Blame it all on the disco ball. Born in 1969 in the city of Dusseldorf, at the tender age of nine Koch succumbed to the seductive charms of black wax. By this time, his family had moved to Frankfurt, and disco had reached its zenith; Koch’s parents plied him with early vinyl compilations, triggering what would become a serious and lifelong collecting streak. T.’s burgeoning obsession went beyond disco and hi N-R-G – Village People, Donna Summer and Evelyn Thomas were soon followed by early rap music (via Grandmaster Flash) and finally – from 1983 – electro funk and its seminal protagonists Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, Newcleus and Mantronix. Their tracks had everything Koch craved: glam, funk, beats and bass. They were the soundtrack to a new dance culture. For Koch, this was love at first sight and he decided to take up breakdancing. Until this day, many of DJ T.’s own productions preserve the musical spirit of this period. Some loves do last forever.
Koch’s career on the decks began with trial stints at private parties back in 1986, which were soon to be followed by his first professional gigs at his own nights in Frankfurt club Nouvelle a year later. He adopted the pseudonym DJ T. – a moniker he retains to this day. Early fare on his turntables: black music in all its variants. Spinning at a range of different clubs in and around Frankfurt, T. soon found himself swept away by the powerful acid house wave that hit the city with the opening of Sven Väth’s Omen in 1988. Koch switched to straight beats to move the crowds with early house, EBM and techno tracks, followed by his first residency at Frankfurt’s seminal Music Hall. Throughout the 90s, he played almost all of the city’s essential clubs, including extended stopovers at Plastik, Dorian Gray and The Box. By now, Frankfurt, one of Europe’s foremost epicentres of electronic dance music, has become indelibly linked with the name DJ T.
Towards the end of the millennium, after a decade of experience organising major events and club nights, Koch felt the urge to make his own vision of a club come true. In 1999, he, Patrik Dechent and others opened their own venue Monza, an intimate and cosy little club situated right in Frankfurt’s city centre. In his capacity as DJ and the one in charge of the club’s overall musical direction, Koch played a decisive part in shaping the profile of this hot-spot as well as that of its Ibizan satellite events for the next five years. Impressive names like Steve Bug, DJ Hell, Ricardo Villalobos and Tiefschwarz were among the venue’s welcome and frequent guests. Run without Koch since 2004, Monza continues to claim its place among Germany’s foremost clubbing locations; operating from its Ibizan offshoot, his former partner Dechent strives to extend the club’s sphere of influence all over the globe.
Moving back in time: In 1989, Koch founded the influential German-language magazine Groove. To this day, it remains Germany’s most important and high-quality publication for the electronic aspects of life, alongside De:Bug. According to Koch, it was all about “creating a magazine that would meet my own needs. I assumed there were many others with similar needs out there.” And history proved him right. Besides serving as Groove’s publisher and editor for fifteen years, he has also contributed to anthologies on club music, among others Localiser 1.0 and Techno.
In 2002, Koch and friends decided to start their own label, Get Physical Music. Within ten single releases the label had gained a worldwide reputation, its popularity and fame spreading well beyond its Berlin base – reaching #4 in the annual Groove reader’s poll of their favourite labels in 2004, Get Physical also claimed the coveted ‘label of the year 2005’ award from British clubbing bible DJ Mag. Ever since, one would be hard-pressed to find a single techno/ house DJ around the world who does not reach for at least one Get Physical track when things get hot.
Featuring six seasoned veterans of electronic music and club culture, the label collective also includes DJ and production team Patrick Bodmer and Philipp Jung (otherwise known as M.A.N.D.Y.) as well as producers and studio owners Booka Shade (Walter Merziger, Arno Kammermeier, Peter Hayo). Focussing on A&R, among other responsibilities, Koch tirelessly scours the scene for new talent and takes care of those already signed and their current productions. And yet, besides all these other activities, Koch still finds the time to pursue his own artistic endeavours.
