We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DJ VUDU SPELLZ a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
DJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
One of the most meaningful projects i’m proud to be a part of is our Hip Hop Entrepreneurship program, founded by 2023 Clark County educator of the year Robert “Tha Vegas Don” Strawder. This program is part of Donna Street Community Center and Taking Back The Block Foundation’s mission to mentor kids and teach them how to be entrepreneurs in fields that fall under the umbrella of Hip Hop. We host several events in the Las Vegas community that give back to the youth and we’ve been blessed to partner with several prestigious companies including Macys, Verizon, Walmart, Fashion Show Mall, Las Vegas Raidersm Las Vegas Golden Knights, MGM, Raising Canes and Taco Truth (LA), just to name a few. I personally have been able to mentor and mold young male and female DJs with fellow DJ partner DJ Charlie C. Some of our alumni have already been featured in commercials and have performed at major events in the Las Vegas metro area. It’s always a blessing to give back and serve your purpose and witnessing these kids progress and shine is what it’s all about.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
One of the most familiar projects i produced that i was blessed to be a part of is Ludacris Grammy nominated song “Georgia” featuring Jamie Foxx & Field Mobb. That same year I also produced the song “Warning” that was the 1st song on Ludacris’ “Release Therapy” album that won a Grammy for the Best Rap Album of the year. I’ve produced for several artists including Chingy, R.Kelly, 8Ball & MJG, Shawnna, Syleena Johnson, Do Or Die, Ruben Studdard, Young Guns (Roc A Fella) Cece Peniston, Rob Base & Montell Jordan, to name a few but some of the artists i’m most proud of are artists i’ve personally invested in and partnered with. Some of those artist include new artist Daiyon and M-Status. These artist and many other talented artist and producers from my home town of Kankake,IL are like family and they have played a major roil in molding me to be the producer, writer, DJ and artist I am today. DJing was my first love and I started DJing at the early age of 12. One of my mentors Marco “DJ Red” Williams gave me an opportunity at an early age to spin actual wax at house parties that i probably had no business being in but it taught me how to read a very tough audience and how to move a crowd. Him along with my Uncle Garnell (DJ DMC) and DJ I.C. Dre, from the group Prime Supreme, were DJ’s that i admired and looked up to. They helped me adopt my style and supplied me with so much music that made me versatile and open to exploring different genres of music that would eventually prepare me for being a producer.
Being so young i was given a lot of opportunities early and it lead me to be discovered by manager Mil Tickit and agent Kevin “KG” Giles. Mil Tickit is responsible for plugging me with so many artists and labels. He had son many direct personal relationships with Ludacris and several other artists and once we partnered up and got the ball rolling, things started falling into place. Once I made some noise locally in the Chicago area i was also blessed to sign a production agreement with Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford who has some major placements with artists Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Ludacris and many others. He was one of the first major players from Atlanta as well as Tony Peters that believed in me. Another person who believed in me is Jo Jo Capone who is currently CEO of Cash Money (Midwest). I pay these guys so much respect because the looked out when they didn’t have to and i appreciate what they taught me.
My DJ journey led me to my production path and that led me right back to my passion for DJing and today I’m blessed to be DJing on a major level. I’m currently a DJ, Host and graphic designer/promo consultant for KCEP Power 88 in Las vegas as well as hving my own mix show with DJ Flex on Kiss 987 FM in Louisiana in which i also contribute creatively as a graphic designer. Both stations are growing and are major contributors to their respective communities and it feels good being a part of that legacy.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a DJ and a producer is passing that gift down to my children. My son DJ J Legacy is a very talented up and coming producer and DJ just like his pops and he’s been grinding and putting in work landing him some opportunities that he created on his own without my help. He has his own sound and stands on his own two feet like a boss and it makes me proud to see him living out his dreams. My daughter, artist and songwriter Nasia is extremely talented and also inherited my executive characteristics. She executive produced her first project and videos and sometimes i can’t believe she’s my daughter. My family on both sides were musicians and singers along with my father who plays the trumpet and music just runs through our veins. So the reward i get to enjoy is seeing the legacy literally grow and continue.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
One of my goals is to serve my purpose and to give back through my art and plant seeds that will grow and create a harvest. The program we have with the kids at the Hip Hop Entrepreneurship program teaches our kids and students how to fish and the mission we set out to achieve is consistently happening right in front of us. We also teach them how to manifest their desires and goals. We teach them to project, progress and practice positivity and it feels good to see what could be the next Beyonce or kendrick Lamar growing right in front of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/djvuduspellz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vuduspellz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vudu.spellz?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Twitter: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fvuduspellzworld
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfBttwt10w
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/hiphopeplv?igsh=dnZsYXl2Z2M5d2s2
