Conversations with DJ CEO

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

Hi DJ CEO, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Northern California, I’ve always had a passion for music and was heavily inspired by watching DJ Skribble on MTV as a kid. Then in high school when the Hyphy Movement really took off put a spotlight on Northern California’s music scene I saw it as my opportunity to get my foot in the door and started building up my presence in the scene using myspace and promoting. I moved to Arizona right before I turned 18 when the talk of the industry was that Arizona was set to be the next hot spot. The momentum in the Arizona scene didn’t last long but I took full advantage of it while it lasted. Few years later I started working with Rappin 4-Tay’s label and that was the turning point where I really started getting deep into my path. From there I went back to Northern California for a bit and was an intern at Black Market Records. I went from there to Reno NV where I started an online radio show and eventually transitioned into FM radio. Worked with 95.5 The Vibe FM in Reno while at the same time working on getting my own music releases together. Ended up being blessed with an opportunity to drop a song with Snoop Dogg. After that release took off and my name started holding more weight in the mainstream industry I started working on my first full mixtape. I gathered features from people like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, and many others. I decided that I wanted to bring the mixtape game back to the forefront of the music industry and continue things where DJ Drama had left off. February 2024 I released my first mixtape; Street Gods Vol 1. It picked up traction fast gaining 75k streams in the first week and peaking and almost 700k streams. From there I went to Hollywood and decided to go full force with things. I started networking everywhere I could (even sneaking into one of Seth Rogan’s film sets at one point) dabbling in acting on the side making appearances on Bounty Hunter D’s Cheaters Caught, Jubilee’s Odd One Out, multiple live streams along side people like Vitaly, Blake Rosier and more and also doing appearances in commercials for Pluto TV and game shows like Let’s Make A Deal. During this time I was also working on my next big project; The Doggilation EP. A 4 track EP with Snoop Dogg. I dropped The Doggilation EP in November of last year. I started traveling back and forth to Vegas for DJ gigs which helped me earn a billboard on the strip while also getting signed to Black Market Records out of Sacramento California and partnering with a new technology company called Momento to make the worlds first interactive music trading cards

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’d say one of the main struggles was the transition period where I was trying to get to the next level but at the same time trying to stay afloat financially. Thankfully I have a great support system with my mom and my grandparents and other close friends and family that’s the biggest help I’ve had is people that I can trust who are constantly pushing me to keep going. Another hurdle I’ve had to deal with is navigating some of the pitfalls of the industry because unfortunately there is a lot of fakes and scammers out there I’ve had managers that have pretty much taken advantage of me and used me stolen from me etc and learning not to let those hurdles throw me off course of discourage me. Learning to be able to get back up after being knocked down I’d say has been the most important part of making it this far and where a lot of people don’t make it because it’s very easy to let the downsides of the industry get discouraging and just give up completely but if you really want to make it you gotta roll with the punches and keep pushing forward until you get there no matter what. Stay focused and stay prayed up

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Mixtape DJ and Influencer among other things. I think what sets me apart is being able to stay relevant in the digital streaming/new age of the industry while still going back to the roots and bringing back methods a lot of people forgot about. My main thing I’m known for is the resurgence of mixtapes in the hip hop industry. I’ve always personally been a huge fan of DJ mixtapes, I listened to more mixtapes than albums growing up and was inspired by people like DJ Skribble, DJ Drama, Funkmaster Flex, DJ Kay Slay, and DJ Clue so I’ve dedicated myself to following in their footsteps but doing it in a way that works for the digital age

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’ve got my newest mixtape Street Gods Vol 2; the second installment of my Street Gods mixtape series coming out soon under Black Market Records. I’ve also got the world’s first interactive music trading cards coming soon as well in partnership with a company called Momento. It’s a brand new technology that is going to bring back tangible, physical media for the modern digital age. On top of all this I’m going to be starting a new division of Black Market Records called Black Market DJs.

All photo credits go to Rayla @Nufocus.lv

Contact Info:

• Website: https://momentotradingcard.com/musician/
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/DJ_CEO.Official
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4eUUwBAIOhZmaL6MkOgHte

Image Credits
Rayla – Nufocus LV

https://www.instagram.com/nufocus.lv?igsh=MXV1aWJqMmJkaWt3bA==