DJ Whiz
DJ Whiz has been in the DJ game for some time. He has had opportunities to travel and see the many differences in style and respect for this art form. We got a chance to question DJ Whiz about his life and music. Here is what he had to say.
Where did you grow up?
Compton California.
Where do you live now?
Germany.
Where have you lived before?
California, Texas, Japan, North Dakota.
What got you started as a DJ?
Messing around with Curtis Blow “These are the breaks.”
How long have you been a DJ?
Since the age of 14.
What type of equipment did you start with and what do you use now?
Started with a 4 channel/no cross fader mixer, belt driven Sansui and Realistic $60 turntable from Radio Shack. Now I use Technic 1210 MkII’s, Beringer, Vastex and Gemini mixers.
What's your favorite Genre to play?
Hip Hop.
Where do spin? (stations, clubs)
DISKOTHEK KAJUTE (Binsfeld), The METROPOL (Baumholder), CLUB STATIC (Koln), MESSEPARK (Trier).
Are you at any radio stations?
No stations just concerts and concert afterparties.
What would you like your role to be in the future?
A little radio, a little touring, everything else can stay the same.
What are some of the craziest things that have happened to you while at the station? Club?
First time I was at a Concert Hall and it dawned on me that about 2000 people came out just to hear/see me. I got nervous as hell!
Any Career highlights you would like to share? Someone you met, something you got to do for someone else. Anything.
Spun at Petey Pablo, Keith Murray, Bohagon, Trillville, Joe Budden, Lumdee, Scola (from Dru Hill), Sido, Horace Brown Concerts/Shows. Also spun with DJ Green Lantern and DJ Jam at the Anger Management (Eminem & 50 Cent) and Snoop Dogg/Game Official afterparties. Coolest to hang out with were Keith Murray and DJ Jam.
Who are some other DJ's that you feel are at the top of the game?
DJ Cut Killer and DJ Honda.
Who influences you?
My love of music. I really don’t watch or practice. I just go out there and make people dance.
Do you have any Mix tapes, CDs out?
Have had at least 20.
Any advice to give to new DJs wanting to get into radio?
Demos, demos, demos and be professional.
Do you have your own website?
Yes I do. I build them. www.djwhiz.com and myspace.com/djwhizproductions
Are you willing to take on gigs outside your area? Can someone book you?
Yes they can.
Where do you see the state of Hip Hop and/or Dance going in the next 5 years.
Upward as always.
MORE DETAILS ABOUT DJ WHIZ
Born: San Diego, California
Music Styles: Hip Hop, R & B and Reggae.
Favorite Cars: R35Nissan Skyline GT-R & 1964 Impala SS
Favorite Color: Black, but it's not a color.
Favorite Quote: "Never forget where you're from. I owe it to the streets. CPT 4 Life" -- DJ Whiz.
Favorite Person: My Mom. I put her through a lot!
First Record owned: Elton John - "Bennie and the Jets"
My music: From Compton to Texas; from Boom Boxes to Turntables; from Brickhouse to the Dirty South; I've been a music lover all my life. Of course this didn't really go over well with my father being a Pastor and all. Mom definitely didn't appreciate the lyrics. What they did realize is that I had true talent and a love for music. So I broke away from the piano lessons and criticism and made it happen. Since then, music has been my hobby and sometimes my escape, relief and comfort. For me, it's all about the crowd. If they're happy, I'm happy. And oh yes, I'm a product of the ghetto. That's what makes me so strong. Got anymore questions, email me?
The Name: (DJ Whiz) Given to me at the age of 19 by Ricky Duckworth. He was a good friend mine who looked out for the new youngster in the dormitory. All I did was spin and study. He and some friends thought I was good enough so they entered me in a DJ contest. I had no idea until I was picked up from work and we were on our way. My clothes and records were in the trunk. I asked what would I call myself......Ricky said "The Whiz Kid." I won, my career as a DJ took off and I lost my close friend Ricky who died on a basketball court in Korea at the age of 22. From that tragedy I grew, dropped "Kid" and went with "DJ Whiz." I owe my life to God, Mom & Pops but I owe my career to Ricky.
