About Me
It’s been a long ride…17 years and counting but I’ll start from the beginning so you can understand what brings us here, now.I love music. Not just Hip Hop, but all music.
It’s one of the only things that I have a passion for and never gets dull for me. I was born in October 1979, so I was an 80’s baby and all the music from that era has been the soundtrack for my life. I’ve always played with the records, even before I knew what DJ’ing was. I became infatuated with the sound they made when I would move them back & forth at different speeds.I got into Hip Hop around ‘87-‘88. Run DMC’s, Run’s House and Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s, It Takes Two were my 1st Hip Hop LP’s. These two records changed my life. It was then that I discovered what DJ’ing was all about and I knew that’s what I wanted to be when I got older. I officially started DJ’ing around 1991-92; I was 11 years old.So, throughout the years I practiced and stayed focused. I did what I could to get my hands on equipment and records. For a while I had to relay on my homies’ DJ’s Obi-One and Adam Bomb for turn tables. They had equipment before me and would let me practice and make mix-tapes. We did all the parties for our friends and eventually did a few small clubs in the area. I graduated high school in ‘97 and my DJ equipment was my gift from my family…. A brand new set of Technics 1200’s!I rocked the mobile parties and did a bunch of local spots. Eventually, I was invited for an audition at Babylon, a new, poppin’ club on Delaware Ave. I went to the audition and did my thing. They were impressed and I got the gig. That gig helped me build my rep in the city. From that point dozens of clubs, celebrity parties, and a few radio station positions followed. I competed in some local DJ battles and always placed in the top three. Battling was fun but I enjoyed playing for crowds more, so I stayed in that lane and continue to master my craft and style.I’m a turntablist at heart; that’s what intrigued me to become a DJ. That element is always present and pivotal in my style. And I grew up around some of the pioneer DJ’s here in Philly, most of them older and more experienced in the game. These influences created the blueprint for what I was to become.From those mentors came the perfect line-up for me to put together the city’s 1st turntablist crew, THE SKRATCH MAKANIKS. Jay Ski, Sat One, Kwestion, Aktive, Adam Bomb and myself were the original members founded in 2000. The main goal was to help each other achieve success in our music careers and to give each other guidance when needed. We branched out and Bee, Jey One, Spinbad, and A.Vee are now members of the Makaniks as well.
All of these DJ’s play an important roll in our careers. We respect other and admire the technique each one of us possesses. We learn from one and other and keep each other on our toes!With my crew all set, my next goal was to see the world. I’ve conquered Philly. And I’ve been fortunate to secure a spot on a national tour with Kool, along with fellow Makaniks: Jay Ski and Aktive. The show featured, Busta Rhymes, Miri Ben-Ari, The Roots, and The Gap Band. It was great exposure for us and has opened more doors for us in other states and countries.Las Vegas to New York, Los Angeles to Miami, and Canada to The Bahamas are just some of the places I’ve rocked. Celebrities, models, Hollywood and music moguls are just some of the crowds I play for…scenesters, Hip Hop aficionado’s, teenagers, and young professionals make up the other half of the parties. I’m not fully satisfied, though, there’s still the rest of the world to conquer.Which brings us here… Still on the grind. Still keeping the art of true DJ’ing alive. Still playing for Philly’s elite nightlife crowd. Still in pursuit of that world recognition and still trying to travel as often as possible without forgetting my Philly roots. I still love DJ’ing and playing for crowds, more now then ever. I stepped into the world of remixing and mash-ups a few years back so, of course, production work is soon to follow.Stay tuned as we live out this story together. Some of you may play a roll in it, some may just have a front seat!We’re almost done updating my website & putting the newsletter together. Please, join the mailing list, peep the newsletters, stop by the site and stay in the loop. Cop the mix cd’s and download the goodies! If I happen to be in your hood come check me out!
