Shotgun

DJ Shotgun The Seasoned VetIt was 1986 during a high school DJ battle in Oak Park, Michigan when young Shotgun realized that he wanted to be a DJ. Influenced by legends DJ Aladdin, Cash Money, Jeff Mills (The Wizard) and Jazzy Jeff, Shotgun practiced anywhere and battled anyone to eventually earn his name and bit of his own legendary status in the notorious Motor City. At the age of 15, Shotgun scored a feature performance on 96.3’s Electrifying MoJo Show. Winning countless expos and battles between 1989 and 1992, Shotgun became one of Detroit’s most respected and acclaimed DJs under the age of 17. Meanwhile, with fellow DJs Lynn Swann, Daddy Riff, and DJ Dez, Shotgun went on to form the 12 Tek Mob a group of DJs who would eventually become the city’s official party-rocking crew producing successful mix-tapes and vinyl releases.An ambitious Shotgun sought to explore other markets finding himself in Atlanta, Georgia by the end of 1993 (during it’s pre-crunk era). There, he realized that he would need to re-build his reputation through local party-rocking, which didn’t take long. In 1994, Shotgun was privileged to deejay Redman’s birthday bash. In 1995, he would win the decisive OutKast Gold Album Party Battle of the Djs. Soon after, Shotgun became the official DJ for LaFace’s recording artists The Goodie Mob with whom he would tour the world for the next three years. As, Goodie Mob’s DJ, Shotgun made appearances on MTV and UPN and shared stages with The Fugees, The Roots, Outkast, Notorious B.I.G., Luke, Do or Die, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, Big Punisher, Snoop Dog, 112 and the list goes on. In 1997 Shotgun joined The Third World Citizens and was featured on DJ Faust's release Man or Myth which also featured DJ Craze ( Three time world champion ), DJ Shortee, and DJ T-rock. Later that year Shotgun also won Atlanta's Hot 97's DJ battle, being crowned ATL's top DJ.After the death of his mother in 1998, Shotgun faded into seclusion to refine his technical study of turntabling and self. Using the motivation mustered from his tragic loss, Shotgun secured a spot in the 1999 United States DMC Finals in San Francisco as the first Detroit native. A humbled and matured Shotgun was now a master of his craft earning the honor of influencing the likes of DJ Swamp (1996 US DMC Champion), DJ Klever (two-time US DMC Champion) and much of the new generation of turntablists.Currently, in Jacksonville, Florida, Shotgun is promoting Get Crunk Breaks (Ammo Records), a battle record that serves as a follow-up to the very successful Dirty South Breaks – both co-produced by DJ Klever. Besides DJ-ing for one of Jacksonville’s most talent rap acts, RedRock, he’s heavily into the production of several projects including the start-up of the label Style Out records and the release of various works through The P.I.M.P. organization, Crate Bullies, and Networks Ent.