Meet celebrity DJ, producer and podcast host DJ G MONEY, from South Jamaica, Queens.
G MONEY’s skills are somewhat hereditary as his dad, Gary, was also a DJ in his younger days. Gary and his brother were a duo called “MONKEY and RAT’ from 40 projects in South Jamaica, Queens.
“As a kid I heard all of the stories about my Dad and my Uncle DJ’g around Queens and it made me to want to be a DJ too. Growing up in the average black family, music is a huge part of your everyday lifestyle and it influences you tremendously.”
Inspired heavily by his family ties to music, they still play a major part in his career. “My Dad still teaches me about the old school songs and which ones blend together. My Mom always makes sure my transitions are on point and my uncles and cousins keep me current on the hottest new artists and music.”
G MONEY was also inspired by the movie, “Juice”, a crime thriller starring TuPac Shakur, Khalil Kain, Jermaine Hopkins and a young Omar Epps, whose character was an aspiring DJ. “When I saw Omar Epps playing a DJ in ‘Juice’, awe man that fascinated me and made me want to become a DJ even more!”
Back around the way, he watched a good friend of his, DJ TNT, rocking crowds at his JHS basketball games. “I just thought it was very cool how TNT kept the crowd entertained during the games.” This was the final push he needed to ask his parents to buy him his own set of turntables and they obliged.
Christmas of 1998 G MONEY was booked for his first official gig, a birthday celebration in 40 projects for his late cousin, Tykeem. And so his career as a professional DJ began.
He describes his style of DJ’g as upbeat, fun and live. “I like to party and keep people dancing all night! Whether it’s Hip-Hop, Pop, Reggae or R&B, I want people to enjoy the music I play and leave the party having had a great time!”
G’s mixes consist of a touch of old school/soul infused with new, trending music. “Being brought up the way I was musically, I have a distinct way of telling a story through each set. My musical selections are carefully planned out. I blend certain samples to create a specific vibe. I use this same formula when I’m producing music for other artists.”
G MONEY’s extraordinary ability to walk into the venue, read the crowd’s vibe and know exactly what tunes to spin to get the party going, puts him in a class by himself. “A lot of DJ’s play a set they created the night before. Not me, I observe the atmosphere while I’m setting up and figure out what’s gonna make everyone in the room MOVE! I think that’s the most important part of being a DJ and it’s also my favorite part of my job. Controlling the room, making people dance and watching how they react to the songs I play gives me a rush!”
Sounds like a smooth and hassle-free gig huh? Not exactly… “It is an amazing feeling to be able to make people dance, sing, jump and feel good for a couple of hours, but there’s a downside to it just like any other job. I’d have to say the most challenging parts of being a DJ would be one, working a private gig where I have to bring my own equipment. No DJ enjoys the unpacking and packing of equipment! (laughing) And two, fielding the numerous song requests. It can get pretty annoying at times.”
“Music plays a big part in all of our lives. As a DJ, it’s my job to set a mood and make each event I play a memorable one. I run into people whose wedding, sweet 16 or birthday party I’ve played and they remind me that I helped make their event one of the best times of their lives. It’s an indescribable feeling!”
When G is on his own time he loves to listen to different genres of music. It helps keep him sharp and stay creative with his mixing. “I listen to all types of music but some of my favorites are…hmmmm. It really depends on my mood. My personal playlist is very random (laughing). A few of the artists that I tend to play more than others would be Future, Kanye West and Usher.”
Besides DJ’g events and producing music for up-and-coming artists like Kyah Baby and Teddy Bear Taj, he and QueenzFlip co-host a podcast on YouTube titled, “Flip Da Script”. “Our podcast is pretty dope and it’s considered to be one of the top podcasts out right now. Queenzflip and I have been doing the show for a little over 3 years now and we’ve had some amazing guests such as Eric B., Cam’Ron, Adrian Broner, Lil’ Mama and Loaded Lux to name a few. It’s a lot of fun!”
G MONEY also stars in his own YouTube show tilted, “Picky Eater”, where he visits different restaurants, samples unconventional dishes and shares his reactions with the audience. The show is currently on hiatus while he works on the production side of his career. He has plans to drop new music and visuals in 2020. And don’t be surprised if he pops out with an album or mixtape!
“I’m putting in all of this hard work to eventually establish myself as one of the top DJs/Producers in the game. I want to leave behind a legacy that will be talked about for years to come. It’s important for me to pass down what I’ve learned to up-and-coming DJs and producers to help them reach my level of success and beyond.”
Spoken like a true student of the game. To date, he has DJ’d for TruTV’s hit show “impractical Jokers” at Comic Con in San Diego, private events for LL Cool J and has been featured on BET’s 106th & Park and VH1 shows Gossip Girl” and “Mob Wives”.
I’d say G MONEY is well on his way to accomplishing his goals!
Social media:
Instagram: @DJGMONEY156
Twitter: @DJGMONEY
SOUNDCLOUD.COM/Mr8000YouTube.com/DJGMONEY
“FLIP Da SCRIPT” Podcast:
Sleep in Peace Tykeem 💜🙏🏾🕊
SHUBANGASHOW 