Goldfinger is a highly regarded DJ among New York music circles with a history that goes back to Brooklyn’s landmark record store Beat Street, where he was in the in-store DJ and music buyer for one of the most influential shops in hip-hop culture. He is one of the city’s premier DJs having provided music at events for Heidi Klum, Nas, Oprah, Eddie George, P.Diddy and DJ’ed alongside the late Jam Master Jay, Mark Ronson, Kid Capri, & Funkmaster Flex while keeping a weekly residency at Lotus. On February 7th, Goldfinger is going to dig into a record library dating back over 20 years, taking the dancefloor on a one of a kind journey. For now, sit back as we take you on a trip to Brooklyn to tap a little deeper into the musical history of a NYC legend.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO DJ?
My family, particularly my moms. She always played music around the house and gave me the chance to man the record player while she had company. Playing for her and her friends was special just because I got to see their emotions immediately after playing "their" song! I've loved that magical feeling ever since.

Whodini was also my upstairs neighbors so that was surreal in itself. They were huge early so I always felt that hip-hop was tangible.


WHAT WERE THE RADIO SHOWS AND DJS THAT INFLUENCED YOU?
I listened to the radio non-stop. Slept by it on many occasions. Red Alert and Mr. Magic, Marley Marl were in constant rotation. Frankie Crocker also was a big influence. He broke major records like Soul II Soul (which was an import ) and Hall and Oates. He made it cool to go with records that you liked and felt strongly about regardless of genre or even the race of the artist.

WHAT CLUBS HAD AN INFLUENCE ON YOU?
The clubs that was popping when I wanted to go out was the Underground, Paradise Garage, Union Square. Later it was Latin Quarters. I never experienced those because of my age and even if I was old enough I don't think I was mentally ready for the scene. I lived vicariously through the older cats in my hood who went. They would share the events and kind of translate it to me.

They used to simulcast a lot from the clubs back then so I got the music aspect but not the attitude or rush of actually being there. Or the performances, which totally sucked ass for me!

I remember when I first started going out I could score alcohol pretty easy but I wanted to get a good looking fake I.D. for (getting into) the clubs. Most of the clubs didn't have alcohol but had the best music at the time. Sound Factory, Wild Pitch. No liks! Kiliminjaro's, MK's did.
All different styles of spinning but they all played everything from the top dj's of the time: Clark Kent, Red Alert, Junior Vasquez, Sting Intl. etc.



HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB AT BEAT STREET?
I got the job because I worked at several record stores in downtown Brooklyn before Beat Street stepped up. They remembered me shopping there a lot and I said yes.

DID YOU HAVE FREE REIGN TO DJ THE RECORDS YOU LIKED IN THE STORE OR DID THEY WANT YOU TO PUSH CERTAIN THINGS?
Beat Street was a retail dream. We shaped the tastes and libraries of so many customers and DJs. The store was exciting because everything was played by the jocks there and was introduced to the customer from a DJ perspective. The NY scene was vibrant because everyone listened to everything, played everything and was nice with the wheels. Now it’s just the same 10 records. The customer (back then) wanted to feed their library with good music and stuff that would appreciate with time. Not bootlegs and poor sounding quality stuff. Whether old or new, it had to be good.

WHAT'S THE TOP 5 RECORDS YOU REMEMBER "BREAKING" OUT OF BEAT STREET TO BECOME POPULAR OR BECOME CLASSICS? ANYTHING YOU FELT YOU HAD A DIRECT HAND IN BREAKING BY PLAYING IT, BUYING IT, TALKING ABOUT IT?
Jay-Z before securing his major label deals, sold his records and tapes on consignment to us. Biggie broke through the mixtape phenomenon that we cultivated at the store. The store also showcased his first appearances before his deal. Wu-Tang was the strangest. RZA (Prince Rakeem at the time) and Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P) hand delivered the first copies of "Protect Ya Neck" to yours truly at Beat Street in hopes of selling it in the store. I played the record and was floored. I asked Dirty if he had any more he said 'about 50 in the car'. I said 'that's all'! He said, 'how many do you want'? I said 'all the records you got pressed' ! His look was priceless. The records were all sold that day. At least 2 to my man DJ Riz who was there and 300 more when Dirty came back an hour later.
True story!

WHAT WAS THE STATE OF NY RADIO WHEN YOU WERE AT BEAT STREET?
Hot 97 has broken too many artists to name. A lot of major artists got their first shine on the station. They make history. College Radio did too. Stretch & Bobbito, Awesome 2, Riz & Avee, Underground Railroad, Mayhem, Mecca, DNA & Hank Love also had major impact on the scene at the same time. Whereas Hot hit you with the single, those stations hit you with LP cuts and freestyles, so you got a view on how an album would possibly sound in context with records getting played regularly. That's what is missing now. By the time you hear talk of an album, you are so sick of the single....


IT SEEMED LIKE IN THE LATE 80'S AND EARLY 90'S DJS IN NYC HAD TO BE REALLY WELL ROUNDED, KNOWING THEIR HIP-HOP, HOUSE, CLUB/DISCO CLASSICS AND REGGAE - WHAT WERE SOME OF THE RECORDS FROM THESE DIFFERENT GENRES THAT EVERY DJ HAD TO HAVE IN THEIR CRATES?
You had to have different genres in your crate. You had to be able to play everything. Cut, scratch, and play differently from others. Regional records were a must. Luke, Pharcyde, Geto Boys, Junkyard Band, Rare Essence, Ten City. Different genres but we listened to it all.

As a DJ you HAD to be NICE, well versed and immeresed in the music, which would lead to discovering other music, Danny Krivit is a prime example, he was primarily a House DJ but he always spun rare records, fundamentals, old school classics, he always killed it!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PARTIES YOU REMEMBER DJING AT? 
My favorite party to date was a Cornerstone Mixtape 50th CD Anniversary Party @ Lotus. I didn't think I was going to do that well. People still bring up this party to this day, I've met people who can still remember the records I played, what I was wearing, etc. I came on after Tony Touch, I dropped my signature Goldfinger intro,