Author Archives: Hugo Pacheco

Before producing hit singles for artists like the Far East Movement and Bruno Mars, Jerm Beats had a different passion: eating. Unfortunately, his love for food led him to become obese, causing a concerned friend to reach out to him out about his weight.

That’s when Jerm, whose real name is Jeremy Reeves, knew he had to change. So he set off on an inspiring life-changing journey, all while working as a member of The Stereotypes production trio.

The Stereotypes are best known for their collaborations with the Far East Movement. The Grammy-winning crew has also worked with the likes of Justin Bieber, Usher, Ne-Yo, and Mary J. Blige. In 2016, they produced Bruno Mars’ hit singles “24K Magic” and “That’s What I Like.”

Reeves has now shared his incredible story on an episode of Barbell Brigade’s Dominate Humbly series. The series highlights the stories of influential people in weightlifting.

The Sacramento native discusses his struggles with eating, the moment he decided to change, and how he got into bodybuilding. He also gives a tour of his studio.

Watch above.

Related: How Chance The Rapper’s Manager Reimagined the Music Business

Lil Jon at the school’s ribbon cutting ceremony. (Photo source: Starr FM)

Lil Jon has opened a primary school for children in Ghana with the help of the non-profit organization, Pencils of Promise.

The school, which is located in the rural community in the Asuogyaman District, provides a much-needed learning environment. It contains three fully furnished classrooms, an office, and washroom facilities, according to Starr FM Online.

In the past, children studied under trees and sheds and were sent home when it rained. The demoralizing conditions kept most families from sending their kids to school.

Photo source: Starr FM

“Kindergarten kids, at their age, they keep up so much stuff,” Lil Jon told Starr on Friday. “So if you can provide an appropriate environment for education, it can make learning very easy for them. And I’m glad I can help facilitate that for these kids looking at where they came from.”

The Atlanta-based artist dedicated the school to his late mother, Carrie M. Smith, on his Instagram on Thursday.

YESTERDAY WAS A SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WE HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND DEDICATION OF A BRAND NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GHANA 🇬🇭 I FUNDED ALONG WITH @pencilsofpromise I DEDICATED IT TO THE ABOMAYAW COMMUNITY AND TO MY MOTHER. GOD IS GOOD 🙏🏽

A post shared by LIL JON (@liljon) on Oct 13, 2017 at 11:12am PDT

Pencils of Promise is a group dedicated to making education accessible in communities around the world.

Related: Diplo Talks DJing in Africa, Collaborating With African Artists

German manufacturer Ape Labs might not be the best-known name in DJ lighting, but their range of LED fixtures brings convenient and easy-to-use options to the market.

Watch Mojaxx’s review of some of their flagship lights on this week’s Tips and Tricks.

Related: Review: Magma Scratch Suitcase (Feat. DJ Brace)

DJ Sol (Photo source: djsol.com)

DJ Sol, a mixer on Energy 95.3 in Bakersfield, California, has thrown down a high-energy Latin mix for the DJcity Podcast. His half-hour set features mostly moombahton and Latin-influenced dance music, including a few of his remixes.

Tracklist:

1. GAWVI ft. Wordsplayed – Cumbia
2. Becky G ft. Bad Bunny – Mayores – Urban Tropical Version
3. Happy Colors ft. Magic Juan – Chevere
4. Celia Cruz, Pitbull & Eve – Celia Cruz – Set It Off Fiesta PartyBreak
5. Wisin ft. Ozuna – Escapate Conmigo – Thombs & DJ-X Remix
6. Angeles ft. Yomil & El Dany – Me Mata Tu Amor
7. Maluma – Felices Los 4 – Aaar Remix
8. Marioh Barh – Siente El Mashete – Eddie Boy Hype Edit
9. Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean – Hips Don’t Lie – DJ Sol & Mr. Butter Remix
10. Major Lazer ft. Anitta & Pabllo Vittar – Sua Cara – Toob Remix
11. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna – Wild Thoughts – DJ Valid & SAM I AM Remix
12. Aaron Y Su Grupo Ilusion – Todo Me Gusta De Ti – DJ Sol & Kur3 Bootleg
13. The Boy Next Door & Art Inc. – La Colegiala
14. Sean Paul – Get Busy – DJ Sol & Mr. Butter Remix
15. Pitbull ft. Ty Dolla $ign – Better On Me – Joe Maz Remix
16. Major Lazer ft. Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, Quavo, & Bad Bunny – Know No Better – Bad Bunny Remix – DJ Sol Remix
17. Exodus & PuroWuan – Nalgazo
18. The Bucketheads – The Bomb – Marat Leon 2017 Remix – DD 2K17 Calle Ocho Bootleg
19. Aniceto Molina – Cumbia Cienaguera – Big Syphe & Julian R Puro Pari Bootleg
20. Sak Noel, Salvi & Garvanin – Prendelo
21. Pitbull ft. Farruko – Hoy Se Bebe
22. J Balvin & Willy William – Mi Gente – DaRock & Keengs Bootleg

Follow DJ Sol on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter

Related: Listen to Cosmo Baker’s DJcity Podcast Mix

Major Lazer turns back time in the video for their Afrobeats and dancehall-influenced track, “Particula.” The visual depicts life in Johannesburg in the 1970s.

“Particula,” which appears on Major Lazer’s Know No Better EP, features South African DJ Maphorisa, rapper Nasty C, Nigerian artists Ice Prince and Patoranking, and Nigerian-American artist Jidenna.

