Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammi Norman
Hi Tammi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a middle schooler, born and raised in Shaker Hts., Ohio, I would hit the basement parties at Valia’s house with my younger sister Tisha. Dad, embarrassingly, pulled his huge, yet very smooth, barely pale-lightest green, Lincoln Town Car in the driveway, kids scurrying out of the way, so he could go inside to make sure Valia’s Mother was home. She indeed was home. (smile) We paid $2.00 at the door and carefully walked down the wooden stairs to the basement where the party was. An unfinished basement, stankin’ boys, cheap cologne was in the air, A-Symetric bobs hard-shelled with Pump It Up spritz hair spray and tight jeans. Friends that had been friends since kindergarten, having a ball & one weird, very shy girl, ME! lol There was something I needed to be in the presence of. Not sure if I quite knew what that was at that time, but, THEN,…
One little hanging light bulb across the basement. The one little light shining on the one thing that changed my life, at age fourteen! I heard Paul Revere, Trans Europe Express, Einstien, The Bridge is Over, Planet Rock, Eric B Is President, Boogie Down Productions, LL Cool J, Run DMC, and EPMD. Tisha sprinted to the dance floor! She was a whole DANCER! I mean, she literally was the 7th member of the Cleveland famous, “Step Off Crew”, it seemed. She wasn’t shy at all. Never scared Cabbage Patching, Wopping, doing the Reebok or the snake, and oh, she could imitate Janet in a second, and I mean the whole routine. She was a boss THEN! Me? Tammi? I? I kinda stood there only wishing I had the courage Tisha had. But my radar was focused elsewhere after a min or two anyway.
My ears heard stuff. My heart started BEATing. I stared, looked straight through everything that was there, just to find that little light at the lil light that was across the way. For it was that fizzled lil’ light bulb hanging from the ceiling,… shining down on the one thing that completely fascinated me! THE DEEJAY! “I came in the door, I said it before, I never let the mic magnetize me no more, but it’s ,….. I knew every WORD! I was glad it was dark cuz I’m a sweet little Shaker girl, whose neck should not be bobbing like it was, and every feel was heightened, each record that was played, but it was my secret. No one know what Hip Hop music was doing to me. lol Me, in a room alone. Alone with Eric B & Rakim, or so I thought. lol So, when did YOU fall in love with Hip Hop? Were you in Valia’s basement back in 1986? lol
Festering and lingering. Simmering and marinating,……..a whole 29 years later, at age 42, I walked through the doors of Jam Master Jay’s Scratch DJ Academy here in Atlanta. With a DJ controller I had NO IDEA how to use, a laptop I’d accrued madd music on over several years, some black Beats headphones my cousin John gave me, and an excitement that I literally couldn’t even BEGIN to explain. IT WAS ALL A DREAM,… I honestly DID use to read Word Up Magazine. But this right here, was a full circle moment, not just a dream come true. October of 2014 was the day I became “Pretty Tammi the DJ.”
October 2024, at age 52 and exactly ten years later, I was flown to Washington DC and I deejayed Vice President Kamala Harris’ “The Closing Argument” Rally before an audience of 75,000 people, on the south lawn of the White House. My sister Tisha was right next to me Emcee’ing, and we KILLED it!
So, uhhh, can somebody hand me a Word Up Magazine? lol
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Thankfully, I didn’t have to ride the struggle bus much in life. I was blessed to have a beautiful upbringing. went to great schools, graduated from an HBCU, and chased all creative spaces while….. BAM!!!!!!!!!! Pause! Silence. Heartbreak! Just like that.
Just like life does.
It “LIFEd” me like I never dreamed it would.
Brother, Torin Champion Norman, 2004.
Father, Rev. Clem B. Norman, 2008.
Mother, Donna Patricia “Patti” Norman, 2020.
My heart hasn’t healed yet and I’m uncertain when or if it ever will. However, resilience precedes me, each step I take. I carry those three heavily on my heart each day. It pushes me. They push me. They support me and cheer for me from Heaven. I feel that. I really do.
Hey Motha!!!!! (She was a big energy, like me! Beautiful and my Queen)
Hello Dad. lol (He was calm, professional, and an oh-so-proud, GOOD man.)
TORIN! (A blend of Motha and Dad,… mostly Dad. A quirky, yet quiet storm of a personality. lol His baby, my sweet niece Torinae, who is now an adult,…She. Is. SO. Him. lol)
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am deeply committed to the foundations & principles of education. Coming from a family jam-packed of educators, teaching has always been a passion of mine—one that I continue to embrace whenever the opportunity arises. Of course, like most of the women in my family, I went to college to become an Teacher but I slowly turned into a “creative” along the way so my path changed slightly, and I let it.
