DJ SPOTLIGHT with DJ Supa by Jennifer Norwood
DJ SUPA, a member of The Violator All Star DJs, took the time to chat with The Urban Influencer this week about music, radio, and the DJ crew!
Where is your hometown?
So - I'm born in Detroit and I was raised in Willingboro South Jersey right outside of Philly.
Philadelphia has been a quiet force in the game with The Roots, Meek, Beanie, Eve. What artists are among your influences?
In the late 90s and early 2000s I came up listening to Major Figgas, Journalist, State Property, Ms. Jade, Cassidy, Philly's Most Wanted, Jakk Frost and I gotta show love to the guys who were killing all the DVDs in that era too.....people like Chic Raw, Vodka, Joey Jihad, NJ, Reed Dollaz, Cyssero.
How did you get your start in radio?
I actually started doing college radio before I even went to school for it. I was at WPRB 103.3 at Princeton University. Shout out to Skeptic for bringing me on his show as guest and eventually giving me his time slot. I used to do a lot of parties at Princeton University in the early 2000s. I eventually went to broadcasting School in Baltimore and while I was there I interned at WPGC 95.5 in Washington DC. After I finished school and my internship I got my first radio gig in Illinois at WCZQ Hot 105.5 and from there just been enjoying the process.
Who have been your favorite on-air guests?
I enjoyed talking to cats like J.Cole, Styles P, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, Twista, Young Buck, Erick Sermon, Talib Kweli, Nore even up to some of the younger guys like Rob 49 and Armani White.
The Violator All Star DJs are about to celebrate 25 years, a real accomplishment. Shout out the Violator Crew!
So for starters I have to shout out Kool DJ Red Alert for creating the name "VIOLATOR". Big shout out to the original Violators, cats like Chris Ali, Sneaky D, Baby Chris, my man AB Butler and all of them! Then I have to shout out Chris Lighty (R.I.P.) for taking the name and creating something unforgettable in the industry! Shout out DJ Scrap Dirty aka The Chief for linking up with Chris Lighty and creating the Violator All Star DJs. Shout out to my crew of course: DJ Reddz, DJ Reddy Rock, DJ Jam X, DJ Fusion, DJ Big Slade, DJ Reign, DJ Fabulust, DJ Eque, DJ Sin, DJ Young Venom, DJ D South, DJ Nasty Sho, DJ Sabotage and everybody (there's a lot of them)!!!
Including these turntablists, who are your favorite deejays?
Some of my favorite DJs have been cats like DJ Bee, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Kam, my boy DJ Reddz, DJ Jay Ski, DJ Lonnie Bee, DJ Excel.
What equipment is your go-to for the clubs and your live events?
It's a whole bunch of new controllers out here now BUT I'm still rocking strong with my Pioneer DDJ - 1000 SRT! I fell in love with it when I got it. It's my favorite controller and I'm super comfortable on it.
What do you think the future of radio is looking like?
Radio still has a certain level of importance in the industry but if it doesn't get rid of some of the old dinosaur way of doing things it's going to get left behind. There are so many other things people can listen to in the car (where radio is traditionally consumed the most). On-air jocks need to be able to showcase more personality and present things in a dope way instead of just being a liner reader. The Mixers also need more room to be able to showcase something new and break artists. Release those chains!!!!!! Because things like podcasts, streaming Music platforms and Digital Streaming Radio are out here heavy and people have more leeway to be creative, and that will always get an audience in my opinion.