DJ King Flow interviews DJ Hoppa for Mixtape Addict 14.

French DJ King Flow has revealed the lineup for his upcoming weekly show, Mixtape Addict, which will also feature an interview with DJ Hoppa. As a prominent entity in the Asian music scene, Scientific Sound Asia operates as a radio station, music news outlet, event organiser, and DJ agency, connecting with a global audience.

DJ King Flow, a talented French artist, has made his mark in the music industry since he was 14 years old. Known for his captivating mixtapes, he has garnered attention and admiration worldwide. His passion for Rap music fuels his creativity, driving him to innovate within the genre and gain respect and acclaim throughout the industry.

Over the years, DJ King Flow has emerged as a leader in music production, constantly pushing the boundaries of sound mixing and fusion. His collaborations with esteemed artists like Ras Kass, Torae, Juicy J, Tragedy Khadafi, O.C., and Khujo Goodie of Goodie Mob demonstrate his versatility and skill in seamlessly blending diverse musical styles into a cohesive experience.

Transcending cultural barriers, DJ King Flow connects deeply with listeners through his music, which is rooted in his love for the genre's rich history. His beats serve as a medium to convey emotions, tell stories, and share experiences. His unwavering dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of musical excellence distinguish him as an innovator in the industry, inspiring and influencing emerging artists and music enthusiasts globally.

Since 2012, DJ King Flow has focused on connecting cities like New York, Dallas, Providence, Miami, and Seattle, working alongside his esteemed partner Young Amsterdam to create a vibrant transatlantic Rap scene. This ambitious project has required extensive travel across the United States to establish connections and foster collaborations beyond geographical boundaries.

Mixtape Addict, launched by DJ King Flow in late 2015, quickly gained international recognition on radio stations around the world. In early 2019, the team embarked on tours across France, Canada, and New York, launching the Mixtape Addict Report, a groundbreaking video interview series featuring conversations with rap legends and global hip-hop stars. This initiative marked a significant milestone in bringing hip-hop radio to a global audience.

Interview Guest: DJ Hoppa.

DJ Hoppa, born Lee Gresh, grew up in Panorama City, Los Angeles, in a musically inclined family. With a trumpeter father and a cellist mother, his path to music was almost inevitable. Unfortunately, he lost his father in 1992, a tragedy that deeply affected him.

Hoppa's journey into music began in high school, where he started experimenting with beat-making and production. His first gig, a house party, marked the beginning of a prolific career. In 2004, he released his debut album, "To April From June," which was funded by friends who recognised his talent.

Joining Funk Volume, a record label founded by rapper Hopsin, was a pivotal moment in Hoppa's career. At Funk Volume, he produced beats for artists like Dizzy Wright and Jarren Benton, contributing to projects such as Dizzy Wright's "The Golden Age" mixtape and Jarren Benton's "My Grandma's Basement." Despite Funk Volume's eventual disbandment, Hoppa's influence in the underground hip-hop scene remained strong.

In 2015, Hoppa released his solo album "Hoppa and Friends," showcasing his versatility and ability to collaborate with a variety of artists. The album combined traditional Hip Hop elements with modern beats, further establishing his reputation as a skilled producer and DJ.

Today, DJ Hoppa is the CEO of Broken Complex, an independent label based in North Hollywood. Under his leadership, Broken Complex has become a nurturing ground for emerging artists, providing a platform for new talent to thrive.

Hoppa's journey, from his early days of beat-making in high school to leading an independent label, is a testament to his resilience and passion for music. His influence continues to grow, leaving a lasting impact on the Hip Hop community.

Episode 14 of Mixtape Addict opens with K.A.A.N and DJ Hoppa delivering Another Play and What Can I Say, setting a tone of sharp lyricism and intricate production. Broadway’s The Come Up and House of Heron’s Golden Tone expand the atmosphere with soulful melodies and experimental undertones. The intensity rises as Black Silver and Ruste Juxx drop Cosmic Spitters 2, a track charged with raw Boom Bap energy and rugged delivery.

The mid-section features powerhouse collaborations like Ransom, V Don, and Conway’s Photobomb and Limitless, followed by Ace Wunda’s reflective Cosmic Truth and Kadiz’s On Point. Swamp Smoke by Crimeapple & Noisy Neighbour and Tribe by Jaykin add darker, underground hip hop textures. Cinema by OSVN and Ermac by Obleak, Mr Hyde & Tone Spliff bring in cinematic production and gritty lyricism, bridging classic and modern underground sounds.

