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1.) We’re super-excited to have some time today with acclaimed Miami hip-hop veteran DJ Exes; greetings and salutations DJ and thanks for carving time from a very busy schedule to speak with us here at Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how are the final days of 2025 finding you and yours?
Exes: The final days of 2025 were non-stop for me. I was in NYC DJing for Thirstin Howl The 3rd’s epic show at LittleField in Brooklyn. Slamming Gavel lives in Fort Lee, NJ so we went there together.
2.) Major kudos and accolades on your freshly-minted new single Criollo Vernacular which is enthralling audiences and lighting up record charts even as we speak! Starting at the top, can you talk about what inspired one of the very best singles of ‘25?
Exes: The song was originally called “Adobo” because that’s what Slamming Gavel had named the beat. Usually, when I write I draw inspiration from what the producer named the beat. In this case, the thought of comparing what I do as an emcee to Adobo seasoning moved me to pen what is now known as “Criollo Vernacular.”
3.) Alongside the drop-the-mic single which is Criollo Vernacular, you’ve also dropped an out-of-this-world companion music video for the tune; congrats! How involved were you in the overall look and feel of the new video and how much was left to the capable hands of director Box-Lo?
Exes: Besides being the director and editor, Box-LO is one of the LOLIFE Miami Family Founders and he came up with the idea. Once he mapped it out, he sat with me and gave me a list of what was needed to make it happen. This list included the chef’s outfit that I wear in the video, a fire-pit, a grill, and the people you see in the background. My only request was that he ensure to show me in the booth in certain parts to drive home the whole “booth is the kitchen” message of the song.
4.) Criollo Vernacular is the first drop from the collaboration LP The Gavel & The Guillotine which you lovingly crafted alongside fellow artist Slamming Gavel Music; major congrats again! For anyone late to the party, can you talk about what listeners can expect and look forward to when they drop the needle on the glorious wax which is The Gavel & The Guillotine?
Exes: You can expect hard boom bap beats and witty verses inspired by the Golden Era of hip hop. The jewels that are dropped are relatable and overall, I do believe you’ll run some of these songs back to catch the little things you might have missed upon first listens.
5.) What was it like collaborating with Slamming Gavel Music on The Gavel & The Guillotine? Might we see more work from the two of you in the future?
Exes: The Slamming Gavel and I have been cool before making music was even a thought. This creation is just a glimpse into what’s possible between us and the future is being constructed as we speak. Most definitely, there is more to come.
6.) In the wake of the release of all of this amazing music, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit in the near future?
Exes: As a DJ/MC here in the Miami Music scene I am always looking for opportunities to interject my emcee side into events. So, yes, you will most definitely see me rocking stages soon, near you, in more ways than one.
7.) When you sit back and listen to The Gavel & The Guillotine album, what in your humble opinion differentiates it from the Distinguished Competition on the current day music landscape?
Exes: besides the production which I’ll let Slamming Gavel speak on, the bars are not from the perspective of a fake tough guy, super thug killer, nor from the view of an imaginary drug dealing villains dream. Instead, the formulation you hear is from the mind’s inner workings of a regular dude with a family, a job, concerns, and aspirations thats no stranger to the struggle. My verses let you know that Im thankful and protective of what I have but Im still hungry for more.
8.) Who are some of the folks both in and out of the world of music who have informed and inspired your own indelible pathway?
Exes: Outside of music, my mother’s work ethic at her own job has always inspired me to never give up. From within the industry I’m inspired by some of the greatest at what they do: Nas & Ghostface for their lyrics. Tony Touch for his skill w/ the microphone and Turntables.
9.) Your home base is the beautiful city of Miami, Florida! How do those specific roots color and inform the music which you create?
Exes: The fact that I live where people vacation is not lost on me. The culture, the wealth disparity, the politics, the crime, the tropical landscape blending with the skyscrapers, and the hustle all influence how I write.
10.) At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-listen to the new single Criollo Vernacular, as well as the album from which it derives, The Gavel & The Guillotine?
Exes: After listening to this project, I hope people walk away with a newfound hope for hip hop as a whole. There’s room for intelligent authors who can offer differing points of view in this thing of ours. The differences in how we see things can offer new insights into a culture that is not dead. Hopefully, listeners are interested in the growth and curious to see where we go from here.
