We recently connected with DJ Doop and have shared our conversation below.

DJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

If we want to get technical, I started my journey of djing at a young age traveling with my father doing high school homecoming dances and our own family functions. Once I got to high school, I ended up throwing parties on Fridays, Saturdays and some Sundays when we didn’t have school on that Monday. I sort of took a break from “djing” when I graduated from high school and started back up my sophomore year in college after being broke juggling 3 jobs, an internship and taking 21 credit hours in a semester.

When I started my internship at Hot 103 Jamz, I formally met Brian B. Shynin’ and he took me under his wing. I playfully told him I wanted to start djing and he responded that if I bought my own equipment, he’d be glad to help. That was the start of EVERYTHING toward the brand of Doop. As soon as I went home, I ordered my first controller from AMS (American Musical Supply) and had my equipment by the end of the weekend. That following Monday morning, I barged in the studio and had him test out my equipment and the rest is history! I started as his opening dj in 2015 at a club that was called “Empire Room” located in Martini Corner in KCMO and built momentum from word-of-mouth from college organizations and people that I did events for.

I personally wish I started professionally djing sooner because I also wonder how much different being a DJ was before the technology/social media era versus now. I enjoy hearing other legendary djs and groups that started in the age of carrying vinyls, dubbing mixtapes on cassette tapes and the epic house parties that organically build a following by word of mouth and street teams posting flyers. I feel like nowadays, equipment is so accessible, people don’t respect or appreciate the value of a dj which has led to any and everyone slapping the letters DJ before a name and running with it without putting in the work to build a long lasting brand and career with the art.

DJ, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those that really know me, they know me as Renita Johnson but many know me as DJ Doop! I am an internationally known dancing dj that started to tap into the modeling world in 2015. I jumped into these industries in a number of ways that came full circle to what and who I am today.

1) Broadcast Journalist- I had my own share of radio experience in commercial, community and college radio platforms. I had a radio show on UMKC’s Student Radio station, K-Roo, which was home to my 3 different radio shows (Tha Doopster Show, The Midday Lunch Parry & Connected 2 Tha Streetz) that focused solely on artists, entrepreneurs and other entertainers that I felt did not have a platform to promote themselves. That was the foundation of interviewing and building my interpersonal skills that helps with meeting new people, celebrities and selling myself as a brand.

2) Dancer- I was trained in ballet, tap, jazz at DMB Dance of Kansas City and thoroughly studied rap/hip-hop music video choreography so I feel like I have one up on some with my dancing background.

3) Model- I just recently stepped into the modeling world because of my good friend Jade. She told me I was a model for her cosmetic line, Luxe Glam” that is now known as “Heiress Cosmetics” and since then I’ve been on the billboard screens in Hyvee Arena, been published in news articles and I’ve been collaborating with local brands like KCK Legends, Truth Clothing, Dysfunctional Society, Laji Dupri, The Wig Bar KC, Parallel Clothing Co., and my own merch brand will be dropping very soon.

4) DJ- As a regular dj, I’ve done the smallest events, international, school/college events, showcases, weddings, etc. I’ve work for a list of corporate companies including the KC Currents Women’s Soccer team, Women Leaders in College Sports, T-Mobile and School/college events at schools like the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Brookside Charter, Eisenhower Middle School of KCK and the University of Kansas.

I am most proud of being an internationally known DJ. I am the DJ of Kansas City native Krizz Kaliko and in November 2022 we co-headlined with Method Man & Redman on a Canadian tour that started in Montreal and finished in Vancouver. I’ve sacrificed and put in consistent work professionally for 10 years but if we’re including the journey from the very beginning, I’ve been working since birth! I want people to know that many can play music, but many can’t dj bring an experience, a vibe or that something that brings us all together in rhythm and harmony. I love to create experiences with the wide range of music I play and I feed off of the enthusiasm the crowd feeds me from the song selection  I bring.

In 2021, DJ Doop, LLC. was formed in the midst of COVID where virtual gigs were at an all time high due to social distancing. I’ve been able to adjust my business to fit the needs of clients virtually and in-person. For more information for booking or collaborations, I can be contacted at IAMTHADOOPSTER@GMAIL.COM

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the main things I had to learn the hard way was,  “don’t take it personal.” One experience in particular was my span of 9 interviews to become a radio personality here in Kansas City from 2014-2019. I was sold on something that was known to be one of my goals since my start in college radio at UMKC. I was asked to do airchecks, promo/jingle checks and even radio mixes to be played on the radio(something I didn’t want to use to get my foot in the door). I was always told by my mother, “What’s meant to be, will be ” and that perspective stuck with me. COVID hit in late 2019 but I was interviewed at a competing station but due to the pandemic, they were having a hiring freeze so I obviously couldn’t move forward with the position but it started my mix show experience here in Kansas City on KMJK 107.3 FM.

As life after COVID went back to normal, I was watched and asked once again from the first station to start doing mix shows on that station. I believe it is because I never gave up after the back and forth over the years and my new experience with traveling with tour and my name growing bigger and bigger with my consistent work.

Never forget, WHAT IS FOR YOU, WILL ALWAYS BE FOR YOU!

Have you ever had to pivot?

2018 was the time my life literally took a pause! I had a relative that died on New Years in a car crash and burned alive, February I had a relative die of a heart attack, March my cousin(my mom’s oldest niece) died of a heart failure, May my ex-boyfriend was shot and killed and the biggest blow came Memorial Day weekend when my best friend was killed in a semi-truck car crash. I spoke to my best friend in one of the most memorable conversations the night before but I had no idea that would be the very last conversation we ever had. I fell into a very dark depression where I literally would go to work to stay busy and go back home to cry in my dark room and grieve and I found out on Facebook that she was deceased. 1) I never would wish the pain of learning of a relative/friend’s death on social media, 2) I never really had the opportunity to say a real goodbye and I literally felt like I lost a piece of myself when she die. There were days where I would take pictures of all of my equipment because I had already quit djing mentally but my support system would not let me, shout out to them! <3 The one thing that made me keep going was I would have dreams replaying the last night that she rode with me to Manhattan, Kansas for a college party and she was so proud of how accomplished and known I was to be booked in other cities for events!

Ultimately, I took my time to grieve, journal, pray and talk to those that were a great listening ear and comforting to check on me. My best friend is what pushes me to keep going because I know if she were still living, we’d be traveling and experiencing life the way we have always dreamed of! R.I.P. Jamesha “Poohbear” Brooks(Washington)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamthadoopster
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djdoop913
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/renitaj913
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamthadoopster
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@djdoop5937

Image Credits
Kenny Ellison (3Shot Photography) ElisaPicture