Michael Ross on Delicious Vinyl, DIY Hustle, and Hip-Hop’s Crossover Moment
This week on Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey Sledge sits down with Michael Ross — LA native, former DJ, and co-founder of Delicious Vinyl — for a masterclass in taste, timing, and straight-up hustle.
Michael takes us from growing up in Long Beach (Soul Train Saturdays, Vegas showrooms, and a little Peter Frampton “research”) to UCLA frat parties powered by Uncle Jam’s Army, record pools, and Hollywood spots like the Rhythm Lounge and Power Tools where the culture was colliding in real time.
Then it gets surgical: how Delicious Vinyl was born off pure DIY energy, how the name came from a random business card, and how a cold call led to Tone Loc — “Barry White as an MC.” Michael breaks down building records on early drum machines and the SP-12, pressing wax at Rainbow Records, getting played on KDAY, and walking into a deal with Chris Blackwell / Island with “Wild Thing” already in the chamber (plus a $500 video that helped change everything).
And just when you think it’s all crossover hits, Michael tells the story of hearing The Pharcyde demo and basically saying, “Yeah… y’all not leaving.”
This is Mixed and Mastered with Michael Ross.
