The enigmatic DJ Chick, self proclaimed “World’s No. 1 International DJ”, sat down with Shy Magazine to share his philosophy on life, music, and the world as a whole. And, what he has to say and play is worth our undivided attention. Three main points that came across loud and clear were Chick’s love for all music, his wish to diversify music, and his desire to bring focus on issues that plight the world over. Chick’s repertoire is widespread and is best shown through the artists he has shared the stage with; to name a few would slight the DJ’s impressive resume. From Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, DMX, TI, Lil Wayne, Chuck Brown, David Rudder, Fela, 2 Face, Awilo, Doug Suga, Koffie Olomide, Lucky Dube, Hugh Masakela, Shakira, Khaled, Mashal Montana, Sonny Okuson, and many more. On any given night you can find him traveling the world, but at this moment he can be found at Lux Lounge, DC on Friday nights. Where the air is thick with a blend of Soca, Calypso, Hip Hop, 9aija Sounds, CaboLove, Salsa, and Reggae.
The blends given on Friday nights at Lux are equal to the crowd Chick draws, well informed, well traveled party goers looking for a mix of genres that are sure to move. Chick confidently speaks, “My party is for those with an open mind who accept everyone’s culture and music.” His claims to be ‘all inclusive’ are true to form on Friday’s when the “The World’s No. 1 International DJ”, takes the mic hyping the crowd to dizzying proportions, everyone is dancing even the usual bottle poppers are in rare form- swaying outside of their limited VIP space. When asked of Hip Hop’s influence on international music you would be surprised at the response. Chick knows how the genre has influenced South African, Reggaeton and much of the French Carribean’s crossover music. One spinoff that is proving to be largely popular is Nigerian music shown in the upcoming BET award nominations, P. Square, won out the votes over usual Carribbean forerunners. A main frustration of Chicks when asked his standpoint on American radioplay versus international, “If the media would help promote diversity through music the DJ’s job wouldn’t be so difficult.”
DJ Chick’s party’s draw numbers in the thousands which for a DJ in America is impressive, after all European DJ’s get stadiums it’s enough to make us wonder in a city so diverse when we are going to recognize what party potential we are missing. What adds to DJ Chick’s impresario is his confidence that he is the only one doing what he does, his confidence is assured by his stage presence and the list of those he has spun for such as Fela. So be on the lookout, if you are one of the lucky 15,000 contacts in DJ Chick’s blackberry, his shows are always hype and at various events the proceeds go to causes in support of underprivileged people.
4 replies on “Talking With DJ Chick”
DJ Chick is now known to alot of you, but Chicks has been doing his thing since early DC Live , The Ritz ,Kilimanjaro. Several clubs and establishments have his mix cd’s playing on there airways and never notice his logo on them. Chicks has done his thing at Zanzibar for as long as I can remember. He’s like the Donnie Simpsons or Tigger of Dc clubs. From what I ‘v seen sad to say, but I honestly believe if he were doing just Hip Hop & R&B alone he would probably be all over the radios in america. I have been to parties all over and know numerous DJ’s and promoters, but there are very few who can pack a house with a loyal crowd of all kinds and get them to follow you any where you are week after week.(THAT IS BEING GREAT AT WHAT
First let me say that this interview was long overdue! DJ Chick has been rockin some of the biggest International, Caribbean, R&B and Hip Hop tunes in the Washington DC area for a very very long time.
I first met DJ Chick in 2003 while he was spinning at the Zanzibar (previously spinning at DC Live which later turned to ClubVIP) and later followed him over to Dream/Love, H2O, Park and of course none other than the Crossroads Night Club. Which if you are not familiar with the international scene in the Washington DC area, Crossroads used to be the place to be if you wanted to hear all of the latest international tunes and not that watered down stuff. So imagine my excitement when I clicked on Shy Mag and saw the write up, you would have thought that Shy Mag was doing a write of me! lol!
Washingtonians are so well traveled and culturally diverse that for some clubs that only play Hip Hop/ R&B is just not an option.
