What is a DJ? Does owning a couple crates of records automatically make a DJ? Or, must a DJ be considered a sonic tastemaker, someone who breaks the hottest, newest records? What if turntable skills are lacking; is that person still a DJ? All these questions are valid but they miss the one, fundamental skill that many so-called DJs overlook: reading the crowd. DJ Ski Hi, a product of New Yorks musical potpourri, works diverse crowds ranging from the uptown slums to the posh, downtown scene. Going on ten years now, Ski Hi started rocking parties the way his childhood heroes began: doing block parties, barbecues, and recreation centers in the housing projects. But while these venues provided Ski Hi with neighborhood fame, they did little (often nothing) to increase his wealth. After high school, Ski Hi took a hiatus from the street scene and began interning at WNYU, as an assistant to the radio stations most popular rap show. There, he learned more about the industry and met many of todays top radio and club DJs: Riz, Cipha Sounds, Stretch Armstrong, Mark Ronson, and many moreIn 1999, DJ Ski Hi took his first plunge into the downtown club scene, becoming a resident DJ at the then-chichi Veruka. Within weeks, Ski His roster of gigs multiplied as he began working alongside such veteran club promoters as: Derek Corley, A.J. (106th and Park), Clique Entertainment, Roland (Eclectic Group), and most recently, Chris AC. DJ Ski Hi has since broken through to become a DJ in nearly every major club in NY including Canal Room, Deep, Avalon, The Tunnel, Exit, NV, Chaos, Red (Bronx), as well as smaller venues such as Guastavinos, the Hamptons, Parlay, and Lemon. In 2003, DJ Ski Hi took his club-rocking talents overseas to Switzerland where he DJd a Jay-Z after party; he has since been booked twice to DJ other clubs in Europe. More recently, Skis services were requested by football MVP Eddie George for the Tennessee Titans. Beyond clubs, Ski has also entered the competitive mixtape market, where he recently caught the attention of MTV, being featured on DJ Clues Daily hip hop show, DFX. And in 2004, he co-hosted two episodes of BETs Rap City with Jermaine Dupri. Still, rocking the turntables is where Skis heart lies; in any given club, on any given night, wherever promoters need a DJ who guarantees one thing: MOVING BUTTS!
