For many DJs, the struggle for respect was a long, often frustrating, battle. For others, being in the right place at the right time was all it took:
a shot. After the party he promised me if he was elected president of the Alphas the following Fall, he would make me the official DJ for all of their events. He kept his promise.” – Frogie
How did you get your big break as a DJ?
“I used to DJ underground basement parties for free in downtown Tucson so I could build up my name. Then I got paid club gigs. I moved to Houston and linked up with DJ Chill and Young Samm. I started dropping mixtapes and spinning sets at 90.1 KPFT. I recently won 2008 Female DJ of the Year at the SEAs.” – Gloss
“In 2003 I started learning how to mix from my brother and cousin. I got my first set of turntables and after six months of practice, I ventured out with demos to get into the club. I got my first break when the owner of the Greenmount Lounge in Baltimore City gave me my own night on Wednesdays spinning Reggae/Dancehall music.” – 2Mello “I dropped Texas Massacre when Texas had a crazy buzz behind that ‘Still Tippin’ joint.” – 31 Degreez “I started out spinning with DJ Phingaz all over South Carolina. He advised me to get my own equipment one day, which I did and here I am today.” – Aaries “Blindly submitting my mix CDs allowed me to land a few club gigs, and when those clubs advertised on the radio it helped build up my name recognition. Doing that helped me meet DJ Chonz, and after that the dominos fell.” – Bedz “I prepared, then I begged for it. I’ve been in radio for years as a personality, and 3 years ago the same DJs that help me get my foot in the door at the station, helped me get on.” – Big Sue “I received my big break by fate mixed with timing and chance. I was walking passed this Thai restaurant that was closed after Hurricane Katrina. I went in and a guy name DJ Poppa Bear was cleaning the joint, saying that they were converting it into a bar. I asked him if I could spin there when it opened. He replied ‘Sure!’ A few months later he called and offered me an underground Hip Hop night. The night grew huge, and it became one of the most popular nights for underground, old school rap, and R&B.” – Bomshell Boogie “I did a house party for one of my childhood homies back in ‘91. He needed a DJ and I always wanted to learn, so I DJed the whole party with tapes! I still don’t know how I did that.” – Chill “I started off as an intern at 106.9 K-Hits in Tulsa. After three months, the program director offered me a job at the station five days a week. Two years later, I’m now a morning show producer at 97.1. If it wasn’t for God using two phenomenal program directors like Tod Tucker and Kevin Ward, I could still be flipping burgers at McDonald’s.” – Civil Rightz “I started doing mixtapes in ‘94, promoting my own parties, and DJing at Morgan State University while in college. Things really took off in 2002 when I stepped up my mixtape grind and began getting my product out nationwide. That, along with the use of my industry relationships over the years, eventually landed me the gig at XM Satellite Radio on 66 RAW where I’ve been for 3 and a half years now.” – DNA “I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of big breaks. The opening of the BET Soundstage Club in Orlando was definitely a big one for me. It set the tone for me in Central Florida.” – Ekin “I was a freshman at TSU and another DJ was supposed to spin this party for my homeboy TJ but didn’t show up. So TJ called me and gave me 72 // OZONE MAG
“I got my big break working this hot spot in Killeen, TX called Club Ice with my boy DJ Chuk. CC Cruz, the program director for B106, offered me a position on the night show as a radio personality and mixer.” – Gottem “I was with this guy that was a DJ, and ended up marrying him. I went to Alabama State University for radio/television broadcasting and did an internship with S.N.A. (Michael London) and the rest is history.” – Hot Girl Maxximum “I started doing mixtapes in high school which became very popular. Then I started doing all the major parties and dances from there, which led to doing rap concerts, shows in clubs, comedy clubs, and strip clubs.” – Joe Pro
