crowd loves it, they always know that I am really mixing live, aint no jive.
I have finished writing other “Phil K Swift” novels that will be released soon. However, I am waiting for you, the reader, to make your comments and reviews for this novel before I release the next.
Go to Philkswift.com, Facebook.com/djphilkswift, or search Phil K Swift online to follow all of the action.
Philip Kochan a.k.a. Phil K Swift is married with five kids, has two dogs, and lives in Chicagoland USA and is coming to a store, library, nightclub, festival, event, and a movie theater near you soon.
GET READY! It is On – On like Donkey Kong!
