EVOLUTION OF A DJ | DJ Skillspinz

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA | DJ SKILLSPINZ

INTERVIEW @LAMONTRENZOBRACY PHOTOGRAPHY @DJSKILLSPINZ

Evolution of a DJ; Validated Exclusive Interview with pioneer DJ Skillspinz and his motivation to push the original culture forward

The symbolic gesture of the 50th Celebration of Hip-hop comes well deserved. The artform of grabbing a MIC and spitting bars has evolved over the years and for the most part, revolutionized to include various styles and genres. Although not inclusive, the hip-hop movement has matured into a multibillion-dollar industry, mainly in part to the DJ. For all intent and purposes, there are a variety of DJ’s across the globe displaying different flavors, styles, and techniques. But one constant remains true, it’s a love of the art that makes each unique. Meet DJ Skillspinz! For the past 3 decades, DJ Skillspinz has stayed committed to his love of originality, and to this day, pays homage through his sets to the pioneers of hip-hop.

Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, DJ Skillspinz first fell in love with the turntables during the times of the originators. The originators, one may ask. Yes, when hip-hop was pure and untouched. As a matter of fact, it was the ‘Rappers Delight’ record from The Sugarhill Gang that sparked DJ Skillspinz. Armed with a 45’ of a Fat Boy’s joint with Roxanne Shante’s and Rappin’ Duke on the B side,  given to him by his mother, DJ Skillspinz had all the motivation he needed. DJ Skillspinz grew up in the crates, literally. From shadowing DJs at local radio stations, to being mentored by some of the legendary turntablists in the world, DJ Skillspinz is today a true pioneer himself.

As a true statesman of the art, DJ Skillspinz is full faceted in the realm of the superpowers bestowed to DJ’s. The art of composing, mixing, and placing the right songs to tell a story has always intrigued his psyche. It’s that ingenuity that’s afforded DJ Skillspinz the opportunity to work with the likes of Talib Kweli, the Theodore Unit (Ghostface Killah’s formed group, and the legendary Def Jef. In addition, DJ Skillspinz has had his work placed on The Estelle Show, Netflix, and Starz.

What makes a DJ a DJ?

Good question! Many call themselves a DJ, but the truth is, it takes an extraordinary amount of skill and originality to master the craft. DJ Skillspinz has perfected the craft with his own signature style. Instead of choosing to follow trends and patterns so commonly duplicated, DJ Skillspinz added a special blend to his repertoire of mixing and matching hip-hop classics old and new to create a unique style.  From Country, to rap and even jazz, DJ Skillspinz has created a euphoria of mixes which are performing great both live, and on social media.

The art of being a DJ is one that comes with many challenges. Of course, the rigors of coming up with mixes and creating a set-list is part of the game, but being great also involves balance. DJ Skillspinz keeps himself motivated behind his craft by practicing a healthy lifestyle. As an advocate of many causes, DJ Skillspinz has dealt with the challenges of keeping his cholesterol and high-blood pressure at good levels. The fight against cardiovascular disease begins with proper exercise, diet, and mental health. Fans can catch DJ Skillspinz on his Official Instagram page nearly daily giving support and great advice. In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, DJ Skillspinz is also the proud father of a beautiful daughter who already has scored screen time as an SAG-AFTRA actress and an up-and-coming soccer player.

Please check out the Validated Exclusive Interview w/ DJ Skillspinz and learn what makes him a great DJ.

Validated: tell us how about your journey to becoming a world class DJ? Where are you from and What is behind your Motivation?

DJ Skillspinz: I’m a “country boy” from Columbus, Georgia. My journey has been interesting to say the least. Rappers Delight had dropped, and I was six (6) years old, and my older cousin had formed his own version of that song. The very next day, he is in the bathroom and I’m knocking on the door reciting his rhyme to him. I did not know it was called rapping at the time but all I know is that I liked what I heard, and a seed was planted. I started deejaying and calling myself a DJ around 10 years old.  I must give credit to my mom because she’s the first person to put a record in my hand.  I remember this like it was yesterday.  She came home with a few 45 records, the Fat Boys “Jailhouse Rap” and on the B side was Stick’em, Roxanne Shante’s “Roxanne’s Revenge” and Rappin’ Duke “Duh Ha.” At the time, I was a 9-year-old kid and my whole world was about to change.  BTW, I still have those records. My motivation comes from hearing Jam Master Jay get busy on the turntables.  Or hearing Jazzy Jeff, Cash Money, DJ Magic Mike… I’m starting to list my top 5 deejays. Hahaha...

Validated: What is your flavor? Where do you see the state of music today? How are you contributing to the culture as a DJ?

