305djs: When did you first get into music and DJing?

Mr. Mauricio: I’ve been DJing since I was like 14 or 15. I’m 305. I was born here in Miami. Down South Cutler Ridge, Richmond Heights, Perine all that and Kendall, everywhere. I’m basically from the south. I just started DJing when I was 14 or 15. It’s the same story of every DJ. I got some turntables and wanted to make some money, parents never thought it would be a career. I just started grinding, doing little parties here and there and [I] ended up on the beach. You know that’s where you make your money when you’re a club DJ in Miami. Then radio came along and here I am now.

305djs: What was the first club job that you had?

Mr. Mauricio: My first club job I was probably like 17 years old. I was doing some hole in the wall club on the beach. I was trying to get in there and do anything, move crates, do anything, play like 10-15 minutes. Five, ten years later, I’m still around. I consider myself still young. A young 27 but I’ve been on the beach like 10 years already. The beach has changed a lot. When it comes down to it, people think New York and LA, but club money, Miami is where it’s at. I’ve been to New York, LA, [Las] Vegas, everywhere in the United States and around the globe. Miami Beach, if you’re a club DJ and you’re dedicated, you’ll make the real money down there.

305djs: What clubs do you currently work at on South Beach?

Mr. Mauricio: In Miami I only work at three different spots. I work at Mansion, Opium, and Prive. They’re all owned by the same company the same organization. I have a contract with them. But when I’m outside of here, I’m in New York, [Las] Vegas and L.A. But in Miami, those are the spots you can catch me. I work like 6 nights a week so if you’re down here you’re bound to see me if you come out.

305djs: You recently dropped the Rick Ross mixtape. How often do you drop mixtapes?

Mr. Mauricio: I’ll be honest. Before, I used to bang out mixtapes all the time. With the radio, the traveling and the nightclubs, I’ve really backed up. There’s a lot of big mixtape kids down here like Ideal, EFN and their game is big and I’m trying to get back on the grind with that. I took the opportunity with [Rick] Ross because Ross is like the next big thing for Miami and that’s my boy. He’s been putting in work for like 10 years down here. When him and [E] Class came up to me, I saw the perfect opportunity to go hard with Rick Ross and show the world what we got to offer. So I jumped on it and now I’m going off with different artists. I’m gonna be Interscope mixtapes and I’m doing a Smitty one. I like to focus on Miami artist and my name as a club DJ is known nationally and a lot of the artists are not known nationally. So when I go out and about, I’m the first one to co-sign for them and sell them and let people know that we’re not all about booty, we’re not all about this and that stereotype. But we got a lot of talent and a lot of people say there is a movement and a lot of stuff coming out of here and give it a year, Miami will be up there with New York, L.A. and everything else.

305djs: How do you feel about the whole Miami Movement?

Mr. Mauricio: It’s crazy. It started 4-5 years ago with Trick Daddy and Trina and they got a buzz but then it mellowed out a little bit, but now it seems like it’s full force. We got Rick Ross. We got Smitty. There’s just so many people. Garcia is out there too. Pitbull is always doing incredible things right now with the Reggaeton and Bad Boy Latino. Rick Ross is now on Def Jam, that’s just incredible to know that a Miami artist is on Def Jam. Dre, with Epidemic and the production side. Miami is just the hub. A lot of artist have this perception that come from New York and LA, but they don’t understand that Miami is where they come to record, where they live. All the biggest producers in the hip-hop game live in Miami. All the artist come and record down here. All the artist live down here, so we’re privileged. Instead of us putting other people on, it’s time for us to step it up and put Miami on so everyone in the world can see what we got.

305djs: You are more of a club DJ but work on the radio. How do you feel about the music that is played, as far as more New York and Top 40 hits?

Mr. Mauricio: My transition was real crazy because I’ve always been in the clubs and now I’ve been on the radio almost 4 years. The radio, what it comes down to, is it’s a business. If you accept it and that’s what you want to do, you got to play by the rules. It’s a business. So it’s like everything else. Depends on what station and what you do and what kind of gray area you have to play what you want. But at the end of the day, radio is for the majority of the people, commercial people and you have to play the hits, bottom line. I would love to play what I want to hear all the time, but when you know your play for 400 or 500 thousand people, and to 99% of those people, "Grillz" is still the biggest record. To me, I might be tired of it, but you know you got to be professional and take it as a job. A good DJ will get what he has to get played in and play what he wants to play in all together. You got to find that balance and when you do, you’re successful.

305djs: What else do you see yourself doing in the music industry and club scene? Furthering your career?

Mr. Mauricio: Right now my hands are in everything. Like I said, I’m starting to grind on the mixtapes again. I’m in the clubs everywhere right now. In the summer I’ll be in New York, do something in the Hamptons, going to L.A. and [Las] Vegas. I just built a new studio. I know I sound like every other DJ. Built a new studio, got the production thing going, trying to work out a label deal. Just trying to grow and work with people I admire and people I look up to and make it happen. Get some side hustles going, a small barbershop, little small businesses and get money rotating around the community. That’s it just keep it going.

305djs: Anything else you want to promote?

Mr. Mauricio: I’m bigging up everyone down here. Everyone at the bottom way down south who always looked out for me. My station 103.5 The Beat. Poe Boy has always got my back down here. Zo, Smitty, Little Haiti, Triple C’s, Carol City has always had love for me. And for everyone that has doubted me, here I am and I’m not going anywhere.