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MTV TJ Live Finale
I’m back in Atlanta still trying to digest everything that took place this last month. When I received a vague email asking for my participation in a new “opportunity” I had no clue what I was signing up for. Almost a month later I can say this was the most intense job interview I’ve had. The minute I walked into the MTV headquarters I could feel the energy surrounding this new venture. The search wrapped up with a live finale in my hometown of New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Perfect backdrop for my win right? Wrong… I came in as the 2nd runner up. The incredible fashionista Gabi Greggs was voted in as the first ever MTV TJ. Between Twitter challenges, celebrity interviews, concerts, photo shoots, studios and meeting new friends it was a dope experience I’ll never forget. If you didn’t get to catch the finale live you can watch the stream below.
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Tweetup Meetup ft Jesse Boykins III x Mickey Factz
UPDATE: Here’s the edited clip that was shown during the live MTV TJ finale. Unfortunately in a minute and half clip they couldn’t show everything including Jesse’s & Melo-X song or the non profit group Ubuntu but the event was a success. The best 30 minute party I’ve been to!
MTV’s Search for the First TJ is in it’s finale week. I’ve been selected as a TOP 5 candidate and Challenge # 2 involves hosting a Tweetup. MTV gave me parameters to work with within.
- The event can only be 30 minutes between 6-6:30pm
- I could not promote it until 10am the morning of
- I’m only allotted $200 to use for any party planning needs
- Every guest must wear or bring an item.
- MTV Camera’s will be capturing the tweetup to air on the MTV Search for the First TJ Finale on Sunday, August 8th @10pm
All guest required to put an X on your hand for entry. Find a pen, sharpie, krylon can, whatever and put an X on your hand to show support for your favorite MTV TJ candidate.
Special Guest Performers, Jive Recording artist Mickey Factz and Jesse Boykins III will hitting the stage.
Celebrity Designer gallery by SB Shades, Jeantrix, Laureluxe and The Hemma Collection.
Live art demo by Jen Sanders.
Raffles prizes by Cakemix + Bliss Skate Co. + SB ShadesAll going down at Sapphire Lounge. 249 Eldridge. NY, NY 10002
REMINDER. This event can only take place from 6pm-6:30. If you get there at 6:30pm the performances will be over and cameras packed up. Don’t miss out on this first of it’s kind, new MTV initiative that will be a catalyst for a new wave of programming. Check out http://tj.mtv.com/ and make sure to vote for, Xavier aka DJ X aka @officialdjx on Sunday, August 8th during the Live Finale at 10pm!Jesse Boykins III - Amorous (Official Music Video) from Jesse Boykins III on Vimeo.
MICKEY FACTZ: ALPHA from Creative Control on Vimeo.
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DJ X CBS Atlanta Morning Show Pt 2
After making it to the TOP 5 for the MTV search for the first TJ CBS Atlanta Morning News Show called me back for a follow up segment. Here’s my edit of the interview! You can watch the studio version here:
CBS Atlanta Video (Click the “Better Mornings” Tab and click the “MTV Twitter Jockey” video)
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Part 2 Follow up for the MTV TJ Search. Shout out to Jade, Scrappy and the entire 105.5 Staff.
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MTV TJ - TOP 5!!!
WOW. I am speechless. I’m totally humbled that the MTV staff selected me to be a part of the Top 5 finalist for the MTV TJ Search. I don’t think any of the candidates realized what we were getting into when we first got the vague email requesting our participation in the search. It’s turned out to be a mini online reality show. Friendships made, laughs shared, late night chats, and of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a few haters. There was a pool of great talent, all of them worthy to be picked. I’m so amped up to head into the next phase of challenges.
Thanks to all of you that supported me throughout this first stage. Family, friends and fans from all over the country extended a hand to help and it paid off. That was just the beginning. Now we’ll need to step it into high gear. I will be getting full details of what’s to come in the next couple of weeks and I’ll need everyone’s participation. Many of you are asking what you can do now.
* Follow me on twitter and get involved! http://twitter.com/officialdjx
If you have visited the MTV TJ website you have seen a “Tweet Level” Score. My score can only go up by all you interacting with me on Twitter. What does that mean?
