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his IS the sex issue, so…YES! For the record, her name is DJ BackSide for the exact reason that you think. With the J Los, Deelishises, Beyonces and Buffys of the world, the phrase “L.A. Face with the Oakland Booty” shouldn’t surprise and is practically appropriate, given her recent move from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. On cue, BackSide has taken to the diamond-in-the-rough syndrome in becoming a female DJ who’s embraced her craft to the fullest. “It’s like the best of both worlds,” the East Oakland native says. “You are simultaneously a great novelty and a somewhat cursed one.” As an international DJ who’s done multiple shows in both Taiwan and Germany, BackSide has remains a commodity in the states, releasing several mixtapes, mostly of the Bay Area persuasion. She’s also graced BET’s “Rap City” on numerous occasions and in the process, found acclaim as a touted member of the Core DJs. Still she says, there is “a lot of business to take care of.” How did I get started DJing? It’s funny because people always ask this question, just because I’m a female. It’s almost like asking a guy, “So how did you start ballet dancing?” (laughs) But anyways, I started DJin’ when I was a senior in college, just doin’ all the parties at my school. Then after graduating in 2003, I moved back to my hometown in Oakland. And when you got back to the Bay Area, things happened fast for you? No, not right away. I wanted to get on radio really, but it was all about the mixtape game first. I had peeped the game while I was in school on the East Coast, and wanted to bring some of that to the Bay Area and with Bay Area rappers. So the Got Bay? series of mixtapes was spawned. And then from the mixtape game and being in the streets, you got a show on 106.1 KMEL, right? Yeah, I would definitely say that opportunity was one of those “best of both worlds” experiences. I think I have grown my name from that now, but a lot of people do remember my show on KMEL. What do you mean, “best of both worlds”? Well, it’s funny, because it’s been a minute, but everyone knows that having any commercial radio opportunity in a top market is the best situation for almost all DJs, whether you are tryin’ to come up or are already on. So that’s what it was on the outside. But behind closed doors at the station, it was like the battlefield and I was so green at the time. So it was like I didn’t have no armor. A female thing maybe, but I think maybe it was because of my name (laughs). But radio is a fun outlet and medium that I would love to be back a part of if the deal is right. But at the end of the day, it was just one of those experiences where you just got to take what you could from it and run. It seems like you have? Yes, for sure. That was almost two years ago when that was over and while I was there, I was doing almost as much as I am doing now, but at a crazy pace. [I was] DJin’ clubs locally and internationally, mixtapes and all and then after that, Warner Brothers Records actually contracted me out to run their site and online radio station as PD and mixer of hyphymovement.com. [The site] is defunct now, but that was a great thing to be a part of because I got to interview all the artists in the Bay and get a closer relationship with them. So with all this Bay love and support, why did you recently move to Los Angeles? Well, I still am in the Bay for like a third of the month, but I moved operations really for a lot of reasons. I wanted to expand my wings, for lack of a better expression. For one, I definitely still would say performing at clubs are the highlights of this DJ job to me, and Los Angeles has some of the dopest clubs. So I can’t wait to rock them with my style. Two, even though Northern Cali and Southern Cali should really be different states, they are truly close in proximity and budding Hip Hop talent right now. The Bay definitely has at least brought some light back West with artists like Mistah FAB, Dem HoodStarz, The Federation and more, and Los Angeles is on their way to doing that now actually with artist like Bishop Lamont, Damani, G. Malone and Roccett. And I also love to interview music artists in general and Los Angeles is also a place where everyone comes at some point in time during the course of one year, so that type of access to artists is great! So what are you doing now in Los Angeles? Well, it’s not just in LA. It was the move to LA that has created opportunities. Around the time I moved, OZONE West started, so I am currently writing a few articles a month for the mag. That’s fun because I get to interview different people every month and get all up in their business (laughs). I’ve put out a few mixtapes for unsigned artists this summer and am doing guest DJ spots on 102.3 KJLH. I’ve gotten into video, so you will see me with a camera a lot. You can check footage out on www.youtube.com/djbackside. I have also started workin’ with and DJin’ a few shows for MC Lyte, which is ironic 14 // OZONE WEST
because people have said that I sound like her since like forever. What are your goals in the DJ world? Well, the “DJ world” has changed a lot even in the short time I’ve been gettin’ down, but one goal right now that makes sense for me is West Coast compilations. This is in the works as we speak, and it will have music focused on a lot of the budding West Coast artists that are having a huge buzz all up and down the coast. I mean, the job of a DJ and bein’ the middleman to get the music to the people is still my first love to the fullest, whether in the clubs or on a mixtape. So, since this is the sex issue, I’ve gotta ask: Why the name DJ BackSide? Because of my DONKEY!! Now let’s get it! //
Dj Backside
Words and Photo by D-Ray