Life & Work with DJ King

Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ King.

Hi DJ King, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Miami FL, South Miami to be exact. I started acting when I was 10 years old. I joined my elementary school’s drama club and immediately caught the bug. I did two plays with the drama club; I starred in one, and the other I was an ensemble cast member. After that, I went to a magnet middle school where I was going to be in the drama magnet, but I opted for athletics instead. Where I’m from, all the kids in my neighborhood played sports, so I followed suit. At the time I thought it wasn’t cool to be in drama and I didn’t want to get teased for doing something so “lame” and out of our norm. I actually didn’t get back into acting until I went to college. I studied theatre performing arts at FAMU and that’s where I was really able to hone my craft and learn about the arts. I graduated college in December 2018 and moved here to LA a couple of weeks later in January 2019, and I’ve been on my professional, life-long journey ever since.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Naw, not by any means. I find that along my journey, my biggest struggle has been trusting the process. This is a career that doesn’t have any conventional or guaranteed roads to success, everybody’s journey is different. While I understand that, the truth is, it’s been really difficult to accept. When you’re passionate about something and want it as bad as you want to breathe, while you’re in those valleys along your journey you kind of get discouraged. Recently, I was hoping to sign with this well-known Los Angeles Talent Agency. I had the meeting and it seemingly went very well. After weeks of waiting I didn’t hear back from them and it disappointed me I’m not going to lie. I felt like all my hard work and preparation was finally aligning with the opportunity. So when it fell through, it let me down. Getting solid representation so far has not been in my favor. I feel very defeated. However, I’m still learning and understanding patience, God’s timing, and leaning in on my faith in those moments of doubt. Prayer and meditation help me a lot. I think once I master those, I’ll be able to stop worrying about what I can’t control and start really enjoying the journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do? What are you most proud of?
I’m an actor. Specializing in drama TV/FILM. I think what I’m most proud of is that I had the gall to dream big and execute my dream. Where I’m from, I don’t know a single person who was an actor. Certainly not a professional actor. That seemed so far-fetched to me as a child. I don’t think I even ever thought about it as something I could do as a profession. So the fact that I am here, in LA, doing it, being it, living it, is nothing short of amazing. I’m extremely proud of that. I talked about my struggles earlier and feeling defeated, but I will be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how far I’ve come. I moved here by myself with little knowledge about how this business works but a whole lot of ambition and willingness to succeed. 4 years later I’m still here, a little bruised but still here keeping it pushing and making progress. That’s what I’m proud of.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I’m scared of improvising. Improv gives me anxiety cause low-key I’m socially awkward. So anytime I have to improv, I panic a little. But I think with more experience and the more comfortable I get it’ll lessen. Hopefully.

What are you looking forward to?
Well, I have two feature films that I starred in releasing this year; A rose in concrete and Latasha Harlins. I’m very excited about the premiere of both and how people will react to them, so stay tuned for that. I’m also looking forward to new experiences that’ll help me grow and evolve as an artist, and just continuing this journey overall. I will be a household name for sure and I look forward to coming back to this interview years from now after it manifest. It doesn’t end here, my story is still being written.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DJ.KINGOFFICIAL/