2000 saw the release of his first production with ‘Monsterbaze’, a Steve Bug co-production on the latter’s Pokerflat label. To this day, in addition to releases on Moodmusic, 20:20 Vision, Pokerflat and Kindisch, Koch has put out a total of sixteen 12’’ singles on Get Physical. In 2005 he unleashed his first album Boogie Playground, a reverential and reference-laden piece of music paying homage to T.’s own past and all those strands of early club music that had shaped his future path. Conjuring the moods that gave classic funk and electro as well as disco, italo and acid house records their good name, Boogie Playground wrapped them all up in contemporary sound design.
In addition, Koch’s talents as a remixer have not gone unnoticed. His interpretations of acts like Spektrum, Mylor or Newcleus plus remixes for labels like ArtofDisco/ Yellow, 20:20 Vision, Simple and Naked Music have moved critics and crowds alike. In 2006, Berlin daily TAZ commented on his first commercially available DJ mix, Body Language Vol. 2: “Koch combines tracks from the most varied of genres...triggering the most disparate of euphoria-soaked locations, he touches on the different waveforms of twenty years of party bliss”. Whether somewhere in Europe or on one of his extensive tours of North and South America, Australia or Asia, T.’s sets are invariably stirring and extraordinarily varied. Koch is most certainly no ‘style fascist’, but rather something like a bass and groove-addicted club historian with a firm grasp of the contemporary. His sets turn 25 years of electronic music history into one fine, homogenous blend, reminiscent of expansive narratives that transform the significant links between genres and ages into a truly physical experience. Yet despite all this inherent party spirit, Koch also knows how to send 6am crowds into veritable danceathons – as anyone who’s heard him play at Watergate, Panorama Bar and Bar25 will attest.
Spring 2009: four years after his debut Boogie Playground, DJ T. returns with his much-anticipated second studio album, The Inner Jukebox, a singular and accomplished set that reflects its maker’s ongoing interest in rigorously re-inventing classic sounds for modern ears and dancefloors.
A co-production with Thomas Schumacher, who used to helm Elektrochemie and now produces acclaimed solo material for Get Physical, The Inner Jukebox is an assuredly mature work, but is notable also for its youthful exuberance and confidence. The Inner Jukebox is not just a mere succession of club tracks, but it is again alive with narrative structures that tell a story, showing a deep respect for the history of electronic dance music and what has gone before.
While Boogie Playground was an exploration of T.’s 70s and 80s influences, The Inner Jukebox draws inspiration from the 90s and is a more focussed adventure. So much house around right now is really just glorified minimal techno, vibe-killing in its meticulousness; by contrast, the tracks which comprise The Inner Jukebox are bold, vivid, expressive. They’re cerebral and carefully crafted, yes, but more importantly they have a bounce and a sexiness to them – also not exactly a hallmark of current house music. T. has always sought to make proper, no-nonsense dance music with real groove at its heart – and The Inner Jukebox finds him fully realizing that ambition. This is no concept album – it’s about quality dance music that will sound great in the club, the car, the home, wherever. So put another dime in the jukebox baby…
Newest tracks: http://www.myspace.com/deejaytea
Philly
DJ T. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I seen up North trips take whole teams South
Pound of meth and coke bricks is what they know we about
Don't make us make you an example, have my bros tweak out
They'll get rid of you quick as samples at a dope fiend house
They say the Fetty's moving down the East Coast like a corridor
Pop said whatever you do don't get caught up in Florida
Chevy Corsica's parked on the corner out recording us, to corner us
Younger hustles nod they head to honor us
Some war with us, others called the law on us
Shit falls on us, it always does
I learned to balance my music family and trapping
You get rich and it all adjusts
I put thirty through your Starbucks cup
Dog my shit just got shot up
But my Explorer ate those like an armored truck
Some people call it street instinct, some call it luck
I call it knowing how to duck
Hook (OT The Real)
Cause there ain't no love in these Philly Streets
Every corner couple killers meet
