S
hreveport, Louisiana native DJ HollyHood Bay Bay is one of the most influential DJs in the country. Known as the inspiration behind Hurricane Chris’ breakout single, “Ay Bay Bay,” and for his ability to launch an artist’s career, Bay Bay attributes his success to hard work and solid relationships. Currently an on-air personality on Dallas’ K104, the self-proclaimed “Street A&R” who began as a dance choreographer is witnessing his own career take off. Here, he tells his story: “I was the ambassador of the Ratchet City movement, born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Throughout the whole success of the “Ay Bay Bay” record, situations happened that tried to set me back, but it was just minor setbacks for a major comeback. After all the hype and success I was recruited to the number 4 [radio] station in the country, which is in Dallas, TX. I’ve been in the industry for 11 years, but I’m actually not a DJ. I’m a motivational speaker; a person of influence. I got started as a dance choreographer for the band at Grambling State University. I did a year and a half there and then I came back to help my alma mater, Fair Park High School’s band. One day the announcer got sick, so they asked me to announce for the band. Being the hype man for the band helped me with my speaking skills and I became a real popular guy around town. Whenever I went to the club, I would just walk in, the DJs would hand me the microphone, and I would say shit that got everybody crunk. The club owner noticed it, so I stopped doing it for free and they started paying me for it. I was the guy that came in with all the energy and made people party. This led me to radio, and soon I had the number one radio show on a 3000 watt station in Shreveport going up against a 60,000 watt station in Dallas. Radio gave me the ability to give a lot of local love on the airwaves. The [program directors] let me do whatever I wanted to do as long as the num-
30 // OZONE MAG
bers didn’t fall. Since I was in a small market I had a lot of freedom and a lot of influence. Becoming a respected radio personality enabled me to build and maintain good relationships with people in the industry. The key to a good industry relationship is the same as with any relationship: Always have communication and an open understanding. You have to do what you say you’re gonna do, keep it as real as you can, and don’t promise nobody nothing that you can’t deliver. If you can’t do it, just say you can’t do it. If you do agree to do something and realize later that you can’t do, call them and let them know you can’t do it. Accountability is important. By building good relationships with A&Rs and people in high places, along with me being able to break an unknown artist in both the club and on radio, I really have a monopoly. I’ve used this situation to break several artists. I’ve been responsible for breaking and launching Hurricane Chris, The GS Boyz, Dorrough Music, and Lil Josh and Ernest outta Baton Rouge. II think I’ve been very inspirational to most of the artists in the game. They know who they are! People always ask me about [the current situation with] me and Hurricane Chris, and the thing about me and Chris, it’s like family. You gon’ have disagreements as far as ups and downs. We haven’t spoken in a while, but I stay in contact with his mom and his manager and I just know if I really needed him he’d be there for me and I’d be there for him. It’s just two people that have egos—but I don’t have that big of an ego where I would let it end a friendship. Before I go, I gotta shout out Big Poppa, KP, Wild Yella, Baby 3, Blitz, T.O.B, Lil Six, TNT, T-Willz, Dazasta, Big Chief, D-Bo. I mess with the underdogs, the people who ain’t got it, because we’re trying to change people’s lives.” As told to Eric Perrin // Photo by Eric Perrin