DJ Skillspinz: My flavor is definitely old school. Nothing beats that. It just feels good to my soul. However, being a DJ I love all types of music, even some of the new stuff and will play it but if I had to choose, I’ll stay in my lane with the hip hop I grew up with. I think hip hop or music is in a great place. Yes, some of the new stuff I don’t listen to or like, but you must think, when we were coming up, our parents didn’t like rap music. They said our music was a fad. If I’m teaching my kids and they are learning about the music I listened to and even my parents listened to, I think music is in great hands. On the flipside of that, being yourself is lost in music. Everyone wants to be something that they’re not. Everyone wants that blue check on IG. No originality. It’s even so bad that newer deejays have the same name as Legend DJ’s. I saw about 3 other deejays with the name DJ Magic Mike. I’m thinking to myself, THERE’S ONLY ONE DJ MAGIC MIKE. I’ve had my name DJ SKILLSPINZ from the early 90’s but now I see a lot of dj spin this and that. It’s crazy. 

So to answer the next question I think I’m contributing to the culture by being myself. Being me. Doing what I love and not trying to be the next deejay.

Validated: Tell us about your previous projects and collaborations? Working with the likes of The Estelle Show, Def Jef, Talib Kweli, GhostfaceKillah’s Theodore Unit, Netflix, and Starz.  What do you have planned for the near future (projects)? Anyone you would like to work with?

DJ Skillspinz: Where do I begin? I used to deejay or shadow this deejay at the local radio station in my city. This other jock used to come in and she knew I made beats, so she used to tell me all the artists that were looking for beats. One day she came in and was like Ghost Face looking for beats. She gave me the info on where to send them and I sent like 15 beats. I didn’t hear anything for a while then one day I got a call. It was Solomon Childs from Theodore Unit, Ghost Face group. He was like we like this beat and we want to use it. I responded with, let me get with my attorney so we can look at the paperwork etc. After that I never heard anything else. About a year later I got a call from a friend and he was like, “Yo your beat is on the Ghost Face Theodore Unit album.” I was like “You’re lying.” I went to the mall and bought the cd and sure enough it’s my beat and they even gave me credit for it. I never got any money no nothing but one thing I took from that was, I’m actually good. It solidified me as a producer. It gave me so much confidence. Even though I didn’t get paid. That was a credit under my belt. I met Def Jef on the road while touring with this group. Actually Jef was trying to email this other dj and ended up emailing me. Remember the T-Mobile Sidekicks? My email was djt@tmobile.com because my friends called me T for short from my real name. He was trying to email this DJ named DJ T. He was like “Yo T im working on the project with BO$$ and I need these records.” I responded with “Who’s this?’ He said Jeff. I said Jeff who? He responded, "You know Def Jef.” I'm like oh shoot this is the Def Jef. I was like I got all the records you need. Mind you, I didn’t have any of those records. I ordered the records. It was a good thing our tour was ending so I got home, did what he needed and finished the job for him. Then I was able to dj a cut collage on the BO$$ mixtape she worked on. I linked up with Jef again while out on the road and happen to be in Calif. He came and scooped me, and we hung out at the studio listening to beats etc.

I met Play (Kid n Play) while deejaying for a hip hop group on BET’s Teen Summit. Remember that show? He approached me after the show and handed me his card (I still have that card years later) and I became the dj for his label that he was starting. I produced a track for the title cut on a cd he released which was dope. It was cool hanging out with him too. I remember going through the drive-thru ordering food and when we got to the window, the person couldn’t believe it was him Hahahahaha. I have a few more stories as well but I’ll save those.

Talib hit me on Instagram. I guess he was seeing the mixes that I do on there so he sent me a dm inviting me to listen to his new album Liberation 2 and wanted to know if I could do a couple mixes to help promote it. He was like, send me your number and he hit me up and the rest is history. That video got over 187k plays. From there more and more celebs, NFL players, actors etc. started following, sharing etc. That soon led to Estelle’s manager hitting me up on IG to be a guest DJ on her show, The Estelle Show on Apple Music.

Getting music on Netflix, Starz and Peacock were a dream come true. It’s kind of funny because when I was very young and starting to produce, I always loved horror movies and I used to record sections from movies and make beats out of it. I was making pause tapes and I didn’t even know the proper name for it at the time. That all came full circle because through research and hard work I was able to team up with a music supervisor that got my music on TV/film. It’s hard work but well worth it especially when you hear your music on a BIG Screen even if that BIG Screen is in your living room.