Old friends become new enemies
Make sure that paper comes direct to me
Cause there ain't no love in these Philly Streets
Every corner couple killers meet
Old friends become new enemies
Make sure that paper comes direct to me
Cause there ain't no love
Verse 2 (OT The Real)
I gave lil bro my strap and told him hold it I'll call him
His man hit me, said he out there with the pole and he drawing
He thought murder and selling dope was his calling
Now he hoping for bond on the cell block and he don't know no one on it
This is when you learn or you just choose to be stuck
I had long talks with lifers who all used to be up
When you a kid, it's cool to be tough
When you get older, tough guys come and go quicker than loot off of drugs
I told Bliz I'm finna do this shit up, I ain't wasting time
I made my mind to do this music fighting major crimes
It's funny how I used to stress over a plate with dimes
Now I'm paid to rhyme , basic minds can't correlate the lines
I played the side and got my money in motion
Silent , they know I'm solid like under the ocean
I seen the work ya'll bagged up and put out, it's insulting
Got all the youngin's outside selling bundles of bullshit
Hook (OT The Real)
Cause there ain't no love in these Philly Streets
Every corner couple killers meet
Old friends become new enemies
Make sure that paper comes direct to me
Cause there ain't no love in these Philly Streets
Every corner couple killers meet
Old friends become new enemies
Make sure that paper comes direct to me
Cause there ain't no love
The song "Philly" by DJ T. featuring OT The Real is a gritty depiction of the harsh realities of life on the streets of Philadelphia. The first verse, performed by OT The Real, paints a picture of drug trafficking, violence, and the code of silence that prevails in the city's criminal underworld. The singer describes how "up North trips take whole teams South" and how they are known for their "pound of meth and coke bricks." He warns his enemies that his "bros will get rid of you quick" and that "shit falls on us, it always does," highlighting the precarious nature of their existence.
The hook, sung by OT The Real, drives home the theme of the song, stating that "there ain't no love in these Philly Streets" and that "old friends become new enemies." He urges his listeners to "make sure that paper comes direct to me," indicating that in this world, money is the only thing that matters.
In the second verse, OT The Real reflects on his own experiences and growth, acknowledging that while he used to be a part of the cycle of drugs and violence, he has now chosen a different path. He talks about how he gave his "strap" to his young friend and how the boy ended up in jail after pursuing a life of crime. He contrasts this with his own decision to focus on music instead of "major crimes." He explains that "tough guys come and go quicker than loot off of drugs," acknowledging the transient nature of street life.
Overall, "Philly" is a powerful exploration of the harsh realities of street life in Philadelphia. It draws attention to the violence, drug trafficking, and poverty that still plague many neighborhoods, while also hinting at the hope and resilience that keep people going.
Line by Line Meaning
I seen up North trips take whole teams South
I have witnessed multiple people from the northern part of the country coming down to the southern part with drugs.
Pound of meth and coke bricks is what they know we about
People in the area are notorious for drug dealing and trafficking.
Don't make us make you an example, have my bros tweak out
If someone tries to mess with us, we will retaliate and our people will go crazy.
They'll get rid of you quick as samples at a dope fiend house
Our crew will eliminate any threats to our business efficiently and without hesitation.
They say the Fetty's moving down the East Coast like a corridor
People are talking about how the drug Fetty is making its way down the east coast at a rapid pace.
Pop said whatever you do don't get caught up in Florida
Someone named Pop warned to stay away from Florida because it is dangerous and risky for our business.
Trappin' off of vacant porches, the house is boarded up
We are doing our deals on abandoned porches and houses with no residents.
Chevy Corsica's parked on the corner out recording us, to corner us
Authorities are keeping an eye on us with cars parked in the area, trying to trap us.
Younger hustles nod they head to honor us
Younger drug dealers respect us and show it by nodding their heads in acknowledgment.
