As one of the people responsible for keeping the night alive, the DJ is essential to hip hop. Recently 24Hour got a chance to sit down with a fast rising club and mixtape DJ that’s got everyone watching, and more importantly nodding and moving. Exploding onto the scene as one of Miami’s top DJ’s, Stevie J has been grinding and shining, in the city’s top clubs. Get used to him people. And if you don’t know who he is, that’s okay with him too, as he’s building an empire all off one question: Who is Stevie J?

 

24H: So let the people know about you, and what you do.

 

Stevie J: Yeah this Stevie J, I DJ in all the hottest clubs and parties in Miami. I mess with a lot of people. I been DJ’ing for about 3 years and that’s where I’m at right now, trying to go hard with this DJ stuff. I’m originally from Brooklyn but I been in Miami since 98’.

 

24H: Okay so your originally from NYC. What made you come to Miami, and what do you think it is about Miami that attracts so many big stars here?

 

Stevie J: Well for me it was just a new beginning. Miami’s the place to be at, great weather, the energy, the people. It’s a night life. Especially with that nice weather and the cool breeze.

 

24H: Aight and where did your road to DJ’ing start?

 

Stevie J: Well I got into making beats. I was producing for around two years, but the money wasn’t right. And I just didn’t like what these DJ’s were playing in the club so I knew I could make a difference in the club. So I just started up and it’s been 3 years now. My first club I ever DJ’ed at was Nocturnal, but I’ve been all over.

 

24H: So how did you make that move from just saying I want to do that, to actually making moves as a DJ?

 

Stevie J:  I just spoke to people and kept buggin em, and buggin em. A lot of people didn’t give me a chance, but Mike Garland, he gave me a chance. Really I started from the bottom, I didn’t know anybody.

 

24H: So what should someone expect from a Stevie J set?

 

Stevie J:  I’ma give you everything. It’s gon make sense. There’s a lot of DJ’s that play music just to play music. Whatever I play, it’s gon give you that energy. It ain’t no practice, it’s just natural.

 

24H: I dig it. So what are some joints you’re playing right now? Old and new.

 

Stevie J:  The classic joints I always go to. Biggie, 2pac, Big Pun, Slick Rick, I mean I can keep goin. New Edition, Big Daddy Kane, I take it way back. As for the new joints, ya know Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and Jay-Z.

 

24H: Do you plan on picking up the producing again now that you’re out there more?

 

Stevie J:  Yeah I’ma continue the producing. But right now I’m just focusing on building my name as a DJ first, so when them beats come, it’ll be easy to get them out there.

 

24H: And do you touch into the mixtape game or are you strictly clubs?

 

Stevie J:  Yeah I do mixtapes. I don’t really do em too hard, but I try to put one out every 2 months. I’m working on one right now, that’s hosted by Rick Ross. My mixtapes (focus) on everything. The blending is smooth, you could just let the mixtape play from beginning to end. I do my little shout outs, but all the shout outs make sense. They go with the vibe of the mixtape.

 

24H: Aight, now I know Miami has a lot of local talent, are your mixtapes more focused on the local cats or are they more mainstream?

 

Stevie J:  Nah everything. If it’s local and it’s hot I’ma put it on there. If it’s mainstream and it’s hot, I’ma put it on there.

 

24H: Now in the beginning you said that you mess with a lot of people. Who are some artists that you’ve worked with?

 

Stevie J:  Well shout out to DJ Khaled, that’s a good friend of mine, he’s been helping me out, I been helping him out. I was in the “Out Here Grinding” and the “Go Hard” video. Also I been dealing with Maybach Music, shout to Rick Ross and the whole CCC’s. I’m just tryin to get that exposure, be cool with everybody and get my name out there.

 

24H: What are some up and comers you think we should be looking for from Miami?

 

Stevie J:  Brisco. Brisco is one of the next artists in line from Miami. Ace Hood. Billy Blue doin his thing too. Ball Greezy. It’s a movement, everybody tryin to make things happen. If they keep goin the way they goin, they should be alright. They just gotta keep makin that music.

 

24H: What do you think Miami has to do to keep their position in the game?

 

Stevie J:  We just need to stick together and keep that movement goin. Miami’s got a strong movement, and people recognize it. It’s a nice area to be in. So just sticking together, not trying to hurt nobody but congratulate the next person.

 

24H: You’ve come up pretty fast. What’s the most common mistake you would advise other DJ’s to avoid?

 

Stevie J: A lot of DJ’s just DJ to DJ. They made this just like a job, and it is a job, but you gotta love what you do. I don’t see a lot of DJ’s promote themselves as much as I do. Like the whole Stevie J t-shirts and mixtapes. A lot of Dj’s don’t advertise and market theyselves.

 

24H:  I’ve heard about and seen those “Who Is Stevie J?” shirts. That’s a good idea.

 

Stevie J: Yeah the “Who Is Stevie J” t-shirts thing. I got em for the guys, and for the ladies I got little tank tops. The mixtapes. I try to wear the t-shirts in videos. And it’s catching on. When I go out of town people ask me, who is Stevie J? So I’ma keep goin hard with that campaign.

 

24H: Okay, now I heard a rumor that you’re about to be handling a presidential gig. Please tell the people about that.

 

Stevie J: I’m about to do the inauguration in DC. That’s gonna be big. That’s from January 17-22. That’s gonna be a national event. That’s Obama being accepted into the Whitehouse, so I like that. I’m also doing All-Star Weekend in Arizona this year. And I’m working on the Super Bowl.

 

24H: That is a huge look my man, congrats on that. So what do the out-of -towners need to know to enjoy their time in Miami?

 

Stevie J: Well you just gotta go to a good club. Enjoy the weather. If you’re in that nightlife, that club scene, just go somewhere with good music. And that’s wherever I’m gonna be so ya know (laughs).

 

24H: Aigth Stevie J, how can people contact you?

 

Stevie J: My Myspace is Myspace.com/ steviej_001. You can send me tracks at sjmp3s@gmail.com.

 

24H: Aight boss well we really appreciate your time and your speaking to us. Any shout outs you wanna send to the people?

 

Stevie J: Shout out the people that support my movement. Mike Beck. Shout out to Mike Gardner, Headliner Market Group. Shout out to Maybach Music, Rick Ross. Shout out to We The Best, Ace Hood, DJ Khaled. Shout out to the whole 305 movement. Poe Boy. Shout out to Busta Rhymes. Shout out to J. Forbes. Shout out to my girls Nina Marie and L.J. Lo-Boy and Yung Streetz, Str8 Drop Records, HumbleHungree Ent and my dude Phil da Mayor. And that’s about it, if I forgot anybody, you know I still love ya.