Life & Work with Trey Ephrim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Ephrim.

Trey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story starts when I was younger. A lot of people don’t know this, but I lost my mother to domestic violence. It’s incredibly difficult for me to talk about because I don’t open up very often—especially since I was there when it happened. I can still remember the day.

Shortly after that, my grandmother adopted me and my siblings. She effectively became my “mom”. I really give props to her—taking in all of her grandkids after she had already raised her own children. She raised two generations of kids. With that being said, growing up was tough because as I got older, I realized that I had to be the man of the house. And I think, for that reason I had to be particularly tough emotionally because I also had a younger brother who would look up to me to be a role model of what a man should be.

However, in hindsight, I recognize I was going through a lot internally as a man. Moms had lost her job and I needed to start paying rent. After high school, I was just working–taking classes here and there trying to figure out how to make it all work to support my family. I couldn’t afford to go to school full time AND support my family at the same time. One day, I remember just deciding to try out for basketball after a friend invited me to some runs at his jc. Just like that. Little did I know that it would change my life. It became more than just a hobby; it became something to focus all my energy on. In my mind, basketball was a way to pay for school and support my family all in one. It became something to relieve emotional stress. It was this sport that somehow —like magic—took all of the weight off of my shoulders. Kobe’s work ethic was genuine unabashed motivation. Basketball was like inhaling pure oxygen. When it didn’t work out, it hurt pretty badly because basketball was my first love. And in the end of that journey, I started DJing.

Honestly, at first DJing was just for fun. I thought I could do better than a lot of these DJs that would spin at the parties I went to. Everyone was surprised that I would even consider something other than hoop. I saved up to buy a computer and my first simple controller. I taught myself the things that I know now on that simple controller, for the most part. DJ friends of mine—GetchaMoney and TakeFlight—would often let me open for them. DJ Young Free also took me under his wing. This quickly grew into something I loved.

I spin almost every morning. I love being able to get on the tables and make everyone at a party feel good. Seeing everyone happy and dancing is what it’s all about. I don’t do it for clout or for popularity. I do it for my people. I mean, you never know, someone could be going through something tough so they get out and go to a party.

Your relationship with the music as a DJ and how you present it can have them feeling good, dancing, and eventually forget all about their drama. It always fulfills me to hear how much fun people had at my events. I’ve been through the works myself and at the end of the day, I love helping my people get through theirs.

You know actually, a high school friend, we call him Slush, actually coined my name—Trey Money. I just went with it and haven’t looked back. Ultimately, the goal is actually to become a touring DJ. I want to go on tour with an artist/ artists. And despite lots of doubt, depression, losing my laptop, a friend breaking my turntables, losing my car, moms losing her job/getting sick, and me walking away from school, I have been able to overcome all of my obstacles. I have been fortunate, no blessed, to be able to discover something that I am passionate about that I can extend to others.

I am here and present today, evergrowing, and hoping that soon my hard work will pay off.—hoping that one day I will have an opportunity of a lifetime. So, if I see you at one of my events, just know it’s all love and I genuinely wish you have a great time because that’s what I’m doing it for, remember?

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think that I detailed a lot of challenges and obstacles along my path in the previous question, but if I had to list them they would be:
* Doubt,
* Depression,
* Losing my Mom
* Not truly having a male role model
* Grandmoms losing her job and getting sick
* Losing Basketball
* Needing to walk away from school to take care of the family
* Being a Big Bro
* As a DJ: losing my laptop, a friend breaking my turntables, losing my car and jobs ( at a few points)

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m DJ Trey Money. I DJ all kinds of events and occasionally throw my own. I DJ: Homecomings, birthday parties, champagne parties, weddings, proms, store openings, etc.

I think that my favorite type of music to DJ is probably 90s Hip Hop and R&B. There was so much substance and quality in that music.

I think what sets me apart from my competition is how hard I worked to get to where I am. My values set me apart. My trauma sets me apart. These things also define me. They make DJing MEAN something to me.

What matters most to you? Why?
Family and passion.

Losing your parents young means that you hold onto the family that you have left dearly. They’re all I got.

My passion–DJing–helps me move through that and get through life.

In a way, it’s like therapy.

Also, I wouldn’t be me without the following few DJs:

DJs GetchaMoney and TakeFlight would often let me open for them. This gave me a lot of practice and encouraged me to venture out of my own quickly after that.

DJ Young Free also took me under his wing–showing me the small things from how to wrap my cords to how to display the proper setup and even the big things like how to be a better business professional. He’s definitely a big brother figure to me.

Later on, DJ R’Tistic served and still serves as an inspiration to taking my craft to the next level. He’s an OG in the game and watching him pushes me to go harder.

With their guidance, DJ’ing quickly grew into something I loved–a passion.

Contact Info:

• Email: tephrimbusiness(at)gmail.com
• Website: https://linktr.ee/treymoney
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djtreymoney/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djtreymoney
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djtreymoney
• Other: https://www.bark.com/en/us/company/dj-trey-money/m9g8R/#