“I was at a college party and the DJ was whack. I went to the DJ, no lie, and started going through his CD books and telling him what to play. He says, ‘Watch this stuff for me, I’m going outside.’ He gave me $20 and left. I rocked the party with his music and his equipment. A Que dog came up to me and hired me for an afterparty at the Capitol City Classic. That was my first club gig and me and my partner rocked it like crazy.” – JoNasty “After slaving for three years at my current station, doing whatever shift and task that was asked of me, our night jock resigned and I took his place. It was a situation of being in the right place at the right time.” – Jo-Ski Luv “7 Oasis Promotions (Troy Marshall and Daddy Rich) was doing College Mondays at Paradise 24 in Los Angeles. I used to go every week and paid to get in. I got tired of paying so I lied to them, telling them I was doing a lot of parties when I had actually only done a couple of house parties. The first party I did for them was at the Alfa Convention in Los Angeles and there where 2,000 people there. I was nervous as fuck! I was thinking what the fuck did i get myself into?” – King Arthur “A guy by the name of Minnesota Fattz gave me a shot. DJs Night Train and Greg Nyce showed me the ropes.” – Kydd Joe “When I was 17, after five years of running around trying to get his attention, I finally got the legendary OG Ron C to listen to my mixtape The Intermission, which won me Rookie of the Year at the 2006 SEAs. After asking me a million questions, he made it official. I was his protégé and the rest was magic.” – Lil Steve “I don’t feel as if I really had that big break yet, others may think differently. I thank Black Bill Gates and DJ Scream for introducing me to the mixtape game and helping me brand my name.” – MLK
“I was an intern/street team go-getter at WBOT 97.7 in Boston in ‘02 and I got a chance to host The Fever with Clinton Sparks every Saturday night. It was a great learning how to do a mixshow from a brilliant DJ.” – Peter Parker “Being a StreetSweeper alongside DJ Kayslay and the opportunity to be part of StreetSweeper Radio on Shade 45, Sirius Satellite Radio.” – Radio “I started DJing house parties and high school dances, branded my name, and caught the attention of the local radio station Q93 New Orleans’ mixtape host Lebron Joseph.” – RO “92Q had a DJ competition at Stone Soul Picnic that was judged by a crowd of 30,000 people. I earned a spot on the morning show mixing for 15 minutes and then became an on air personality on the Big Phat Morning Show.” – Spontaneous “A former employee of WPEG by the name of Nate Quick gave me the chance to intern under him after hearing me DJ at a couple of local parties.” – Tab D’Biassi “Two good friends of mine threw parties all the time at a local night club called the Cabana Club. They hired me for an anniversary party because the DJ was running late and might not show up. That was the first time I ever DJed at a night club and some other club owners were there. They saw what I could do I’ve been booked every weekend ever since.” – Tre “While in high school I participated in the Association of Black Journalist Workshop where a few of the radio DJs were teaching classes on radio broadcasting. Marc Clark suggested that I apply to work at the radio station. I applied for an internship and got accepted.” – Wrekk 1 “It all started with a DJ friend that allowed me to get on one of his sets; then it was all uphill.” – Yorkie Catchy slogans and other marketing strategies have helped many DJs like Drama and Whoo Kid take over the mixtape game. From ear-catching aliases to eye-attracting dances, this year’s panel of DJs has their own forms of branding: What is your trademark as a DJ? “My slogan is ‘Neva trust a skinny DJ’!”– Aspekt “I call myself the Sonic Menace because when I play a record I’m gonna give it to you the way I want you to hear it. I call myself The Incredible because DJs like me are far and few in between. A lot of DJs don’t honor the system of showing skills.” – Averi Minor “There’s no obvious gimmick, but I’ve worked really hard to brand my White Shadow alias. My mixtape motto is ‘For those who like their mix CDs mixed.’ I’ve never been a compilation jockey and never will be.” – Bedz “I’m a turntablist that can make the normal ear appreciate the art form and I can rock any type of party.” – Bee “I’m the premiere female spinner in Memphis.” – Big Sue “Ask anyone about the Bishop logo and matching baseball gloves.” – Bishop