Some war with us, others called the law on us
Some people engage in conflicts with us while others call the police on us.
Shit falls on us, it always does
Problems and responsibilities always fall onto our shoulders.
I learned to balance my music family and trapping
I have learned to manage my music career, family life, and drug dealing successfully.
You get rich and it all adjusts
As you become wealthy, your perspective and lifestyle change.
I put thirty through your Starbucks cup
I will harm someone without hesitation if they interfere with my business, like putting bullets through their Starbucks cup.
Dog my shit just got shot up
My area was recently shot up, possibly by rivals or authorities.
But my Explorer ate those like an armored truck
My car was able to withstand the attack like an armored truck would.
Some people call it street instinct, some call it luck
Some individuals may refer to our survival and success in the drug business as instinct, while others attribute it to luck.
I call it knowing how to duck
I believe our success is due to our ability to avoid problems and danger.
Cause there ain't no love in these Philly Streets
The streets of Philadelphia are heartless and full of danger.
Every corner couple killers meet
There are dangerous and violent individuals present at every corner and block.
Old friends become new enemies
People who were once our friends can easily become our enemies in this dangerous environment.
Make sure that paper comes direct to me
Ensure that all money earned from drug dealing is handed directly to me.
I gave lil bro my strap and told him hold it I'll call him
I gave my younger brother a gun and told him to hold it until I call him.
His man hit me, said he out there with the pole and he drawing
Someone associated with my brother contacted me saying that he had a gun and was ready to use it.
He thought murder and selling dope was his calling
My brother's associate believes that drug dealing and killing is his purpose in life.
Now he hoping for bond on the cell block and he don't know no one on it
Now, he is in jail and hoping to be released on bond, but he does not know anyone in there.
This is when you learn or you just choose to be stuck
Being in jail is when you learn from your mistakes or you continue to make the same choices and remain stuck.
I had long talks with lifers who all used to be up
I have talked to people serving life sentences who were once highly successful in the drug business.
When you a kid, it's cool to be tough
When you're young, it may seem cool to be tough and involved in dangerous activities.
When you get older, tough guys come and go quicker than loot off of drugs
As you mature, being considered tough is not as significant and those who are boastful in this manner often lose influence quickly.
I told Bliz I'm finna do this shit up, I ain't wasting time
I informed my associate that I am going to focus on my music career and will not waste my time elsewhere.
I made my mind to do this music fighting major crimes
I have made the decision to pursue music while balancing the dangers and legal issues associated with drug dealing.
It's funny how I used to stress over a plate with dimes
It's ironic how I used to be concerned with selling small amounts of drugs and now my focus is on music.
Now I'm paid to rhyme , basic minds can't correlate the lines
My music is now profitable and considered a higher priority than selling drugs, but not everyone can comprehend or appreciate it.
I played the side and got my money in motion
I stayed out of trouble and focused on making money through both music and drug dealing.
Silent , they know I'm solid like under the ocean
I keep quiet and secretive about my business, but others are aware that I am reliable and trustworthy.
I seen the work ya'll bagged up and put out, it's insulting
I have observed the inferior quality of drugs that others have been selling, which is disappointing.
Got all the youngin's outside selling bundles of bullshit
I have young associates outside selling fake or low-quality drugs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James D'Agostino, Stephen P. Odell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@futureskeletons66669
Got this the day it came out on vinyl at Fresh Records, Derry. Was a massive fan of Powder Productions, Silicon Soul, Inland Knights, Si Brad, Toko records and Salt City Orchestra at the time and this just fitted into that perfectly. Top notch production, super clean finish. Deep, funky House with a European flavour.
@meowcula
I bought this on vinyl ages ago... lovely to be reminded of it :)
@JimbobThe97
absolute joy
@Ronagery
Dope !
@piakleros
So relaxing.....
@matthawkes1399
Great Tune
@Sr_Pirata
Metro Area vibes
@ebmdj
Duck sauce
@brunogyn1
Low of quality!