While walking in my creative journey, since 2004, I have worked as a substitute teacher in one of Atlanta’s largest school districts, allowing me to stay connected to the world of education, classrooms, students, and schools beyond my creative endeavors. For nearly a decade, I also worked in student discipline at a remarkable middle school in Dunwoody, where I was honored as Educational Support Professional of the Year at both the school and regional levels.
As my DJ career took off, I granted myself the grace to fully immerse in my creative journey, pursuing my passion full-time. However, I continue to return to the classroom as a substitute teacher when my schedule allows. Balancing my love for music, education, and travel, I intentionally carve out time to rest and recharge amidst my many engagements. I’m known for staying incredibly busy—pouring every ounce of my heart into whatever I’m doing that day, whether it’s DJing, teaching, or simply catching my breath before the next whirlwind of opportunities. And while my schedule may be hectic, I wouldn’t have it any other way—I absolutely love it!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
So, did y’all see that DJ spinning “Walk It Out” and “Swag Surf” in an Atlanta mega-church on New Year’s Eve 2023? Well… surprise! (lowers head) That DJ was ME.
At this point, I might as well own it because whew, I shole tried to hide it for as long as I could. That night? Pivotal moment in my career. If you know, you know—it went viral. BAD viral. By noon on January 1, 2024, I had fully convinced myself that my DJ career was over. People lost their minds over what I know I could’ve prevented if I had just played the instrumental versions instead of the so-called “clean” ones. I carried so much guilt. I spiraled into a dark place I had never been before. I was done. Finished.
But GOD.
Born and raised a whole church girl, He knew my heart. And once I finally forgave myself, I realized—He had already forgiven me. Whew! Thank you, Lord! 🙌🏾
And then—because God don’t play about me—one week later, I locked in a deal with OG 97.9 FM, Atlanta’s Classic Hip-Hop Station, and officially joined Hip Hop Legend, Chubb Rock’s Weekend Warriors, as a radio personality on the Friday 5 PM drive-home show, “The Grade A Club!” 🎉 #anotherdreamcometrue
In 1990, during my first semester of college, I secretly dreamed of majoring in Mass Media Communications—TV & Radio—because deep down, I wanted to go into radio. Watching this go down
And get this—how did this opportunity find me? A “Mo Tucker” slid into my DM’s, looking for a DJ to do mixes for the radio show, the same night I went viral at the church! Huh? How is THAT possible? And guess how she found me? She’s a member of that very church, but she was home sick with the flu, streamed the service online, paused the video, ZOOMED IN to see the name on my laptop, found me on IG, and BOOM—here we are.
Coincidence? Nope.
God’s plan? Absolutely.
So long story short—you can now catch me, @PrettyTammitheDJ, alongside my sister @ProfessorTish (because of course I pulled her in! 😂), the Big Homie @D.Lorand216, and my sweet, angel, Ms. @itsmotucker, every Friday at 5 PM, rocking your radio waves after a long week at work! Turn your radio on! It’s Pretty Tammi the DJ!,…literally Livin’ The Dream! lol Let’s gooooo! 🎧🔥
🔥 **Chubb Rock’s Block Party** @chubbrockweekendwarriors
📻 **OG 97.9 FM in Atlanta, GA** @OG97.9
📻 **95.9 FM in Cleveland, OH**
📲 **Stream anywhere on the OG 97.9 App!**
**God. Don’t. Miss.** 🙌🏾
Oh, and with all the creativity that goes on in my mind, keeping me up at night, disrupting my sleep even, lol… I do have another lil secret quirk.
I CAN’T STAY OFF THE FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE!!!!!!! (shrugging my shoulders, smiling)
I purchased my first home a few years ago and it is as CUTE as a button, if I may say so myself. lol What an awesome blank canvas to create your own, personal energy & feels! I’ll just say, I attribute a lot of that gift to my Mother. She DID that! lol
My home decor style is such a vibe. What I call my farmhouse-glam kind of flava, with small, almost hidden hip-hip reference pieces, slogans messages, wall/word art, and plenty of pinks, I get a lot of, “Tammi, that is SO you!” from most of my guests. My company feels right at home when they step through the door and that just warms my heart.
Folks better stop sleeping on the amazing finds on Facebook Marketplace. I swear, I could hook somebody’s crib UP if they gave me a chance! lol Outside of STILL secretly being in love with Allen Iverson since the 1996 NBA Draft, shopping on Facebook Marketplace is WAY more intriguing to me than any mall, outlet, or shopping center ever could be! (wink)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @prettytammithedj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettytammi/
Image Credits
@shot_by_lo
@antoinneduanejones
