A. I’ve had that name since I was a kid playing basketball.
Q. What made you want to become a DJ?
A. I’ve always loved music and looked up to a DJ by the name of Todd Terry. I saw the success he had so it made me realize that I can make a living doing it.
Q. What are one of your best experiences working at Hot 107.9 as a DJ?
A. Having a set on a birthday bash, that was amazing because I never got a chance to go to a birthday bash because I was working for the rival station and my first time at a birthday bash, I was djing.
Q. What differentiate you from other DJ’s?
A. My versatility, I can be djing a trap spot then the next day do an upscale event then the next day DJ a reggae/dancehall party.
Q. Can you give advice to upcoming DJs?
A. Work relentlessly and don’t give up, no gig is too small or too big.
A. I really got my start in college. I was the co-host to a radio mixer and personality named Y. Dot. He had a drive time show on our college station, WANM 90.5 on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. I would just watch him mix on a software program called Virtual DJ. I would sit in the studio and think to myself “I can do that”! So, one day I downloaded the program, asked him for some music and I began practicing.
Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ’s?
A. I PRACTICE. Even after I mastered the skill. I still practice and take the time to sharpen my skills. I’m also HUGE on my blends and transitions. For a long time, that’s all I worked on creating different ways to transition from song to song so that it never sounds like a train wreck. Of course, I’m human! Sometimes I do mess up (lol) or can just be moving too fast, but I genuinely love my craft and I think it shows. You can really tell who’s having fun and who’s just there to be there.
Q. How would you define your “Style” or approach to providing DJ Entertainment?
A. I study the crowd, I am always thinking about how I want to set the vibe and what’s going to be my first song. I’m also from Florida… I talk on the microphone! Also, one thing I’ve learned from being in ATL is that they don’t give the DJ a chance to rock the mic. They hire a host and a DJ and then they want us to work together when really, I’m my own show.
Q. Who or what Influenced you to be a DJ?
A. Radio…. Being just a personality is actually very boring.
Q. What are your goals in the next 5 years?
A. Syndicated radio or just radio full-time, more traveling—I really want my craft to allow me to see the world while doing what I love. I want to learn more of the business side as well. I’ll also possibly produce a record and learn how to make beats.
A. That feeling of being in control of the party crowd. It’s a great free feeling. I live for the party.
Q. What is one of your special moments you had being a DJ?
A. Winning my 1st DJ battle. The person I was against was much more experienced. We were neck and neck the whole night. At the end of the night, they announced me the winner. Awesome feeling.
Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ’s?
A. The customer service I provided to the people.
Q. Who would you consider to be a DJ Legend?
A. DJ Jazzy Jeff. Pretty sure many will say this. But just watching him coming up and the talent he has, it’s motivating.
Q. Can you give any advice to upcoming DJ’s?
A. Practice Practice Practice and stick to your price!!
A. Actually, I was 15 years old and was a member of my uncle’s promotional street team/setup crew. The DJ that was booked for the party was “Running Late”. At first, we thought he was just on some “Wanting the party to be crowded when he arrived” type of ego trip. Little did he know that we always had a line of people waiting to get in before the doors opened. So, my uncle gave me records to play as “Door Opening Music”. The DJ never showed up, so I was the DJ for the whole night. Evidently, I did pretty good because I was the DJ from that point on. So honestly to answer your question. I was forced to DJ to save the family’s business is how I like to put it.
Q. What are some of the challenges you have being a DJ?
A. I’m at a place in my life where being a DJ is not challenging to me. It’s actually more fun now than in my past. It was strictly business to make extra money, but now it’s more of a fun-loving hobby than I get paid to do.
Q. Can you give any advice to an upcoming DJ?
A. Remain humble and always remember, there will be someone coming after you so please pass the knowledge.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
A. In the next 5 years, I see myself behind the scenes involved in T.V. shows, and movies.
A. Working, Grinding, working on real housewives of Atlanta.
Q. You styled Anita Baker for the B.E.T. Awards: how was it working with her?
A. It was amazing they found me on Instagram, and they wanted me to design a custom look for her.
Q. What made you get into fashion?
A. It’s always been in me. I have been doing fashion since 4th grade. I came to Atlanta after high school and went to AIU to get my B.A. in marketing. I own Kontrol Magazine, and it’s a national fashion beauty lifestyle publication based out of Atlanta and sold nationally through Barnes and Nobles. I am also creating a show called blended love which basically talks about different people that come to love; rather they black or white showing the different love couples. It showcases love in a different light; it shows love in a different matter.
Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion. The person that made you say I want to do this.
A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t a typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.
Q. What made you launch Kontrol Magazine?
A. I wanted to showcase my work as a Designer and showcase my friends’ work who have a hard time getting put on. I decided to create the magazine as a platform for us.
Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion design? The person that made you say I want to do this.
A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.
Q. Do you think fashion in New York is more advanced than here in the south?
A. Yes, fashion everywhere is more advanced than here. We don’t have fashion here in Atlanta. Fashion here is like a clone everyone wants to do the same thing everyone wants to look alike. No one wants to be different.
Q. How do you feel about where the music is right now?
A. We like it. It’s always growing as we get older. Music means something different to us. Music means to us differently than the kids we think. It’s time for Hip-Hop to give some harmony to the older generations. Even on Netflix, you got shows like “The Evolution” that are really breaking down what Hip-Hop is. If you like something different, you can go to SoundCloud, we think this is a good time.
The time is good with Hip-Hop, we like to look at how it used to be called the golden era. When I was appreciative of what was going on, and now it’s the new era. Some people complain about how things change. It evolves, and the evolution of Hip-Hop is a dope thing to see and experience while we are living within it.
Q. What have you all been up to these days?
A. Working on life, and we still make music. We been making beer and getting into the craft beer to a place we all get. We can appreciate it and the diversity. The industry and different beers are changing the world.
Q. How did you get started with beer?
A. It started with liking beer and trying different flavors that turned into a business opportunity. We drank it, tried different brewers, went to different places, and it was all about us trying different beers that led to starting Atlantucky. That is our beer brewing company. We had 2 beers that we did with Monday Night Brewing. We tour 100 to 150 days out of the year. It started as going around the country. Before the shows we would go find a brewery. We visited about a hundred or more breweries over 5 or more years. We learned more by trying new flavors and brewing in the country. We went to cool places people would never go to. We got an opportunity with Monday Night Brewing to do our first beer called “Front Porch Parallel”. It sold out everywhere.
We found another revenue stream. Beer is something that will be around forever, even if we stop rapping, beer will still be around. If we can make that, we can still be creative as an artist. We saw it as a business opportunity and a passion project. Beer is sold everywhere. The beer industry is booming. It’s a $40 billion dollar industry a year. A lot of people are bringing the urban side to it. Nappy Roots are more than just a name on a can. We know how to make it.
Watermelon Chicken & Gritz is in about 4 states. Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, and New York. The goal is to do a collaboration as well as travel, so we can do more meet and greets. We are also doing a T.V. show about it called “40 Akerz and a Brew”. Craft beer is about creativity and there’s a science to it.
Q. What is “Nappy Roots” doing differently?
A. Being “Nappy Roots” and doing beer is different. They need more diversity in Atlanta.
A. I started singing at around 3 and a half, but officially at age 4. I sang on stage with my sister and dad at one of his concerts.
Q. How did you get into the industry?
A. For the most part, I took an in depth look at the industry by reading books on it, watching artists that inspired me, and attending workshops. I applied the knowledge I received so that at some point I would make the necessary global impact.
Q. Who inspired you?
A. It’s a long list, but I’d say firstly, my dad-Tony Gonzales, Also, Kirk Franklin, Ron Kenoly, John Legend, Ray Charles, Deitrick Haddon, Johnny Cash, and Maxwell inspired me as well.
Q. Tell me about your single?
A. In wanting to have no limitation placed on my sound, and being known for my Contemporary releases; the first release for 2019 showcases the worshiper in me that many have seen and experienced in my life performances over the years.
The single is entitled “I Choose to Live” and it speaks to the heart of every person that wants greater in all aspects of life and is a reminder that through it all they must speak “Life” into their own lives even when the odds look stacked against them.
The new offering was written/produced/ arranged by Lesroy ‘AP’ Byers and co- arranged by Sade Sealey of Audio Predators (out of Antigua), with mixing/ vocal production done by Sherwin Gardner of Flow Master Records and mastered by La Masseria Estudios.
