Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ BADD ASS SHA.
Hi DJ, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well tbh my journey as a DJ started from a really vulnerable place. I just returned to Atlanta from New York City from an EMS – Emergency Response Deployment with FEMA during COVID-19 Pandemic. (2020) Music always been a thing for me back when iPod Nano was out I use to have it loaded with music young as ever downloading off limewire and things like that. I never had any guidance on how to even start deejaying nor did I have the funds to buy equipment. Really and truly I just knew it was something I always wanted to try you know. Back on topic though after the deployment I was going through a lot mentally with all the death I was dealing with in New York when I came back I didn’t go back to work for almost 6 months I didn’t even want anything else to do with 911.
MUSIC 🎶 got me through my days I brought some stuff from Guitar center and started watching videos on small tips before I had music. I knew a lot of DJs but never had the courage to ask where did they get their music. I want to shout out DJ Rico he didn’t gate keep he told me to buy an external hard drive give him like $200 and he would load me up with some stuff.
Music became the thing that grounded me. One day I picked up a controller just to escape for a moment — and that moment turned into like a calling. I didn’t expect it, but something clicked. Music felt like the one space where I could breathe, express myself, and still feel in control.
I poured everything into it. I practiced endlessly, obsessively, late nights not even realizing it was night time. Teaching myself once I felt comfortable enough and had the downloading platforms I knew I could potentially perform in public not just in the house. I didn’t have a mentor or a blueprint at the time — just heart, curiosity, and a real need to create something for myself.
What still shocks me is how quickly things took off. Within a short time, I went from playing small, intimate gigs, to barely doing private gigs and on multiple flyers throughout the city! I had a close friends that taught me in person how to blend music, and he goes by the name of DJ Bronx Yute!
After that It was Just one day at a time I begin to work on that shortly after I met DJ Tony B and he became like a musically encyclopedia to me. Never giving me anything but the knowledge behind the music the artist and producers. Prior to Deejaying I was well known patron! Always outside always attending the events shaking hands with the masses. In 2021 I was making a little buzz 🐝 on social media and locally because I was booked almost every weekend with a popular event planner that owns Glitz of Atlanta.
So early in my DJ career I’ve played for
People like RJ from NEXT, for Lil baby, George Floyd’s Daughter, Shaquille O’Neil, Amy Luciani which is now on Love & Hip Hop, Mink Little and a bunch more influencers in Atlanta. I knew how to play rap, hip hop and R&B but I wanted to showcase my talent and play Caribbean music in the public. Glitz opened up many many doors for me but the interest began to lose me, that’s not exactly where my heart was you know, people started recognizing my name. It was fast, but it was because I showed up with passion every single time. In 2021 I remember asking an individual that has created a huge Caribbean platform in Atlanta if I can play on their event! The answer was NO! Those guys sat my butt down LOL saying
“Timing is everything and it’s not your time!” basically saying SHA you’re not ready! When I say I was livid, upset, hurt, so many emotions passed because I never thought that they would turn me down after all the support, the bonds etc I was vexed. By next year 2022 I got my first booking on a Large scale Caribbean event in Atlanta at Rum Punch Brunch, from there people really started taking me serious and trying to book me etc. I’ve played Caribbean based in lounges and stuff but not events with stages and big crowds you know. So it became a big deal moving forward.
DJing saved me in a lot of ways. It became kind of like a safe space, a confidence builder, and the thing that reminded me of my own strength. Move
November 16th 2025 makes Five years that I’ve been playing music and time has flew, I’m still growing every day, still learning I will forever be a student to this game and still fueled by the love I have for music 🎶 especially Caribbean music and the way it brings people together. My rise wasn’t traditional, I didn’t have a partner in crime to practice with, or a parent that use to deejay, just me and it came through emotional, it came unexpected, and honestly, it was a blessing that found me right when I needed it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
First struggle I could mention was the gate keeper mentality that revolves here. Then I met a DJ that charged me a small fee for music library that he built over YEARSSSSSSSS & some knowledge that helped me along the way big up DJ Rico same way. All now I use Franchise Music Pool Lol
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a EMS professional. And 2019 I graduated paramedic school. I’ve been working in EMS for the past 7/8 years what sets me apart is that I basically save lives during the day and Ima DJ at night. I currently don’t know another DJ Atlanta that deals With so much during the day as far as emergency services and is able DJ full set later on that evening. What i am most proud is about being in my field is that I’ve been on several hurricane relief deployment with FEMA as well as a COVID-19 mutual aid relief for FEMA. Helping/aiding families amongst the south and the east coast.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I don’t have much advice as far as finding a mentor mine mentor would be a DJ that I mentioned earlier and it came natural. But if you are in search for a mentor, obviously it’ll be someone that you look up to someone that you respect someone that shares the same passion as you do. That’s what worked for me at least. When we speak about networking, it is probably one of the most important things in this business. You have to be likable. You have to be open to have conversations with people even strangers, you cannot be marginalized or box yourself in you have to be open to people‘s ideas, as well as to people‘s criticism Networking is very important in the entertainment business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/BaddAssSha
- Soundcloud: https://SoundCloud.com/BaddAssSha1
- Other: https://linktr.ee/BaddAssSha
