We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DJ KO a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

DJ , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge to profitability in the DJ industry is learning when to stand firm on your price versus compromising for an opportunity that might not immediately pay off. A lot of times, as an outsider, it might seem like DJs are constantly in demand and making a lot of money, but the reality is that you have to navigate when to value yourself financially and when to play the long game for career growth.

Personally, my biggest opportunity came when I started working with Ayra Starr. In the beginning, the money wasn’t what I would have ideally asked for, but I saw potential in the connection and the future work we could build together. Fast forward, and we now have a great working relationship, which has opened doors to more gigs, tours, and experiences that have been way more rewarding in the long run.

Balancing those short-term losses for long-term gains is what makes the industry tough, but it’s also what defines longevity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into DJing through my younger brother, Mikewest. He’s only a year younger than me and started DJing before I did. Watching him up close really opened my eyes to the craft and showed me how I could take my love for music and express it in a way that felt personal to me. From there, I began to envision what my DJ career could look like and how I’d use it to spread my love for music to as many people as possible.

Beyond DJing, I also MC and produce music. I think what sets me apart is being from NYC—it’s like having a cheat code. New York is one of those rare places where the world comes to you, and because of that, you get exposed to so many different cultures and sounds. The diversity of the city really pushes you as a DJ to have a broad and expansive music repertoire, which gives me an edge, whether I’m performing locally or internationally.

One of my proudest moments was producing a mix for Ayra Starr’s Glastonbury Festival set with my brother and Saminoyo. That mix felt like the perfect blend of everything I’ve been working towards: DJing, producing, MCing, and touring. It really captured the essence of my journey so far and how far I’ve come.

What I want people to know most about my brand and what I do is that it’s not just about the music—it’s about the community. We often admire other scenes, especially within the Afro space, but I always say, “The grass is greener where you water it.” The relationships and connections you need are often right next to you, and that’s something I want to continue building through my work.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

From the moment I started DJing, I knew I wanted it to be more than just a side hustle—I wanted it to be my full-time career. I’ll never forget the first time I got paid to DJ. It felt like the easiest job in the world because, in my mind, I’d been DJing for free in my room anyway. Before that, nothing else ever clicked for me in terms of a career. Everything else just felt like it was about getting by.

A key turning point was my first tour with Ayra Starr. That’s when I realized that if I wanted more opportunities like that, I needed to fully commit to the job. I’ve been fortunate to have a relatively steady journey, but the pandemic was a major deterrent. It made me question the stability of my career, and I felt like I needed to develop more reliable skills. Still, we found ways to adapt and keep the momentum going, even through the challenges.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was how to separate work from pleasure. In the DJ industry, especially with its social nature, it’s easy to let friendships and fun overlap with business. But I realized that if you want to do a great job consistently, you need a level of discipline and professionalism. Having chemistry with the people you work with is important, but you can’t let that blur the lines. You have to make sure the job always comes first. That’s what keeps your craft sharp and your reputation strong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialdjko?_t=8qtWz1IxsC2&_r=1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdjko/profilecard
• Twitter: https://x.com/official_djko?s=21

Image Credits
Yuriy Baranov Halimotu Shokunbi Dawn Migi Pics