Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Prince Akeem.
DJ, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve spent a lot of time mentoring youth. It’s important to give back and show kids that there are options and they can be whatever they want to be if they consistently work hard at something. I wanted to show youth that if I could make it out of a troubling environment, they could as well. My passion for working with youth turned into helping teens get a DJ program started at a non-profit organization. I figured it was a way to keep them safe, off of the streets and provide an opportunity for them to express themselves. Once we had a volunteer to lead the program I bought my equipment and practiced Djing every night at home. I did this just in case the volunteer couldn’t continue with the program and I had to step in. Eventually, I ended up having to step in and teach the class. So I practiced even more so that I could stay ahead of the curve and teach the students what I was learning. Needless to say, I fell in love with the craft because of the time that I was dedicating to it. I decided to turn it into a business once I perfected my skills and four years later… the rest is history.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been pretty smooth for the most part. Things have grown organically, allowing me to really figure out what lane I want to be in. Once I built certain relationships, a few opportunities came about and the road started to become pretty clear for me. Things happened pretty quickly. Atlanta is small so once people talk, things can move in a great way for a DJ. It just took some time to realize what scenes I wanted to be associated with. If you don’t live here you may not realize it, but the music scenes are very different depending on what you are looking for. It isn’t just one sound traveling through the city. If you want to dance the entire night, there’s a scene for that. If you’re in the mood for a lounge and hookah there is a scene for that. I personally like to engage with crowds so uptempo and high energy is more my speed. Early on I may not have realized how important that was for me. When you’re just starting out you just want to get your name out there so you start working different venues because your’e ready to get the ball rolling. The light bulb went off when I started playing weddings and corporate events. That energy from people is contagious and once I felt that, I knew my lane had to be diverse and I had to be willing to adapt…ready for different crowds. I wouldn’t call it a struggle but one thing that would have made the road easier would’ve been having a DJ or two to help show me the do’s and dont’s early on.
Please tell us about your work.
I would say that I’m known for having a different style and being able to adapt to several different crowds. I create a lot of edits (familiar acapellas combined with various instrumentals) to set me apart from other DJs. I go into every gig intending to get the audience to dance and have a good time. I want people to have a memorable experience. I would say that I have an unorthodox style, you never know what song is going to be next. I like to take people on a journey and as long as there is a good flow, I mix up multiple genres. I might spin at a school event, wedding, at a club/lounge or a private/corporate event. Therefore, branding is extremely important for me and DJing essentially had to evolve into a business.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
From the beginning, I have had a loyal group of friends who I consider family that has supported me along the way. They come out to multiple events/parties, spread the word about my mixtapes and refer potential clients. Also, I have to give credit to my wife Darcye. She always pushes me to be better, to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself in all aspects of the game. She supports me having long nights and events back to back. She helps me with marketing ideas and thinking of ways to increase brand awareness. I’m grateful to have her and my friends in my corner. I couldn’t do any of this without them!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djprinceakeem.com
- Email: bookings@djprinceakeem.com
- Instagram: djprinceakeem
- Facebook: djprinceakeematl
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