Today we’d like to introduce you to Myles Pearson.
Myles, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Story of DJ Myles P started back before I was born. DJing has always been in my bloodline. One of my uncles DJ’d for all of N.W.A. back in the 80s and all across Los Angeles, California. Some of my other uncles on my dad’s side worked in radio and currently DJ and travel across the globe. So I have always been around music. It’s therapeutic to listen to, and once you have that internal feeling it’s unlike any other feeling ever.
First time I touched a turntable, I was about 12 years old. A 4th of July family BBQ was the scene and one of my uncles has his two turntables and mixer out. He allowed me to have a quick five-minute set where I chose songs to play and did the best of my ability to scratch them in. Seeing my older family members dance and have fun to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and “Dancin Machine” by Michael Jackson gave me joy. At a young age, it showed that no matter the venue or space, the DJ is like a point guard in basketball. You control the tempo, fun, and energy of a room by the music you play and that was intriguing to me. I was a very, very talented basketball player in California and was ranked as a Point Guard so being able to take my sports talents and try to apply them to music was special for me.
My career truly began my freshmen year at Morehouse college. My parents did the best they could to provide extra money throughout my college experience but 9/10 times I was on my own. I didn’t want to be leaving campus heading to work night shifts so I tried to find the best legal way to make money at 18.
For the two months of school, I attended every single event on campus at Spelman and Morehouse. One thing that stood out is everything had a DJ and the music was always going up! Could be a rally, hump Wednesday, market Friday, even a funeral on campus… We would have a DJ and the DJ would be phenomenal. So I thought this could be my way to make money, be known on campus and give people an experience.
The first DJ who took me under his wing was Scooperachi. He played a very vital role in my life while at Morehouse. After an event, I told him I wanted to DJ and without hesitation gave me a ride to his crib and gave me music to begin downloading. Weekly, he would check in on me to make sure I was downloading new music and would give me opportunities at Spelman to DJ. During my freshmen year, I didn’t know how to scratch or mix but he threw me in the fire and told me to get better “lil n****. Either you’ll get good, or they’ll key you!”.
So my first semester of my freshmen year was mostly traveling and watching Scoop DJ. I also met other mentors fall of 2012 in DJ Tone, Peezy, Abe and Blakboy. All of these men gave me advice, keys to success and ways to stand out and become an iconic DJ on campus. So as we returned to school for the spring semester, my friend group Team California was tired of paying to go to clubs and venues for parties. Parents was only sending $100 per month and we spending $40 at the door for a club; it was very played out! So we came up with an idea to throw a dorm party. In Hubert Hall, one man could only have two women as his guest. So we got about 40-50 dudes in the hall and informed them of the party we wanted to throw. Text ten girls, five will respond, out of the five 2-3 will come. We had the logistics and everything down but we didn’t have someone to do the music…. so everybody pointed at me to be the DJ for the night.
I had 0 equipment but had some speakers that were loud. Thought quickly and decided to go to Soundcloud and play a few mixes from DJs I knew back home in LA. DJ ChubbESwagg (Howard x Nipsey Hussle tour DJ), DJ A-Tron and DJ R-Tistic (FAMU) all had mixed for twerking and I played them all night. Folks was going crazy thinking this was me ahaha. Night was a success and I was deemed the class new DJ. We continued to throw functions all semester and I am getting away with highway robbery playing with other people’s stuff. (Kids, I don’t advise you to do this now)
So naturally, as we came into my sophomore year, folks are looking at me to DJ events and actually do things all over campus. I bought some equipment but was still wet behind the ears and new in the game. Scoop threw a huge party for his girl Labor Day weekend and the venue held about 300 folks. The whole school damn near came. I opened up for a little 30-minute set and then my plan was to watch the party and learn from my mentor. But he got into a big fight middle of the function and left the party around midnight. So at the height of the party, everybody looking at me and I’m looking at them not knowing what to do. So went to my bro’s laptop and the hottest song out was FDB by Young Dro. Played that from the top and rocked the whole party. After, came back with Pop That – French Montana, then Do It – Mykko Montana and from then on that was my coming out moment. People knew who I was and the possibility of being legit.
From then on, I worked on my craft diligently. I never compared myself to what other folks were doing or the styles of other people. My end goal til this day is to give people an experience they’ve never imagined. To be able to play music to where the women want to dance. Where men can put their phones up and approach a woman. And lastly, when the night is over, somebody is getting some play and a number or two.
I love DJing. It’s something that’s a part of my DNA. I love going to see my brothers have set, I appreciate listening to new and old DJs scratch and practice and I love the grind of having to download music, set cues and being able to perform in front of people. Music is a part of my life from playing the piano and saxophone at church to downloading music and performing in front of large crowds today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hasn’t always been a smooth road, but nothing in life is smooth. Coming into this, I had mentors letting me know things are sweet all the time and you’re going to have to grind. People try to haze you by making you drive hours away to give 15-30 minute sets. Some folks won’t acknowledge you when you try to speak to them to introduce yourself and a lot of times folks are intimidated by you and your presence. There have been plenty of times where other DJs have promised sets or opportunities and don’t come through. Some DJs are very close with promoters and will talk down on you to the promoter which in return he doesn’t want to do business with you.
There are a lot of things I learned on my journey and still am learning now. Nothing in life worth having is smooth, so I am very appreciative for the struggles I have had because they’ve made me the man I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a full-time DJ and working on becoming a producer. I specialize in curating vibes that allow you to free yourself from the social norms of not dancing when outside at the club or a day party. I am a crowd reader and a crowd pleaser. Like I said earlier, my end goal is for everyone to have an experience unlike any other, make you have fun and provide confidence for shots to be shot.
I am most proud of my ability to adapt and blend in songs from different genres and eras. We can go hip hop to afro beats, to soca to gospel and do it all from the early 60s to current music today.
I think what sets me out is my ability and what I bring to the booth. I’m blessed to have a musical ear, to be able to understand keys and notes and blending songs together and where they should be blended.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/admin?q=%2Fadmin
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djmylesp_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myles.pearson.7/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/myles_pearson
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djmylesp
Image Credits:
Justin Childress Instagram – @jcfilms__ Kai Tsehay Instagram – @official_kaikai Temitayo Agoro Instagram – @auccam
