Feb 16 2024 57 mins
Part 1 of 2 from Dr. Campbell's interview with the Nostalgia King, Skeme Richards for our Champions of the Culture: Modern Advocates Preserving Black Music special season. When you think of Philadelphia’s rich history of musical contributions, you instantly notice that it is also a city known for birthing some of the greatest internationally known DJ’s who are masters of their crafts. One such person who has deep roots and connections to the City of Brotherly Love is Skeme Richards. What started as a hobby in the early 80’s has turned into an amazing musical career taking him across the globe as a professional DJ and music connoisseur to play for events small and large, from night clubs to festivals, art galleries to film premieres and even to play guest spots on both independent and commercial radio.
Digging and spinning genres across the board, from Hip Hop to House, Funk & Soul classics to Disco, Jazz and beyond, Skeme keeps things classic and refreshingly new while continuously striving to separate himself from the pack. While maintaining originality in his brand, he keeps his first class status as a true party rocker all while satisfying and educating the partygoer at the same time. Quality is always of the utmost importance and the Skeme Richards brand has become synonymous with being a global cultural ambassador in connecting audiences of diverse backgrounds worldwide.
Skeme Richards is known within a large circle of Funk & Soul aficionado’s, DJ’s, vinyl heavyweight collectors, artists and record labels and has toured playing 7” vinyl during some of the most unique and successful nights across the globe with his Butta 45’s party which began in 2009. Not one to be a format purist and sticking to what has become the now trendy 45, he’s known for packing crates of Disco 12” as well while toting them on flights globally to entertain his audience and also maintaining a long standing tradition of what the DJ has been known for, his personal selections. No matter the genre, Skeme Richards fits the bill with his delivery, vast musical knowledge and understanding of what it takes to rock a party by reading the crowd properly and reacting accordingly.
With only 24 hours in a day, Skeme wears many hats that show his dedication to music. On the other side of the musical spectrum, he is also a writer and journalist who reviews vinyl releases from labels and artists across the globe on his Nostalgia King site which is the go to source for DJ’s globally to find out the latest releases that he gives the co-sign to. Over the years, labels have come to trust his ear and taste in music as the testing ground for new releases that he often introduces to dance floors months in advance before they're officially released. Over the years, he has also contributed content to print publications including Disco Patrick’s Hot Stuff Magazine (Netherlands) and Street Love Magazine (Germany).
Through his dedication and love of the music, the self-proclaimed “Nostalgia King” has built his brand as a “tastemaker” of sorts and continues to “make and break” records in the same fashion that many of the great DJ’s in the past. As a world traveler, you can find Skeme playing parties across the globe and touching down in some of his favorite destinations including London, Amsterdam, Germany, Russia, New York, Los Angeles, Japan, China and Korea and has shared stages with some of the best DJ’s and performers globally.