- Download a Twitter application for your phone or desktop such as http://www.tweetdeck.com/ so you check for my updates frequently while your on the go. If your phone doesn’t support apps log into twitter online and visit http://twitter.com/devices. There you will able to send Twitter updates to your cell phone via text message.
- If you see a post from me. Reply to it. Re-tweet it. Do both.
- If I post a link in a Tweet make sure to visit the web page.
- Tell others to follow me.
MTV’s decision was not and will not solely be based on the Tweet Level score but having a higher ranking sure does help.
Lastly, I’ll need everyone to help build as much buzz and anticipation as possible surrounding the August 8th Live Finale on MTV. I will be flown out to New York City, Sunday, August 1st and report directly to MTV’s Times Square Headquarters. During that entire week I will be put through another round of Twitter based challenges. During my call with the MTV staff this afternoon they forewarned me that I will not be getting any sleep during my time there. If you know me, that will be no problem at all. From the moment I land, cameras will be following my every move to document how well I carry out the given task. The week will consumate with a live on air special on Sunday. MTV will reveal footage from every challenge and after each one you, the fans will vote your favorite TJ through to the next stage. Tell as many people as you can to tune in the evening of August 8th and have their phone’s nearby to vote immediately after each challenge. I do not have the exact time of the airing but once I do you’ll be the first to know.
There you have it. Your challenge has been issued. As I’m preparing for the next round of challenges you will be accomplishing yours as well. We’re in this together.
TEAM X.The DJ X Family. #DJXFAM Glad to have you by my side! -
MTV TJ 1st Round Mix
I’ve made it through 2 weeks of intense crazy, schedules, shower less days, and sleepless nights, which brings us to the close of the first round of the MTV TJ 1st round of Challenges.
To celebrate I made an all request Mix! I took your request off of Twitter, Facebook, some that even came through text message and gift wrapped it all up in 35 minute ear candy for your consumption.
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Challenge 5 - “I Want My MTV” - Personal
Challenge 5 | I Want My MTV
Open for 3 days ‐ from 12:00am (EST) July 18 2010 to 12:00pm (noon EST) July 20, 2010.Overview: The MTV TJ needs to have a welcoming yet commanding presence. They must also have respected knowledge of the MTV world if they hope to gain the confidence of the MTV audience. With this challenge, we will see how the TJ candidates report on specific MTV‐centric assignments and how they manage MTV celebrities.
Personal: What three MTV moments have resonated with you most?
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1) Eminem 2000 VMA Performance
2000 was my first full year of having MTV as part of my cable package. It was also what I consider to be the year of Eminem’s pop culture dominance. Backed by the lead single, “The Real Slim Shady”, his album, “The Marshall Mathers LP” sold over 1.5 million copies in its first week. The follow up singles “The Way I Am” and “Stan” catapulted Eminem to superstardom and rap royalty. I remember watching the VMA’s and seeing an army of Eminem look a likes behind him during his performance, marching to every Dr. Dre drum beat. Posted up behind Eminem like a scene out of the Warriors, the bleached blonde Shady’s made their way into Radio City Music Hall from the streets of Time Square and eventually disbanded to make way for Em to close out his performance with an fiery performance of the darker, “The Way I Am”. At that moment the battle rapper from Detroit made a statement. I’m here and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.
2) Unplugged
Long before you could roll up to a local cafe or bar on a Friday night and enjoy an acoustic concert, MTV spearheaded the modern movement of stripped down performances. Starting in the late 80’s MTV hosted “Unplugged” events where popular artist of the day would perform their hit songs void of any electric guitars or amplifiers. After watching my favorite emcee, Jay-Z perform a catalogue of his greatest records alongside the incredible Roots Band I completely was sold on this format.
After watching your favorite artist on tons of TV specials, music videos, and live shows at a certain point you tend to know what’s coming. Thanks to MTV, this alternative method of delivering those same songs wound up becoming a Nationwide phenomena.
3) Making the Band
As a young kid I was fascinated with the entertainment industry. Coming from a family with no musical experience, a career in the industry seemed far fetched. In 2002 MTV picked up the series “Making the Band”. The TV show documented P. Diddy’s talent search to find the best singers and rappers to form a supergroup. From workouts to voice lessons, every week we were able to see the strenuous challenges placed on the contestants. I religiously watched every episode as I now I felt I had an inside peek into what it took to make it. From the “Da Band” to “Danity Kane” to “Day 26” each season gave us a glimpse into the life of an active label, from the President all the way down to the artist. The show, as reality driven as it was became an inspiration to me.
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MTV TJ Challenge 5 - “I Want My MTV” - Social
Challenge 5 | I Want My MTV
Open for 3 days ‐ from 12:00am (EST) July 18 2010 to 12:00pm (noon EST) July 20, 2010.Overview: The MTV TJ needs to have a welcoming yet commanding presence. They must also have respected knowledge of the MTV world if they hope to gain the confidence of the MTV audience. With this challenge, we will see how the TJ candidates report on specific MTV‐centric assignments and how they manage MTV celebrities.
Social: Interview a celebrity selected by MTV for 10 minutes and report on the interview.
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MTV TJ challenge 5 entailed each of us interviewing a celebrity of MTV’s choosing. The catch? We would only be informed of who it would be 2 hours prior to the interview. I was ecstatic when I heard I would be interviewing DJ Khaled. If you read my MTV TJ challenge # 3 personal response I listed the late, great, Big Pun’s career as a monumental moment for me. Pun was a part of a group called the Terror Squad in which DJ Khaled was a member of for many years. Khaled shared with me how he learned what hard work and dedication was from Big Pun. He was even in the studio when Pun recorded his monster smash hit, “Still Not a Player”.
When I prompted my twitter followers to send me questions for DJ Khaled, the majority of my responses were comedic statements paying homage to his popular catch phrases “I’m so Hood”, “We the Best”, and “All I do is Win”. Little does the general public realize that though he’s widely known for shouting such slogans, Khaled also doubles as an award winning music producer and President of Def Jam South. Khaled commented, “Im excited to see my brand make as big of an impact as it has but my ultimate goal is to be a music industry mogul. I do not want to be just limited to hip hop.” Khaled frequently refers himself to the Berry Gordy of Hip Hop. Being a Motown fan myself I asked Khaled what some of his favorite artist were from that era. He credits Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin at the top of his list.
Khaled, following the likes of Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew, has been influential in bringing the national spotlight to Miami over recent years. In asking how Lebron James move to Miami will impact the entertainment scene, Khaled stated “Miami has always had a place in the industry. I’m anxious to see how Lebron’s move here will garner even more attention to the great talent that’s here”
Coming from New York, I grew up listening to Funkmaster Flex’s cd’s such as “The Tunnel”. I would see the likes of Cash Money, Dr Dre, and Nas all on one disc. I asked Khaled if he feels obligated to carry the torch in unifying the hip hop world. “I love to make great music and put artist together that people wouldn’t expect. I get in the studio and feel the vibe that comes from a track. I’m just a fan of music”
If you look at titles of DJ Khaled’s albums you’ll see a recurring theme of empowerment. (Listeenn, We the Best, We Global, and Victory) He said he looks to always share a message within his music. Even within the cd titles alone he hopes to be able to motivate and inspire others.
Khaled expressed how MTV has played a major role in his career. From labeling him one of the next acts to blow a few years ago to the constant music video rotation he was grateful for the impact MTV has had in launching his career. Overall I left the short interview realizing that DJ Khaled was more than just a music producer or radio dj but a pop culture icon that looks to shape the course of entertainment industry. The name of his albums are truly a foreshadowing of the impact he looks to make around the world for years to come.
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MTV TJ - ONGOING CHALLENGE - PT 3
Overview: This challenge is overarching and spans all remaining rounds. A talented TJ should have their pulse on major events and pop culture happenings, but also be able to focus and follow up while remaining relevant. This challenge requires that the TJ candidate be attentive and capable of delivering compelling coverage over a longer term.
