On the surface, DJ Jaycee looks like any other regular, nice guy. If you started talking to him about music, you might discover the true music fan inside. But if you saw him preform on the turntables, you'd instantly become a fan. The Detroit DJ who now resides in Atlanta is a student of the game who has gone on to do it all--tour the world with Ludacris several times, win the Atlanta DMC competition, win the Charlotte Red Bull Thre3style qualifier, and host one of the most highly rated radio shows at V-103 FM. Every opportunity he was given to advance his career, he came out with a huge W and continues to look for new ways to challenge himself.
We spoke to the multi-faceted DJ about his humble beginnings, the start of his relationship with Ludacris as his tour DJ, and competing with other DJs head to head on some of the biggest stages. Take a minute to get familiar with DJ Jaycee below.
What was your childhood like and how did music become a part of it?
My great grandmother owned a record store for a few years in Detroit (C&J Records on the corner of Intervale & Northlawn) so records were ALWAYS in close proximity. There are pics of me sleeping with them in my crib, as well as pics of me playing with them in my highchair while eating applesauce. I was a HUGE Ernie Isley & Larry Graham fan so I used to play a MEAN air guitar while listening to The Isley Brothers & Graham Central Station records. My dad found a clarinet while jogging one day so after it went unclaimed in the lost & found after 3 months I taught myself how to play it by ear. After playing clarinet in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades I switched to playing drums for a little bit. Questlove, I'm not [laughs].
When and how did you get into DJing? Did you teach yourself or learn from someone?
The first DJ I ever saw mixing records was a guy that did all my junior high school dances. His name was Michael Saunders and he'd come to the gym with 2 1200's, a mixer, and about 8 crates of records and just rock out for what seemed like 2 or 3 hours. Watching him flawlessly mix records while NEVER losing a beat felt like a whole other class was in session and I now had a purpose for all the records that I had begun collecting.
What was your first DJ set up like? What was your first gig like?
My very first DJ setup that I could call my own was one red spray painted 1200 and a black Technics SL-Q2 direct drive turntable with no pitch control. My mixer was a Pyramid PR-4700 which was a slightly bigger version of the wood grain Gemini MX-2200 mixer that DJ Cash Money made very popular on his 12" single covers.
You've been on V-103 for a while now and have had a consistently highly rated mixshow. But there is no audience directly in front of you, per se. How do you treat a mixshow set differently or similarly from a live set at a club? What is your end goal for each?
Both my radio & live club sets are pretty much spontaneous. I usually approach them from the standpoint of knowing what the first few records I want to play are and then just letting the vibe (and crowd) take me in whatever direction I choose to go. In MY experience I find that pre-planned sets are most effective for certain things like battles and club/radio sets where there's a specific theme and you don't have to spin with other DJs. Spinning with other DJs that aren't on the same page can turn into a clusterfuck of things like records being played more than once, and being in a race to play all the "hot" records before the next guy gets on, etc.
How did you link up with Ludacris and end up becoming his tour DJ? What has the tour life taught you about DJing, if anything?
Ludacris was initially a fan of my radio work. When he was in high school he used to listen to me spin on a very popular show on college radio station WRAS 88.5 called "Rhythm & Vibes" and when I first met him while he was an intern at Hot 97.5, he quoted very specific mixes that I did that showed that he really LISTENED to what I did. As the both of us began to get a bit more popular in the city we crossed paths numerous times at clubs and he told me that once his record deal was official he wanted me to be his tour DJ. I did my first show with him in September 2000 and pretty much lived out of a suitcase for the next 11 years as we toured the globe multiple times nonstop.
The main thing that tour life taught me was the need to be on the same page with the artist you work with. No matter how high your skill set is, you have to make sure that said artist VALUES what you bring to the table and SUPPORTS the vision that you have for yourself outside of working with them. If the artist ONLY sees you as his tour DJ and nothing more, then in their mind that's all you'll be and when you try branching out to establish yourself as more than a tour DJ you'll run into resistance...which can be frustrating and lead to social media rants that get you fired. I know this from personal experience! [laughs]
You started competing in the DMCs in 1996. You're now the Atlanta champion. How have you seen the art of turntablism change over the years? How would you like to see it change in the coming years?
The art of turntablism has definitely changed over the years. It used to be about pure turntable skill & funky neck snapping routines. Then musically it went into some weird spacey shit that was devoid of the funk. My aim is to help bring the funk back [laughs]. My first DMC appearance I can say I just wasn't ready to rock steady… I'm much more prepared now. Being the Atlanta champion is cool and all, but I think the title "US Champion" has a much better ring to it and that's what I'm gunning for.
You mentioned on your Tumblr how you came up with new techniques for your DMC routines. I've spoken with Mr. Switch, who has a more calculated approach of finding certain techniques and then figuring out the transitions to link those techniques. How do you approach assembling your routines?
Since we're mentioning my Tumblr post I'll just say that I go by feel. I knew that the beat juggles in the Jimi Hendrix routine that I did at the US Finals of the Red Bull Thre3style were of DMC caliber so using them in the Atlanta battle was a no-brainer.
You've also made it to the finals of the Red Bull Thre3style. Do you have a favorite competition that you've entered or judged?
Is this a trick question? [laughs] Thre3style was no doubt an awesome experience, but competing in the DMC finals is like the ultimate test.
What is your favorite and least favorite part about teaching at the Scratch Academy?
There's really no least favorite part about teaching but if I had to create a least favorite part it's realizing that technology has made it seem like "anybody" can be a DJ. This art form really isn't for just "anybody" and if they don't have the passion and drive to succeed you have to have tact in communicating that truth to the ones that don't get it. It can be painful to do at times because sometimes I'm not the most tactful, but I'm a work in progress.
What are some of the most important attributes that a DJ can have?
Passion. You either have it or you don't, simple. The dopest DJs we know all have a true passion for this craft and it shows in everything they do. A creative ear can also take you far if you know how, when, and where to use it. Timing is EVERYTHING.
Last Call
1. What is your favorite movie of all time?Another trick question so I'll just name 5. Anchorman, Gremlins, Coming to America, Purple Rain, and The 40 Year Old Virgin. Can't go wrong watching any of these at any time.
2. As a young DJ, who was the one DJ you looked up to?Tie between Jazzy Jeff & Cash Money...who are both my friends now.
3. As a DJ, what's your biggest pet peeve?This could go left really quick so I'll keep it PC and say that my biggest pet peeve is seeing DJs who don't take this art form seriously.
4. What is your current DJ set up at home?The basics: my ear, 2 Technics 1200's, and my Rane 62 mixer that I got for winning the 2015 Atlanta DMC regional.
5. What's your favorite record of all time?Absolutely impossible to answer so I won't bother attempting.
Keep up with DJ Jaycee on his Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr.
Bryan Hahn could feel Jaycee's dedication to DJing through his words. He's on Twitter: @notupstate.