Egyptian Lover has always been one of my favorite artists — for three songs and one purpose.  The three songs are: Egypt, Egypt, My Beat Goes Boom and What Is A DJ?  The purpose is that unlike so many promoters, club managers/owners and people who are supposed to pay a DJ, Egyptian Lover knows that the DJ is the foundation of hip-hop, the source of lasting success for clubs in general, and the reason that these nightclubs make any real (legal) money in the first place.  Now is the time to address the disrespect of the DJ, who is the original force of hip-hop and the club scene.



Of course, the DJ is a winner. He gets the girl; he rocks the beat, and he is the undeniable trendsetter for any club he rocks. And female DJs will not be neglected.  Female DJs have many advantages over male DJs once they get past the overt cavemanlike sexism — especially if they are actually talented, and charm and tasty looks never hurt.  So what am I talking about?  I am talking about the epidemic of DJs receiving and, even worse, accepting chump change for their services.  For a young buck DJ, $150 is a good figure to earn on a night —well, it’s not bad. But a top-tier local club DJ should receive no less than $250 a gig — and that is considered low in DJ circles.  Some of the superstar DJs (Scene, Bambataa, Craze, AGCG, Jam, etc.) who are flown around regularly earn $2,500-$5,000 for a couple of hours.  Hey, unless a special arrangement has been made to accept lowball and cheap dollars, “Getcha money up, mayn!  You’re worth it!”



I say this because the DJ is quickly getting lost in the shuffle that hip-hop and club nights are becoming.  Rappers with no stage show — This should grab your attention with the quickness.  Club managers/owners employing DJs who don’t take risks with music, who won’t play non-singles, who don’t play independent artists, and who don’t play local artists — take a note.  Party people in the house who love to groove, grind and get down on a night that becomes more of an experience than a casual outing — this is for all of y’all!  The DJ makes the whole difference in your stage show, your club’s success and your night on the town.  A good DJ is a director/manager of the vibe, the mood and the attitude of the venue.  Not only does a real DJ require skill, but programming (playing the right song at the right moment) to advance the evening into a soundscape all its own.  



The DJ is being undervalued, underappreciated and most of all — underpaid!  That’s right underpaid, and you know what I mean when your club is charging crazy rates for entry and beverages and you can’t find room to compensate the cats who make the whole club bang.  And let it be known that pressing play, having two turntables and/or saying “I’m a DJ” does not qualify one to earn the abbreviated title of disc jockey.



I know that party people may be used to carbon copy, Serato dependent (I repeat dependent, not aided), and basic DJs by now.  There is such little originality available to support the real party people.  For all of the Donald Glaudes, DJ Dans, B-Mellos, Hawkskees, Roc’Phellas, Heather Dunns, and Funkdaddies of the world, there are those who do not aim for perfection, for legend and for you to have the night of your life.  But for those who like to party, the DJ was and is the catalyst, the inspiration — the source for memorable experiences.  Ever since the iconic shadows of Kool Herc and his closet-sized speakers graced the streets and projects of the South Bronx, the legend of the DJ has been unparalleled in hip-hop and dance scenes.  More than a soundman, a good DJ enhances a show like Jam Master Jay (RIP) did for Run-DMC; a good DJ makes a good rapper even better like Jazzy Jeff did for The Fresh Prince; and a dope DJ inspires dope MCs like Lil’ Wayne to dedicate entire tracks to the masters of style, the mistresses of sound — the kings and queens of creativity and the producers of those mixtapes that y’all cop!  One time for ya mind, support your local DJ and help him pay some rent!



The DJs will be out this weekend fa’ sho’!  I hear that the downtown Tacoma nightspot Juno is the place to be on a Saturday night.  Uptown Tacoma’s Sixth Ave strip is the place to be.  Also, the Olympia Hempfest is cracking on Saturday at Capitol Lake with a 1 p.m. Live From I-5 stage and at 6 p.m. with another featuring J. Ross-Parrelli.  I hear that Lakewood has a spot called Inni’s that’s bubblin’ as well. 



Don’t burn up too much with this heat wave and these lightning storms. Stay up and show the DJ some love!



Peace and luv.