Being fully American I enjoy the fact that I have choices and that I do not have to listen to straight R&B/Hip Hop, Go-Go, Old Skool or House music whenever I step out. I have chosen not to frequent certain clubs specifically because of this.
Going out is about fun, dancing and enjoying your self and this is something that you will recieve each and everytime you find yourself at party in which Dj Chick is spinning.
So big up to Shy Mag thank you for putting DJ Chick’s name out there even more because this interview was well deserved!
Upon taking over Friday nights at Lux Night Club in Washington DC I can personally say that I have watched the crowds grow in great numbers and all of this in my opinion was due to DJ. Chick rocking all of the international beats!
But it amazes me how when listening to radio promo’s regarding all of the happening nightclubs you never once hear them throw DJ Chick’s name out as one of the featured DJ’s of the night. I could never myself understand this, due to the fact that the international community in the Washington DC area draws out the masses and what some fail to realize is that if a DJ decides to pack up and take his turntables somewhere else his crowd will follow! That’s just something to think about!
So with all of this being said big up’s to Shy Mag and DJ Chick may you both have continued success!
If you are ever in the Washington DC area and you are looking to hear some international tunes look up DJ Chick you will definitely get your money’s worth!
I have followed DJ Chick career since I was a student back in 2000 and have continued to remain in touch with him throughout all these years.
I remember when I arrived in Washington D.C. from New York. I had never heard African music in my life, but that year I quickly made friends with a girl from Nigeria who introduced me to the music of her homeland. She took me to café Ghana in Adams Morgan, a melting pot for people of all races and backgrounds. I remember being a little apprehensive at first when I arrived because it was a different scene then I was used to. But as the night progressed I had never had so much fun in my life. Reggae music mixed with a little soca and calypso made me feel Iike I was in another country. The way the music flowed made me forget where I was until the lights when on, signaling to club goers, the club was closing.
I remember D.J. Chick smiling from behind the D.J. booth and occasionally coming from behind the booth to make sure that he kept everyone dancing and entertained, and believe it or not- nothing has changed about him except for the large crowds that he draws on a weekly basis.
Whenever you go to a DJ chick party, you are guaranteed to have a fun time, even if it is the first time you have heard his music. I have been a lot of clubs in the states and abroad and D.J Chick still remains number one on my list of DJ’s.
You don’t realize how good he is until you go to another party and you are spending most of your time sitting around instead of hitting the dance floor and dancing the night away. When you go to one of DJ Chick’s parties you are guaranteed to hear a song you love but don’t often hear played because it isn’t mainstream or you discover a song you have never heard before and try to find it once you get home on the internet.
One thing that I wish is that there was an international presence on the radio like there was in the clubs in Washington D.C. I would like to hear music like this on the radio on a consistent basis because I think people would enjoy it. Whenever I play one a Chick’s CD’s with his mixes on it, people always ask me where I got it from and they like it. At first they are like “What is this” but give it three tracks and they are bobbing their heads and tapping their feet.
Fast forward to 2010 and chicks is doing the same thing but on a larger scale and reaching a more diverse and interesting crowd. The main theme at all of his parties is that people are there to have fun. There is no drama and no standing around. I will continue to frequent his parties because I know I am going to have a good time and meet someone new. I will also continue to support international music in hopes that I hear it more frequently in the D-M-V.
DJ Chick is now known to alot of you, but Chicks has been doing his thing since early DC Live , The Ritz ,Kilimanjaro. Several clubs and establishments have his mix cd’s playing on there airways and never notice his logo on them. Chicks has done his thing at Zanzibar for as long as I can remember. He’s like the Donnie Simpsons or Tigger of Dc clubs. From what I ‘v seen sad to say, but I honestly believe if he were doing just Hip Hop & R&B alone he would probably be all over the radios in america. I have been to parties all over and know numerous DJ’s and promoters, but there are very few who can pack a house with a loyal crowd of all kinds and get them to follow you any where you are week after week.(THAT IS BEING GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO)