Hip-hop culture is nothing without someone standing behind two turntables and a microphone. The DJ is among the most necessary pioneers of Black music in America. These turntable artists quickly became founders of an entire genre and fostered the sounds that many music lovers have come to enjoy. These are the rapper backers, the radio station pros and the scratch masters. In honor of Black Music Month, here are 14 of our favorite Black DJs.
1. D-Nice
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DJ D-Nice, who is now most widely known for Club Quarantine — his COVID-19 lockdown Instagram parties — got his start as a teenager with Boogie Down Productions. He is one of the brains behind the mega-anti-violence hit “Self Destruction,” released in 1989. He even dabbled in rapping, scoring a hit with the song “Call Me D-Nice” in 1990, which you can now hear on a Ford F-150 commercial.
D-Nice, whose real name is Derrick Jones, often posts on social media how grateful he is that his career is experiencing such a monumental second wind. Jones has been the resident DJ for Essence Music Festival for several years and has some big clients attached to his name, like our forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama.
2. DJ Sophia Rocks
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This young disc jockey is a monster on the ones and twos. The 14-year-old is a favorite among older DJs, including the popular D-Nice, who allowed her to do an Instagram takeover of his account. She appears to really enjoy spinning music and doesn’t miss a chance to flex her music knowledge. She’s also a brand ambassador for Rap Snacks.
3. DJ Jubilee
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DJ Jubilee, whose real name is Jerome Temple, is a New Orleans Bounce music pioneer. He’s well known for creating some of the sub-genres, top hits and dances. He’s widely credited for popularizing the use of the word “twerk” and twerking. Throughout his music career, he’s also maintained a full-time job as a paraprofessional at a Louisiana public high school.
4. Spinderella
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For many, Spinderella was the first woman they’d seen behind a turntable. A hip-hop pioneer, Spin, whose real name is Deidre Roper, was a member of the rap trio Salt-N-Pepa. She is credited with being an influence on many Black women DJs who followed in her footsteps. She was just 16 years old when she started her career, 32 years of it being spent backing Salt-N-Pepa.
5. Jazzy Jeff
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Arguably one of the most well-known among rap pioneers, DJ Jazzy Jeff, whose real name is Jeffrey Townes, was one of the first DJs to become as popular as the rapper he backed. Joining his fellow Philadelphia native Will Smith, as DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, the duo took over mainstream music and became the first rappers to score a Grammy.
In later years, they worked on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air together where Townes was known as Jazz, who would often be thrown out of the mansion by Uncle Phil (James Avery). Even though the duo went their separate ways musically, the two remain incredibly close friends and Townes still works continuously as a touring DJ showcasing a masterful technique and vast knowledge of music.
6. DJ Drama
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DJ Drama rose to prominence in 2003 with Gangsta Grillz, a series of mixtapes that featured songs by T.I. and Jeezy as early hits. Following his growing success, Drama, whose real name is Tyree Simmons, began producing work for rappers like Lil Wayne and hosting a radio show. In 2007, he was arrested for illegally releasing mixtapes or bootlegging, a racketeering charge that had a major impact on DJs who released such music. Nothing ever came of the charges. He recently released a Gansta Grillz project with Jim Jones, as Blavity previously reported.
7. DJ Duffey
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The world might know DJ Duffey from Basketball Wives, but since her first season on the show, the diva behind the ones and twos has become quite the hot ticket. Duffey now backs French Montana on world tours and has even returned to Basketball Wives where fans can get a tiny glimpse into her personal life as a fiancée and mother.
8. DJ Kool
At this point, it almost doesn’t even matter that DJ Kool, whose real name is John W. Bowman Jr., is still very much a working artist. That’s because he will forever be known for his 1996 hit “Let Me Clear My Throat.” The Washington, D.C., native began producing music in the go-go and rap market in the ’80s and has been behind some fun songs over the years.
9. Mannie Fresh
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There is no favorite DJ list without New Orleans legend Mannie Fresh, whose real name is Bryan Thomas. He’s the very reason you know that Cash Money Records was taking over for the ’99 and the 2000. He’s also the reason folks think they can make it to the club with a quarter tank of gas and still be fly, as he is half of the duo Big Tymers. The producer and DJ has been a staple of southern rap since 1984 and was even an early rhyme partner to former No Limit rapper Mia X.
10. DJ Quik
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A G-Funk pioneer, DJ Quik, whose real name is David Blake, adopted his stage name for his swift work in producing some of the West Coast’s biggest hits for artists like Snoop Dogg and Tony Toni Tone, among many others. He often appears in social media polls for fans to decide if he’s the playa with the greatest perm of all time.
11. Lo Down Loretta Brown (Erykah Badu)
Erykah Badu is clearly most widely known for being a singer, but when she transforms into Lo Down Loretta Brown, the soulful songstress is an amazing DJ with impressive turntablism.
12. Kool DJ Red Alert
Kool DJ Red Alert, whose real name is Frederick Crute, is one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. He was one of the first DJs to play rap music on the radio and is responsible for breaking A Tribe Called Quest and Queen Latifah, among others. Crute is also known as the first DJ to record a mixtape, which was then known as a mixed compilation album.
13. Kid Capri
14. Grandmaster Flash
No way we’d dream of doing a favorite DJ list and omit the OG who perfected one of the most widely used techniques of the culture. Grandmaster Flash, whose real name is Joseph Saddler, is the DJ who invented the backspin technique that allows DJs to find the breakbeat easier. He also mastered punch phrasing and scratching, two techniques that all true DJs are capable of thanks to studying Saddler.
Consider this just a snapshot into DJ culture, especially since there are some OGs and young up-and-coming DJs who aren’t on this list. Who are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.