South African director Adriaan Louw discussed the idea behind the video in a press release:

“I’ve always wanted to shoot a film like this in Johannesburg. It was creating an ideal world within Joburg that was based in the 70s. I wanted it to feel like we were shooting a documentary of the culture that could have been in a city where disco, funk, Fela Kuti was everywhere.”

Watch the video above and download “Particula” on DJcity.

Related: Watch A$AP Ferg’s ‘Plain Jane’ Video

Unkle Chip at Transmission in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo source: Ahh Yeah)

Unkle Chip, a member of the Elite Camp DJ crew, was recently crowned the champion of Ahh Yeah’s first ever Weekday Warriors DJ Battle. The competition was co-sponsored by DJcity, Peavey, and Jetpack.

Hosted by DJ Toke 1 and the Heavy Hitters’ DJ Fatfingaz, the battle took place at Transmission in Jersey City on Sept. 24. Unkle Chip took home a one-year subscription to DJcity’s record pool, a pair of Peavey Dark Matter DM 112 speakers, and a Jetpack Remix DJ backpack.

Rounding out the top three were New Jersey’s DJ Sanchez (second place) and DJ Tone E (third place). Long Island’s DJ Trife and Goldie Awards finalist Rocket Jackson also competed.

Weekday Warriors is a year-long competition for DJs in the New York metropolitan area. DJs play 15-minute sets and are judged on technical ability, originality, song selection, and crowd reaction.

The battle’s judges included DJcity’s East Coast Director Latin Prince, Cypress Hills’ Eddie B. Swift, 92.3 AMP Radio’s DJ Majestik, turntablist GetLive!, and DJ/producer Color TV.

Watch Unkle Chip and DJ Sanchez’s routines below.

Unkle Chip, First Place

DJ Sanchez, Second Place

Related: DJ RENA Wins DMC World Championship at 12 Years Old

Rising hip-hop producer Tank God has explained how he made Post Malone’s hit single “rockstar” featuring 21 Savage on a new episode of Genius’ Deconstructed. The track currently sits at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100, becoming Post’s highest charting single to date.

Tank discusses that he made the beat while taking a break from studying for finals in December 2016. He then recalls his chance encounter with Post later on while at a studio session in New York City. Tank goes on to break down “rockstar” in FL Studio.

The track, which was DJcity’s third most downloaded song of September, is the first single from Post’s forthcoming second studio album, Beerbongs & Bentleys. “Rockstar” broke Apple’s single-week streaming record with 25 million plays.

Watch Deconstructed above.

Related: Watch London On Da Track Explain How He Produced ‘No Flag’ Feat. Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, and Offset

DJ Eclipse, an original member of the independent hip-hop group Non Phixion, has been featured on Funkmaster Flex’s 5 Minutes of Funk segment on Hot 97. The Queens-based DJ threw down an extended set consisting of mostly East Coast rap and breakbeats.

Eclipse is currently a member of the influential Rock Steady Crew. He also hosts a mix show on SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation channel called Rap Is Outta Control.

Watch his routine above.

Related: Watch Mista Sinista’s Routine for ‘5 Minutes of Funk’

DJ Young O (Photo sorunce: DJ Young O)

DJ Young O, a resident at Island Tavern in San Marcos, CA, has served up a Latin mix for the DJcity Podcast. The San Diego native’s mix features reggaeton, Latin-influenced dance music, and house, including some throwbacks.

Tracklist:

1. Ozuna – Noches de Aventura
2. Maluma – Felices Los 4
3. Ozuna – Dile Que Tu Me Quieres
4. Selena – Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
5. Pitbull ft. Don Miguelo – Como Yo Le Doy
6. Pitbull ft. Ying Yang Twins & Lil Jon – Bojangles
7. Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
8. Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)
9. Ed Sheeran – Shape of You – Reggaeton Edit
10. Danny Ocean – Me Rehuso
11. Lorna – Papi Chulo – DJ Young O Tira Por Atras Edit
12. Don Omar – Salio El Sol
13. Nina Sky vs Gloria Estefan – Conga Shake – DJ Steve1der Remix
14. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
15. Fulanito – La Novela
16. Tujamo & Plastik Funk – Who – Lowzer Remix
17. TJR – Time To Jack
18. Dimitri Vegas, Martin Garrix, & Like Mike – Tremor – DJ Young O Shots Edit
19. Wuki – Tricky – DJ Young O S.A.X. Edit
20. Pitbull ft. Ty Dolla $ign – Better On Me

Follow DJ Young O on Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud

Related: Listen to Christy Ray’s DJcity Podcast Mix

Fresh off of signing with Motown Records, Atlanta producer Zaytoven has been featured on FACT TV’s Against the Clock series. The show challenges producers to make a beat from scratch in under 10 minutes while being filmed in real time.

A pioneer of Southern trap music, Zaytoven got his start as an early Gucci Mane collaborator. The Grammy-winning hitmaker went on to become a driving force behind Future and Migos, producing the latter’s breakout single, “Versace.” Since then, he has worked with artists like Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and Yo Gotti.

In the episode, Zaytoven delivers a melodic trap beat in under five minutes, one of the fastest times by anyone on the show. He then invites 20-year-old California rapper Yung Pinch to finish off the track with some vocals.

Watch Against the Clock above.

Related: Watch P-Lo Race Against the Clock to Make a Beat