Challenge: Track and cover a current event for all remaining rounds
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Continuing with MTV’s “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” list , I wanted to draw your attention to whom I think are some of the most influential, out spoken , and fearless candidates in the running: Jay Electronica and Curren$y. In the late 90’s I quickly became a fan of the great Talib Kweli. His heart felt lyrics on street life, love, religion, and social justice put him in a league of his own. His poetic, artistic expression laid over intricate instrumentals was the change hip hop demanded. Kweli speaks what he feels is true. His presence is felt even while performing on shows such as Def Jam Poetry reciting poems like “Hell” where he spoke these words: “Never question the fact that Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian, or that Christianity was made law by politicians and who is King James, and why did he think it was so vital to remove chapters and make his own version of the Bible? They say hell is underground, heaven is in the sky. They say that’s where we go when we die, but how they know? I been to many churches, I quoted many verses, I dealt with myself, I control my many urges. I use to study my lessons, that was a blessing not a curse, I found out that heaven and hell exist here on earth, word.”
His influence remains just as thought provoking as his above words. Today, two new artists emerge onto the scene, Jay Electronica who has been called the “new voice” and Curren$y. Both hailing from New Orleans, they share a common ground as they use their music to bring awareness to their local government and cities struggles.
Jay speaks openly on his song “Exhibit A” with lyrics like
”Knock a man house down and build a casin’/A two thousand dollar government check from FEM’/ I swam down ____ creek and came up clean/ With a new lease on life like Andy Dufresne”
Curren$y’s album art for his recent release, “Pilot Talk” depicts Jet’s releasing missiles over the Superdome.
Clearly, like their 90’s counterpart, Kweli, Jay Electronica & Curren$y aren’t afraid to express their controversial views through the medium of rap. Boldly treading in unscathed territory, they are using their influence to leave a mark on society at large.
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MTV TJ - Challenge 4 | Follow Me - Personal
Challenge 4 | Follow Me
Open for 3 days ‐ from 12:00am (EST) July 15 2010 to 11:59pm (EST) July 17, 2010.Personal: If you could only follow one person on Twitter, who would it be and why?
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When MTV asked me in challenge four, throughout Twitterworld, who is the one celebrity I would follow, without a doubt @UncleRush aka Russell Simmons the worldwide music and fashion tycoon and big brother to one of our favorite hit makers “Run” from Run-DMC came to mind! Russell Simmons is not only a single father but a business mastermind and music legend. His many accomplishments include co-founding Def Jam Records, a urban clothing line Phat Farm, just in 2009 he was named the Editor-in-Chief of GlobalGrind.com: The World according to Hip Hop and like me, he is a firm believer in giving back as he belongs to several charities which include: PETA, (RED), Champions for Children and his own charity Rush Philanthropic Foundation a non-profit whose funds provide arts and education programming to New York City youth. It is no wonder that this mogul would be my top follow as he is an incredible inspiration to me while pursuing my craft as well as keeping family first in this fast paced, demanding lifestyle. -
MTV TJ - Challenge 4 | Follow Me
Challenge 4 | Follow Me
Open for 3 days ‐ from 12:00am (EST) July 15 2010 to 11:59pm (EST) July 17, 2010.Overview: Our TJ needs to be courageous and unafraid. We want to see if they can be magnetic and tactful enough to maintain the attention of a busy celeb. This challenge will prove that the TJ candidates can be persuasive, charming, and persistent.
Social: Convince one or more celebrities to follow you, support your TJ candidacy, and retweet you. If you already have a celebrity follower, you must try for another!
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WOW. This challenge is definitely the most intense one so far. I’m still in shock that the first 3 responses I got were from celebs I’m HUGE Fans of.
1) A follow from
Actor Idris Elba, from my favorite tv series ever, The Wire
2) International Celebrity DJ Mick Boogie retweet!
3) A Questlove Follow and Retweet
Update: Its dope to see some of my celeb followers on the campaign for me. I really didn’t think they would pay attention once I got the initial follow. Thanks to Questlove for another RT!
4) Samantha Ronson Follow & RT!
5) A-Trak (This is wild. A-Trak is my favorite DJ. I’ve looked up to him for the longest time. From his days as a teen DMC champ to touring with Kanye to internationally touring DJ to owner of the Fools Gold Label I’ve admired his hustle. This has been the highlight of the MTV TJ competition)
6) Grammy Nominated & Multi-Platinum Producer Drumma Boy Follow & RT
6) Roscoe Dash - Mr. All the Way Turnt Up! Follow & RT (This one came at 2am, past the 12am deadline but I sent my tweet to him around 8pm so I’m hoping it still counts)
8) Frankski (Top Rated Atlanta Radio DJ/Entertainment Personality)
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MTV TJ - ONGOING CHALLENGE - PT 2
Overview: This challenge is overarching and spans all remaining rounds. A talented TJ should have their pulse on major events and pop culture happenings, but also be able to focus and follow up while remaining relevant. This challenge requires that the TJ candidate be attentive and capable of delivering compelling coverage over a longer term.
Challenge: Track and cover a current event for all remaining rounds.
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Inspired by MTV’s Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010 list I’ve decided to compare the 2010’s new era hip hop artists to classic 90’s hip hop artists influence on society.
“It’s Barbie b!tch you can join the wave” is an under statement as self proclaimed “Barbies” such as Nicki Minaj’ provocative appearance and ridiculous rhyme scheme demands our attention. In the early 90’s we learned to love female emcees such as MC Lyte, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Queen Latifah whose unique influences brought us a wide variety of classic, slick, meaty tracks. These first female emcees spoke more on honest, real hard life than what label they were rocking. We easily related to tracks such as “Waterfalls” where the beloved late and great Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes graced us with these words: “Dreams are hopeless aspirations, in hopes of comin’ true. Believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you.” Honest female talent could no longer be denied. Lil Kim later arrived creating her own path.
She tested the waters far more than many with her strong sex appeal; many would argue she was the first barbie. Lil Kim screamed sex, spit sex, and well from her personal life which recently debuted in theaters in “Notorious,” took “sex sells” to the extreme. She fearlessly challenged stereotypes, entertained us, and with extreme self esteem, seemed to change her female followings mentality; women seemed to be unstoppable, capable of testing any boundaries with a thong bikini and batting of their fake lashes. Lil Kim liberated and opened the door to a new exciting world where it seemed all things attained and accomplished are possible despite your sex. Almost a decade later, Nicki Minaj marches onto the scene with an army of her minions.
A “mentally” bad bitch by her own definition should embrace their sexuality, have fun with it, experiment, and use it to their advantage. Whether or not the message of mental strength registered within her huge following as crowds of women rush to the local beauty stores stocking up on wigs, gloss, designer shoes, and the latest hand bag, we cannot and will not ignore their roar! We are listening…
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MTV TJ Challenge 3 - Musical Moments
Challenge 3 | Good Vibrations | ZYNC from American Express(SM) Challenge
Overview: MTV is music at its core. We want our new TJ to exhibit a real passion for music, and to take joy in discovering and breaking the ‘next big thing’…even if they live right next door. This challenge will test the TJ candidate’s ability to know talent when they see it and convince an undecided audience.
Personal: What three musical moments have impacted your life most?
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1) Big Pun
Many of the new generation hip hop teeny boppers aren’t aware of Big Pun. The Puerto Rican rapper from the South Bronx that emerged on the scene in the mid 90’s. His most notable song, “I’m not a Player” featuring Joe became a breakthrough hit on mainstream radio and TV. The single catapulted his debut album, Capital Punishment to platinum status and the #5 position on Billboard charts. Pun became the first Latino rapper to go platinum. In 2000, on the verge of his follow up album, Yeeeah Baby’s release he suffered a fatal heart attack which led to his death.
Around the height of his popularity, I remember walking out of my school in the Bronx, Hansberry Academy, I.S. 200 and seeing Big Pun sitting on top of a Jeep. I think he was waiting for his daughter that went to the school. By the time I walked outside there was a sea of students gathered around trying to get a glimpse of the hometown hero. Seeing him in arms reach showed all of us that someone just like us, from the crime ridden, drug infused streets of the South Bronx could make it.
2) Kanye West - College Dropout
After high school I enrolled in Business Management courses at one of the fastest growing Universities, in beautiful South Florida. One would think I had it made. That was far from the truth. I walked onto campus everyday with my head hung knowing I was not making strides towards a career in music. Yes, I could have participated in events and learn the DJ craft after I was through with all of the academic studies for the day. But if anyone has been through college along with having a part or full-time job and the usual everyday life errands, you know that is not realistic. Month after month would go by and It would just get harder to dedicate time to my dream. In late 2005, during my second year, after many sleepless nights I decided to throw in the towel. I had no plan, no mentor guiding me, no job availabilities. I knew it was now or never. I weighed out the options. Go through more than 2 more years of studies? Or use those 2 years to gain valuable experience in the industry I dreamed of since I was a kid?
Around that time, Kanye West debut album, “The College Dropout” had been out for almost the same amount of time that I was in school.
It became the soundtrack to everything I wanted to be but couldn’t muster up the strength to do. During breaks between classes I’d pump Ye’s disc and hear lines like:
Kanye West - Get Em’ High
“My freshman year I was goin through hell, a problem/Still I, built up the nerve to drop my ___ up outta collllllll-ege/My teacher said I was a loser, I told her why don’t you kill me/ I give a ____ if you fail me, I’m gonna folllllllllll-ow/My heart”
Kanye West - School Spirit
“Told ‘em I finished school, and I started my own business/They say, ‘Oh you graduated?’/No, I decided I was finished/Chasin’ y’all dreams and what you’ve got planned/Now I spit it so hot you got tanned/Back to school and I hate it there, I hate it there/Everything I want I gotta wait a year, I wait a year/This dude graduated at the top of my class/I went to Cheesecake, he was a _______ waiter there”
I told myself I did not want to live my life full of regrets. I never want to be that one years later asking “What If”? A career in the music industry doesn’t really have a “how to” blueprint. Every success story I had heard was different. Leaving school to pursue something that only few ever accomplish was not a popular choice amongst my family and peers.
Kanye West - All Falls Down
“Man I promise, she’s so self conscious/She has no idea what she’s doing in college/That major that she majored in don’t make no money/But she won’t drop out, her parents will look at her funny/Now, tell me that ain’t insecurrre/The concept of school seems so securrre/Sophmore three yearrrs aint picked a careerrr/She like ___ it, I’ll just stay down here”
As I listened to Kanye’s vivid stories of questioning the status quo and songs like “Last Call” where he talks for almost 9 minutes about his determination to stick to his instincts even when others doubted gave me enough juice to finally make that same decision. Interludes on the record like “School Spirit Skit 2” resonated with me as I knew the exact sort of people he was describing and frankly I did not want to be another statistic.
“You keep it going man, you keep those books rolling,
You pick up all those books your going to read
And not remember and you roll man.
You get that a associates degree, okay,
Then you get your bachelors, then you get your masters
Then you get your master’s masters,
Then you get your doctron,
You go man, then when everybody says quit
You show them those degrees man, when
Everybody says hey, your not working,
Your not making any money,
You say look at my degrees and you look at my life,
Yeah I’m 52, so what, hate all you want,
But i’m smart, i’m so smart, and i’m in school,
And these guys are out here making
Money all these ways, and i’m spending mines to be smart.
You know why?
Because when i die, buddy, you know
What going to keep me warm, thats right, those degrees”
3) DJ AM
Adam Goldstien aka DJ AM was a DJ’s DJ. He combined every technical element of djing with such finesse. With one look at a video of his mixing, blending, cutting, and scratching you could tell he was more than just your local karaoke disc jockey.
While the mainstream media knew him as the love interest of Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore the DJ world recognized AM as a leading force in the industry. His journey from drug addiction to internationally touring DJ was an inspiration to me. His bounce back after a fatal plane crash in 2008 allowed him to walk around with an S on his chest.
He was unstoppable. About a year following the crash, AM was found dead in his apartment. The final verdict claimed the prescription medication given to him during the crash recovery process acted as a gateway for him to digress back to his days of using harder drugs.
During his time here DJ AM became the poster child for perseverance all while remaining one of the most creative forces in the DJ circuit. Whether it was his ability behind the turntables or his fortitude through hardships he remains one of my biggest influences.
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