Easily making the switch from computer science to "droppin' science," Denton's Yeahdef is getting his nerd on for a packed house every Tuesday at Hailey's Club in the Little D.

The gig, one of his three local residencies, touches on everything from KP and Envy to the Bill Nye the Science Guy theme song and, of course, a little Ace of Base.

We caught up with the DJ to talk '90s jams, Denton house parties and D-Town dance floors. Here's how it went down.Q: Is there a big difference between the Little D and Big D in terms of the party scene?

Yeahdef: In Little D, the house party scene is epic. Some of my favorite sets, I did blowing out some kid's computer speakers he got at the Apple store. I guess the difference is that there are parties up in Denton for no reason at all. Kegs get purchased – or stolen – all week long. I guess I was the kid with the equipment and know how to get things hyperactive. Coming up from a strictly DIY house-show background, partygoers are very loyal! I wouldn't be doing this now if it weren't for friends and strangers alike opening up their homes for me. Sorry about the mess, everyone. As far as the club scene, I don't notice much difference in the crowds and music between Dallas and Denton, except there are more beards in Denton.

Q: Is '90s night writing the obituary for '80s night?

Yeahdef: I hope not! DJ G is my homie, and from what I can see, things are still poppin' off mega on Thursdays. We joke a bunch about just flipping it on 'em one week and going straight 1880s and 1890s music, LOL. I guess there is something to say about the ages of the kids coming out, though. The main reason people are digging '90s night is because it brings back all the awkward feelings of middle-school dances to this college crowd. There's something disturbing/amusing about 250 people having a blast singing along to "Barbie Girl" in unison, and knowing every word. And here I had almost given up on being able to play some happy hardcore to a receptive audience.

Q: The first "Aight Yo" hip-hop night was a huge success. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yeahdef: There isn't a steady hip-hop party up here in Denton. Sure, you can find the odd show every now and then, but nothing solid. I've booked out the rest of the summer out at Rubber Gloves with live hip-hop every second Friday of the month. The first show went koo-koo for Cocoa Puffs. Headlining, we had Damaged Good$. They "pwn" a crowd. I've put together a few shows with them in the past year and we really just hit it off. After I got them confirmed, the rest just kinda fell into place. TyCity and Moses Uvere are ridiculously talented. They had to be there. Ian Bangs is fire as far as I'm concerned, and a local favorite, so he's in. Then I snagged up old friends from back in the day to jump on, SMUG and Mero from Temple, Texas. I couldn't ask for a better start for my monthly.

Q: How about your own music?

Yeahdef: I've had some tracks up on my MySpace for a minute, and I never check it unless I'm inbox hustlin', setting up a party or something. MySpace is dead. You'll see my first major-label release in the form of a beat-makin' credit for Damaged Good$ on an upcoming mix tape from Big Dada. I'm also about halfway done with my own mix tape of local rappers going over my beats. Cop it at an Aight Yo show in the near future. I'll post original content up randomly to my Web site [yeahdef.com] or Twitter [twitter.com/yeahdef] – follow me, y'all. I Tweet some ridiculous puns a lot of the time and will respond to anything.

Real name: Joey Liechty

Age: 24

Styles: "Hip-hop, chiptunes, anything that makes asses move."

Where to hear him:

• Haileys in Denton on Tuesdays for '90s night and Wednesdays for Epic Win

• Rubber Gloves in Denton every second Friday,

for Aight Yo hip-hop series

Web: yeahdef.com or twitter.com/yeahdef

Print