DJ King Flow curates a seamless blend of his own productions, including Salute with Alipone & Hoody Hef, Think About It with Rap-P, and The French Stimulus with Jahan Nostra & DJ Clif, blending technical precision with soulful beats. True Confessions by Tragedy Khadafi & Imam T.H.U.G anchors the set in classic East Coast Rap tradition, while Fire Fresh Produce by Westcoast Mo and The Most by Benny The Butcher add regional diversity and modern grit.

The episode then transitions into an in-depth interview, shifting the focus from performance to perspective. This structure allows the mix to function not only as a curated selection of tracks but also as a platform for understanding the creative process behind the music.

This conversation provides deeper insight into DJ Hoppa’s creative foundations, beginning with his earliest connection to hip hop through tapes, turntables and the technical side of DJ culture. He explains that DJing came first, followed by freestyle sessions, beat-making and recording, describing hip hop as a creative world that kept expanding the more he learned.

His praise for DJ Qbert, DJ Craze, DJ Shadow and DJ Premier reflects that background, particularly his respect for turntablism, digging and sample chopping as forms of expression in their own right.

A major theme in the interview is his view of the changing music economy.

He reflects on the era of burned CDs and mixtapes, including the DatPiff period, as an important time for independent hip hop, but he avoids framing the past as something to cling to. Instead, he acknowledges that artists now have to think strategically, often releasing multiple singles to extend the life of a project in a fast-moving streaming environment. Even so, he insists that the music still has to feel exciting and meaningful to the person making it. For him, the process cannot become purely mechanical.

That balance between discipline and enjoyment runs through much of the discussion. Hoppa describes spending around fifty hours a week in the studio and treating music with the seriousness of a full-time profession, while also stressing that it must still feed the soul.

Consistency, in his view, is essential, but so is maintaining the feeling that the work remains creative rather than industrial. It is a practical perspective, shaped by years of independent work and an understanding that longevity depends on both effort and personal connection to the craft.

The interview also provides valuable context for Broken Complex, the label and creative base he started from a teenage desire to remain independent. He describes its beginnings as entirely grassroots, built without industry backing, advances or major resources, and guided by a refusal to follow the usual routes of showcases and label systems.

That independence was initially slow-moving because it sat alongside everyday work and limited time, but over the years it developed into a fully operational studio based21 in North Hollywood with signed artists, tours and weekly releases. In that sense, Broken Complex represents not just a label but a long-term commitment to building hip hop on self-defined terms.

His thoughts on collaboration are equally revealing. Whether discussing K.A.A.N, Dizzy Wright, Demrick or the possibility of working with European artists, he repeatedly returns to the importance of working with people who can genuinely rap and who share the right outlook.

Technical ability matters, but so does personal chemistry, shared values and a common vision for the music. He presents collaboration not as convenience, but as something that works best when the relationship is genuine and the artistic direction is aligned.

The personal side of the interview gives the conversation a more grounded finish. Hoppa speaks about balancing studio life with fatherhood, describing a routine centred on making music and raising his family.

Rather than presenting grand ambitions, he frames success in simple terms, continuing to create hip hop, staying inspired and keeping that balance intact. Through both the mix and the interview, this episode of Mixtape Addict presents DJ Hoppa as a producer shaped by technique, independence and consistency, with a clear commitment to preserving hip hop as both an art form and a way of life.

Mixtape Addict episode 14.

K.A.A.N & DJ Hoppa - Another Play

K.A.A.N & DJ Hoppa - What Can I Say

Broadway - The Come Up

House of Heron feat. Grupo HNE - Golden Tone

Black Silver & Ruste Juxx - Cosmic Spitters 2

Westcoast Mo - Fire Fresh Produce

Ransom, V Don & Conway - Photobomb

Ransom, V Don & Conway - Limitless

Ace Wunda - Cosmic Truth

Kadiz - On Point

Crimeapple & Noisy Neighbour - Swamp Smoke

Jaykin - Tribe

OSVN - Cinema

K.A.A.N & DJ Hoppa - Rat Race

Obleak, Mr Hyde & Tone Spliff - Ermac

Benny The Butcher - The Most

Grafh, Peedi Crakk, Freeway & Memphis Bleek - Rocafella Chain

DJ King Flow, Alipone & Hoody Hef - Salute

DJ King Flow & Rap-P - Think About It

DJ King Flow, Jahan Nostra & DJ Clif - The French Stimulus

Tragedy Khadafi & Imam T.H.U.G - True Confessions

DJ King Flow - Interview with DJ Hoppa

Listen on Mixcloud here.