Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Bishop Don.
Thanks for sharing your story with us DJ. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2007, I was working as an intern then manager of Addikt workshop Boutique in the West End. Thats where I started having in-store events booking local hip hop act to perform and DJs. I was in my last year at Bauder College where I was studying Fashion Merchandising when I really started to see the opportunity in mixing fashion and music together. I had a friend in New York name Qun Luv who was dope creative person, he had the dopest parties and kept talented DJs and artist in his crew (ALIEN NYC). This was the MySpace days 07-09 lol.
In 2013, I began my journey as a DJ after one lesson with my instructor DJ Blackbox I started searching for gigs I drove to bars and clubs in EAV and Edgewood handing out my card and mixes on CDs. But it was at a Brazilan Club in Sandy Springs where it all started I became the Dj for Thursday night comedy shows with comedians chante Wayne and Rob Haze. By the end of the year relationships where building and my skills were too and ended up on the premier party block in Atlanta Edgewood. EAV and Edgewood were my staple gigs Monday to Sunday playing at multiple venues on Edgewood from Dept Store, Edgewood Pizza, Music Room, space 2, delightful Eats, and SpeakEasy. Recently #cantstopthedj has been providing the vibes in Castleberry hills at Peter Street station as a resident DJ for the Craft Trap events every 2nd Friday.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The back roads are smooth lol… By that, I mean the gigs that I played for free in the beginning lead to bigger opportunities like DJin for Hannibal Buress and Touring with Big Boi from OutKast for four years. In the middle of these opportunities was everyday starving artist struggle balance or work life and artistry. I was working two jobs one in l5p and other midtown to pay rent because clubs were only paying $50 bucks a night and a bar tab both if I was lucky. I’ve had to ride Marta to gigs I was so broke I couldn’t afford a Uber so yeah the struggle was real and the road was like memorial drive miss one pot hole to hit another a few feet away.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the #Cantstopthedj story. Tell us more about the business.
#cantstopthedj is an extension of my hommie / Producer company CANTSTOP ENT I became an Artist then a DJ Producer under that umbrella. Under the name DJ Bishop Don I produce for myself and other artist from Atlanta and as far as Chilè (shout out Planta). #CANTSTOPTHEDJ is what I live by no matter what has come my way I can’t stop! It’s that Leo pride mixed with self-awareness. The greatest thing that could have happened to me was being born in Atlanta seeing everything from Freaknic to new Hollywood. So as a DJ I’ve been called one of the most diverse playing genres across the board from Afro Beat, Trap, Dance Hall, EDM, Latin, and Bmore club music #cantstopthedj keeps it nostalgic. Being able to stand out in multiple settings and make people feel good for with the sounds I’ve curated for the night is what sets me apart.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
No luck, I’ve earned it all honestly! No short cuts. I believe it all happened for a reason I remember when I couldn’t get many people to take my craft serious and in different parts of my life people came to me as a Musician it was Steve “Yams” and Steve “Knottz” two guys I meet less than two weeks apart back in 2009. I meet Yams on a trip to NYC I was staying with my high school hommie Jscott who is a DJ now too and his then girlfriend Kesh aka Kilo Kesh. Yams was the reason I had original beats to rap on he sent me 100 beats for free! And ended up linking with another NYC guy name Steve while I was working at Urban Outfitters on Ponce he ended up living in Lithonia near me and was engineer we started working together on music and really finding my voice. Working at Addikt introduce me to my hommie N/A a producer and founder of Cant Stop Ent. Touring with Big was through the artist RENEGADE EL REY. Getting tattoos at City of Ink back in the day made me a familiar face with the owner Miya and is why he recently selected me to be a resident DJ at his gallery Peter Street Station. It’s timing, not luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: Soundcloud.com/reggiebishop
- Phone: 6784282862
- Email: yungbishop@gmail.com
- Instagram: Reggiebishop
- Twitter: Twitter.com/yungbishop
- Other: Youtube.com/reggiebishoptv
Image Credit:
Scotty Dixwell, Aki, Protect Yo Energy
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