Gone are the days Disc-Jockeys stayed behind the wheels to reel out potpourri of songs, mixed, scratched, poked but delivered with a melodious touch. Then, they were DJs, never to be seen but heard, just as loud as the music they jock could carry them.
But now ,the scene has changed and they are not only being heard but seen with the best in the industry. They are eating into the big pies just as the singers and producers. But their story didn’t come easy, laced with oysters, it was a bitter-sweet struggle and some of them tell it all in this Showtime edition.
I started with N500, but now charges N2M – DJ Humility
The name Benedict Afagwu does not ring a bell, but when you mention DJ Humility,everyone immediately knows who you are referring to. The chubby DJ who is known for his trademark dreadlocks, came into the public glare when he was featured in Benson and Hedges DJ Championship in 2000.
Since then, he has continued to stay true to his craft. But when he started out, he said DJs were not recognized.
“When I started, DJs were not respected. There were times we would go for an event and we would be asked to keep our instruments outside or under the staircase or in an enclosed place. But today, no matter how small the venue or house,everybody wants to see the DJ.
So, I feel happy being among the people who made Disc-Jockeying a respectable profession in Nigeria. I would also give a shout out to DJ Jimmy Jatt who I refer as one of my role models.”
He also shed more light on the lowest amount he was paid,when he started out in the game. “I remember playing at a classmate’s birthday in 1994 and I was paid about N500. But I now get more than N2 million to do shows. I still play for free based on relationships. I like the fact that I have been able to make millions of Nigerians happy on radio, in nightclubs and events. I am happy today when I see young DJs making waves because we started the revolution.”
I started Disc-Jockeying to earn extra change – DJ Xclusive
Rotimi Alakija who is known as DJ Xclusive stands tall among other top Djs. He honed his DJ skills at clubs such as Vendome and Tribeca Nightclub in the UK. The suave DJ has collaborated with Timaya, Olamide ,Kcee and Terry G, in his music.“I started Disc-Jockeying in 2003 at the Student Union just to earn extra change. It got to the point where I realized people were now taking me serious.
I was working in the Bank and Disc-Jockeying at the same time but I knew my heart laid along the DJ lane. Then, I got a job at Bank HSBC and worked there for a about a year and a half. You could wake me up at 2am and say come and DJ and I’m ready. But if you woke me up at 2am to say come and wear a suit and tie, I wouldn’t be ready.
I met Akon at a night club in London and I remember him whispering into my ear, saying he was really impressed. I also met Jermaine Jackson at the African Music Awards in London and he said the same thing. To me, these were inspiring moments and I said I wanted to take this up. So I quit my job around 2010 and I moved back to Nigeria in 2011.”
The first big pay I got was N1,000 – DJ Jimmy Jatt
Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt, as he is fondly called by fans is an inspiration to young entertainers in the country. Revered as the King of DJs in Nigeria, the award-winning DJ didn’t climb the ladder of success by sheer luck,the father of two had to pay the price to be where he is today.
He puts it this way: “There are times when you ask yourself “What am I doing?Why am I doing this wahala”. But it’s never been enough for me to regret it. One thing I have come to realize is that everything in life has its own challenges,even if I had chosen any other profession, it wouldn’t have been easier.
If you ask a doctor, he will tell you the same story. There will always be rough patches, especially in a country like ours. There are times like that, but the truth is, I’m passionate about what I do,you know what they say “Make your hobby a job and you will enjoy it” he says
When asked the first pay he got as a DJ, he said,”I used to make tapes in Obalende studios when I was working for my brothers. They paid N5 per recordings I strove to make as many tapes per day. But when I started earning my own bookings, the first big pay I got was N1,000. It was an end of the year party and I scattered their party. I charged N700 but they eventually gave me N1,000″.
I worked as a cashier at a Department Store -DJ Caise
Derin Phillips, known as DJ Caise is one of the fast-rising DJs making waves in the entertainment industry today. He gained entrance into the terrain when he released Gidi House Music, a creative blend of local and international sounds. He is the in -house DJ for Beat Fm and also the official DJ for Chocolate city. But before all these enviable feats, DJ had to travel the rough road of life.
“I have worked in a consulting firm, I have worked as a cashier at a department store, I have done quite a lot of jobs but with music, I don’t have to try hard to do it, it’s just something that comes very natural to me. I think it’s just one of those things that I am meant to do.”
A lot of people often wonder how he came about the name Caise. He has an answer for them: “ I used to tell myself that whenever I get on the deck, it’s going to be a problem and from the problem everybody is going to dance and go crazy and we’re going to have a good time. Then the ‘Problem’ became ‘Case’ and I just put an ‘i’ there.” The University Of Reading graduate has featured the likes of Waje, Ice prince and Emmy Ace in his songs.
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