The History: Moved to Germany wanted to DJ. Was turned down by every club & every crew. Got called by an individual to become partners; worked Castel (Bitburg) on Saturdays and packed the house. We promoted, I DJ’d, soon after I got less bookings because “the crowd wasn't feeling my music” or at least that was the excuse. Found out I was getting paid 1/8 of the earnings for 2/3 of the work while he booked cheap DJs with no skill so I jetted. Got some calls and emails from Mike (Truplayaz). Thought he was like “THE OTHERS” ignored his calls. I decided to take an invite and check out one of his parties. So after months of passing out flyers/posters in freezing cold weather, having posters pulled down/covered up, and struggling to get established we got our break in Bonn. We held down clubs in Köln, Luxembourg and Prum. Hustling and beating down the tables, just like any other time, I made a name for myself and was a key ingredient to Truplayaz being on the map. Eventually it seemed like Truplayaz didn't require my services and in a lot of cases showed me little respect so I branched out on my own. I started my own page and went solo. Once the word got out, I started getting calls from everywhere. Soon I spread like wildfire. Costa Bravo, Frankfurt and Berlin...I'll be there. Hip Hop Concerts...I'll be there. On the radio…I'll be there. In your CD players...I'll be there. If you ask anybody what makes him or her move, they'll tell you it's the beat and I've got plenty of them. I seized every opportunity, earned my respect in Europe just like Japan and the States. With passage of time and the spread of knowledge, me and my former partners of the past have resolved our differences. Although I'm a private franchise, we often hook up to do it right just for my fans. The rest is history and I thank you for your support. The rest is history!
Clubography (Europe):
Clubs in Germany - NeuSchwanstein (Köln), S90 (Köln), Diskothek Kajute (Binsfeld), Castel (Bitburg), Stargate (Niederprum), Club Mex/Stefi Club (Weilerwist), Bruckenforum (Bonn), The Forum (Neotting/Munich), Köln Cinedome (Arena), Club 2012 (Bitburg), Saber Club (Spangdahlem), The "Spot" Club (Trier), Black Beat Club and TEATRO (Köln) and Club Metropol (Baumholder), Opera (Köln), Club Static (Köln), Messepark (Trier), Exhaus (Trier). Events: Anger Management Tour Afterparty w/DJ Green Lantern (Essen); Snoop Dogg/The Game afterparty w/DJ Jam (Köln); Keith Murray Concert Afterparty (Luxembourg), Joe Budden Concert (Köln), Lumidee & Scola Concert (Trier), "GERMAN SPRING BREAK" (Trier), Trillville Concert (Baumholder), Urban Comedy Show (Kaiserslautern), Petey Pablo Concert (Köln).
Clubs in Luxembourg - Titanic (Esch), Pulp Club (Luxembourg) and Pop Dance Club (Luxembourg).
Clubography (Japan):
"Q"s Ropongi (Tokyo), Tokyo Broadcasting Service, Club Eddies (Fussa), Enlisted Club (Yokota AB), All Ranks Club (Yokosuka Naval Station), Pyramid (Nagano).
Clubography (Texas):
Dannelly Enterprises (San Antonio), Stuff Teen Night club (San Antonio), mixes featured on 90.1FM (San Antonio), NCO & Airmen's Club Lackland (San Antonio), Arnold Hall (San Antonio), Chaparral (San Antonio), Randolph Club (Universal City), mixes featured on 88.7FM (Austin).
Anything else you would like to share?
Thanks to my family, friends and fans that support me. For those that don’t, I thank you too. You make me try harder. For those DJ’s that do it for the money, get out and don’t spoil it for those of us that really love our music and appreciate a room full of nodding head over a trophy and $2000.