Q. What advice can you give others in this industry?
A. To answer that question I’d say this: I watched the Netflix Quincy Jones documentary the other day, and in watching his story, I am reminded of some things that some people might say are cliché. Things such as “Keep going! Keep growing! Continue to educate yourself within the field. Never give up if you’re serious about making this all that you do. Even when you start to collect the nice checks and gain more power, never lose the drive necessary to continue to cause change and be great”!
Q. What projects have you been doing in the community?
A. Annually I try to host at least two outreach events in different communities, as well as a lot of food drives and free outdoor music events.
A. For me, it’s about the ladies putting good music out there with positive vibes and positive energy.
Q. What brought you to Atlanta?
A. As an Artist and a man, I think I’ve done all I can do in New York City. I had to come where the music was popping, and Atlanta fit my vibe (That laid-back vibe).
Q. Who were some of the people that really made you say, “I can do this”?
A. It took me a while to get comfortable, but I started hanging around people that were really doing it. Tony Sunshine pushed me. I was always in a one-man band. I have my own studio, do my own mixes, and own masters and videos. The first person I met here was Bone Crusher. He has been a big help and push, He said “Don’t change you. Don’t be an Atlanta artist. Be you, be different, and you will stand out”.
Q. You were in the movie “All eyes on me” and “Love& Hip-Hop”, what other projects are you working on?
A. I love acting. I know that acting is what I always wanted to do but did not think about doing. I had enough talent to do it, and I want to get into more of it. Tupac was my Idol. It was a blessing to be on the project “Love & Hip-Hop”. I made a record. Everyone went crazy, and the producers walked up to me. They wanted me to be in more scenes.
Q. Do you Model?
A. Yes, I have a lot of pictures in magazines. Triple O G did a contract with me also, and I did a sneaker deal with a sneaker project.
A. I am originally from Las Vegas, Nevada raised in Houston Texas. My family has a background in music. Everyone sings. My mother sang lead for a group called “The Platters”. She introduced me and my siblings to music. We married young and didn’t really get to explore our musical paths. But now that we’ve raised our kids, we’re revisiting music and creating a platform for our message on love, relationships, and marriage.
Q. Let’s get the background of the song “Sophisticated Freak”?
A. A lot of times people tend to put their cards right out on the table. You see exactly who they are, or who you think they are. So, I’m saying that just because a woman is not marketing her sexuality right off the bat doesn’t mean that she’s not a problem in the bedroom. Looks can be deceiving.
Q. Who is the artist that influenced your career?
A. Diana Ross, she is the personification of a pop star. From being a recording artist to a performing artist. She is the prototype and total package. Even my modern-day influences, like Brandy, Beyonce, Mariah Carey have pulled from her blueprint.
Q. Who would you like to collaborate with?
A. Definitely, Cardi B.
Q. How do you feel about women in the music industry and how men do not take them seriously enough unless they are passive. What is your observation on it?
A. I’ve had to deal with push-back, but not a lot. I come to the table to do business, and I refuse to let my gender be treated as a negative or a limitation. Also, I have the right people on my team.
Q. What was the inspiration behind “Blue Sunset” and its title?
A. As you know the song talks about feeling good about who you’re with and giving off positive energy. You might have a messed-up day, and at that moment everything goes out the window, but you can continue to have positive vibes. As for the title, blue is my favorite color. Sunset is like the essence of feeling good.
Q. What projects are you working on?
A. My biggest focus right now is an album. It is called Blue Leisure. I also dropped a new song with Whodini. I’m doing television and movies, and I also have my own company.
Q. Do you think being a music producer that you don’t get the credit you deserve working with so many people?
A. I do now, but at one time I think I had a chip on my shoulder. There was a time when I was doing so much for other people, and I wasn’t getting much love back. Now, the industry is embracing me a lot more. Fanbases are bigger. It shifted and now I am a full artist.
Q. Out of all your projects, what is the best one you worked on in terms of production?
A. Hmmmm……that’s hard. It’s hard to say because I take pride in all my work. One is the Fetty, and Johnnie Record I did with Frank Ocean. I am also proud of the work I did with Whitney Houston. God rest her soul.
Where It Begins 