From being consistent on IG and just being me, a lot of artists have been paying attention. I’ve even had Rock The Bells (LL CooL J) share my post. Some of everybody and it’s been a huge blessing to me. Even DJ Magic Mike (the real one) has commented, and I even commented about collabing with him, and he responded. So just say there’s something there so be on the lookout for that.

I would love to work with The Fresh Prince as well. He’s one of my favorite rappers of all time along with Biz Markie. I love Biz…

Validated: We noticed that as of recently, you have been into composing music for film and short stories, is the film industry where it's at right now? What advice would you give other DJ’s who may want to pursue that lane?

DJ Skillspinz: As a DJ and producer I’ve always loved the art of composing. Fitting music in a scene and making someone scared or bringing out a laugh. The music always helps fulfill the story and push it forward. For anyone that wants to pursue that lane I would tell them, if a music supervisor is asking for money for your music to be placed, it’s a scam. They will never ask you to pay for anything.

Validated: Tell us about your challenges, and the misconception you encounter as a DJ?  

DJ Skillspinz: One of my challenges is being an over-thinker and wanting things to be so perfect all the time. I’m a perfectionist at heart. I’m really trying to calm that down because nothing is perfect. I hate or dislike it when someone thinks deejaying is so easy. Like we are just pressing a button and making a mix. But to me the biggest misconception is everyone thinks they are a dj – today.  People think they can buy a controller and suddenly, you’re a DJ now.  Technology is a blessing and can be a curse.

Validated: As a pioneer DJ, we’ve noticed that you embrace the originators of hip-hop in your set-lists, do you feel there will be a re-emergence of real music?

DJ Skillspinz: You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you came from. That is very important to know who started what and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t care to know. I’m a firm believer of what goes around comes around. What was once was will be again. Just like in the 80’s or 90’s we rocked Champion and used to buy it from K-mart to be sold in Macy’s for over a hundred dollars. That’s just an example of how things always come back in style. “Real Music” will always be around and will never die.

Validated: We notice that you are taking a stand for many social causes, one being Walking for a Healthy Heart, what inspired you to join the fight against cardiovascular disease?

DJ Skillspinz: As a black man, I face high blood pressure and cholesterol. To fight for my health and to help inspire others, I wanted to do something and use my platform for a greater cause. If we don’t take our health seriously, we won’t be here to enjoy the things that we love even after 50 years of hip hop. I’ve gotten some great engagement from people which is a great thing. If I can reach one person, then I feel like I’m doing something great not just for me but trying to inspire someone that struggles with getting off the couch to go for a walk. Let’s get out and walk people and drink plenty of water. Btw I have to admit I hate drinking water but love it because it does the body good.

Validated: You are notorious for your signature MEETS, where you take two different style artists and do a mashup, combining the two. What have you learned through the process, and which has been your favorite so far?

DJ Skillspinz: This process has really made me appreciate the person that I am. The DJ that I am. There’s so much out there in terms of social media. This DJ and that DJ. Everyone is a scratch dj now. Everyone is this type of DJ. Follow the trend. It’s hard for a person to really find themselves but through never giving up, I have found my niche. I also learned that whether I’m mixing hip hop over jazz or even country, great music always tells a good story, and they intertwine with each other and that makes it sound great together.

There’s so many. I love Schoolhouse Rock meets OutKast & Black Sheep. Biz Markie meets A Tribe Called Quest. Dang it’s so many. I like the Geto Boys meets Goodie Mob. The Jacksons meet Kendrick Lamar. I’ve had a few that have gotten over a million hits and are still going. I know I'm bragging now but that’s a huge accomplishment might I say. But, dang there’s so many. It’s hard to pick one.

Validated: Being the father of a beautiful young SAG-AFTRA actress and soccer player, how does it feel to watch her grow and mature?

DJ Skillspinz: She became SAG-eligible at the age of 6 and while we have decided not to have her join unless she absolutely must, I see her having that under her belt soon. It’s honestly very surreal to watch her grow as I see a lot of myself in her. I always tell her I want you to be greater than I am. And I feel like at only 7 she is well on her way.  Everything she touches she is naturally talented, and her determination is beyond her years.  She makes up her mind on something and she will work toward that goal until she gets it. She has taught me a lot in the sense of how she sees the world. She is fearless and isn’t afraid of a challenge, a lot of times you get caught up in being safe and acceptable in the industry and I say just have fun and be yourself.

Validated: What’s next for Dj Skillspinz?

DJ Skillspinz: Wherever the music along with God takes me, I’ll be there.

Validated: How can people stay connected with DJ Skillspinz?

DJ Skillspinz: People can hit me on Instagram @djskillspinz Youtube @djskillspinz as well as Tik Tok and email at djskillspinz@gmail.com.