DJ EPPS TAKES OVER MIAMI

Since the 1970’s, the deejay has played an important role in hip-hop. The main benefit of the deejay for the rapper is the fact that the deejay plays their music. That is promoting the artist at its best. People can go to Cameo night club, one of Miami’s hottest hip-hop clubs in South Beach, Miami on Saturdays to experience local Miami DJ Epps firsthand. On the night of March 17th, 2018, rapper Jim Jones was hosting. On this night, DJ Epps moved the crowd with the music he played, and when he spoke, he had total control of the crowd. People were rapping along to the lyrics and dancing all night. When the artist Jim Jones walked in the building, DJ Epps just started to play his music in a mix. This is a way the deejay welcomes an artist in the building and at the same time promoting the artist. Through DJ Epps social media, you may also see him promoting this night to get his followers to come out to Cameo. Without the deejay, there is no hip-hop. On this particular night, there was an unsigned artist offering DJ Epps money to play his song. This a known way where unknown artists get their music played in clubs, by soliciting the deejay. It is part of the deejay life and a way to get your music played. “I play a very vital role in hip hop. I introduce new music to the listeners. I am in charge in hyping the crowd before an artist comes out,” DJ Epps explains while talking about his role as a deejay. “Before local artists like Rick Ross and Kodak Black became as successful as they are, we were the ones playing their music in clubs and on radio when they were just local unsigned artists’. We, as deejays, are the ones that create the artists’ buzz in the streets.” The deejay has added great value to hip-hop music and culture. DJ Kool Herc is known as the founder of hip hop music. In an email interview to DJ Kool Herc, when asked about the evolution of the deejay on hip hop, he replied, “It was all a process, I could not foresee the future. Deejaying and hip-hop is still blossoming. It is more organized and structured. I have a hip-hop passport and am just enjoying the culture.”

Here is a video of DJ Epps on the night of March 17th, 2018 showing him controlling the crowd at the nightclub Cameo in South Beach.