Twenty three years ago a 12 year old by the name of Keith Jackson met the wheels of steel for the first time. From that point, I had touched em and it was meant to be, notes Jackson, who added ever since then Ive never stopped. Jackson is now known as DJ Kool Keith, one of Connecticuts most well known and highly respected DJs.
Kool Keith isnt simply using CT as a starting point, though. Born in the Bridgeport area, Keith feels a deep connection with his home state, explaining "this is where I started. My belief is where I start, thats where I gotta have a powerhouse, thats where I gotta be in order to get to a level where Ill feel comfortable and successful.
With CT as his homebase Keith has developed a reputation as the DJ everybody wants to work with. Hes done shows up and down the east coast, from CT to Florida. His first show, however, wasnt exactly in a traditional spot. My first event was a party in a hall in a church, he explained, continuing it was kinda crazy because I didnt feel comfortable with it for the simple fact that it was a church, but what I found out was that it was basically a teenage thing that they put together and I went down there and I was feelin the vibe and the party was off the hook. They started doin em on a weekly basis and that just strengthened me to do it more.
This was the start of DJ Kool Keith's career. After honing his skills in the churchs halls its no wonder Keith describes himself as a very understanding person to work with. Im not a DJ that provokes anything or believes in degrading women. I believe in treating everybody fair. One may think its hard to rock a party without playing degrading music, but that's a concept Keith has on lock. Everything I play is strictly live and energized and I just talk to the crowd. I get a good vibe and the more vibe I get from the crowd the harder I get into it and we just go with it, he explained, adding I bring a lot of energy.
He also brings turntables. Two turntables and a microphone, a purist at heart, Kool Keith does have a CDJ on one side of his setup, but most of the time it just gathers dust.
Usually at the shows that I do therell be an artist that wants to hear their music played, or get their music played for exposure and thats the only way that I use it. I believe in the original way of mixing and thats with the turntables so all the, what I call the autopilot DJs, they need to get back to the real thing.
Not a lot of DJs would help out an artist like that, but giving everyones music a chance to be heard is something Keith is passionate about. I give all music a fair chance, I dont like being dictated as to what to play and what not to play at a specific time. I do believe that certain things do belong in rotation but theres new artists out there, theres good music that needs to be played," he explained, adding if you dont play that, or if you dont take the aspect of that record and utilize it the way you should, and let the consumer know its out there, itll never get noticed. The artist is just sitting in limbo.
Although a fan of the new artists, DJ Kool Keith prefers to spin old school, noting you dont know where youre going unless you know where you came from, so I like to go back and play the things that really started me out. I like to let people reminisce on the good times.
DJ Kool Keith knows where he came from, Connecticut, and knows where he's going, straight to the top. On his way there hes creating plenty of good times for everyone, including himself, to reminisce on.
