DJ Xclusive City, a Haitian-American DJ based in Orlando, has made a name for himself in the hip-hop world and beyond. The young DJ, radio personality, and producer hails from Providence, Rhode Island, and has quickly established himself as one of Florida’s most in-demand DJs. Via his own joint venture event companies, he has brought hip hop to the forefront of the clubbing scene in Orlando, and he plans to continue to rise in the industry.
He has played at several of Orlando’s most famous venues, as well as bookings in other major cities around the country, during his years as a DJ. Despite the pandemic, DJ Xclusive City isn’t slowing down, and we caught up with him to explore his early influences and much more.
Contents
- Greetings, Xclusive City! First and foremost, how are you? So, what have you been up to these past few months? Has the latest pandemic influenced your everyday routine?
- What inspired you to begin your career in the music industry, for those who are unfamiliar with you? Are there any artists or DJs who have inspired you?
- Last year, your Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook live streams all went viral, earning over 4 million views. Were you expecting such a big response?
- You’ve made a name for yourself as a hip-hop DJ; what is it about hip hop that appeals to you?
- What are your plans for your brand over the coming years?
- In five years, where do you see yourself?
- What do you like most when performing in front of an audience live?
- Which venues, out of all the ones you’ve done around the world, have been your favorite? Do you have any places in mind where you’d like to play in the future?
- What do you have planned for the remainder of 2024?
- Where can fans follow you?
Greetings, Xclusive City! First and foremost, how are you? So, what have you been up to these past few months? Has the latest pandemic influenced your everyday routine?
I’ve been fantastic, and the pandemic has turned out to be an advantage rather than a detriment for me. In the last few months, I’ve looked into several ventures, as well as discovering new talents, working on my music, and much more.
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What inspired you to begin your career in the music industry, for those who are unfamiliar with you? Are there any artists or DJs who have inspired you?
For a long time, I’ve been influenced by the music industry. I’ve always been curious about new genres, but my passion for hip hop is what distinguishes me as DJ Xclusive City. I’m still trying new things and learning more about various genres, as well as music and its history. From my hometown of Providence, RI, to my second home in New York City, to my present home in Orlando, FL, I grew up listening to a lot of legends. That being said, legends such as DJ Buck, DJ Big Stress, DJ Half Pint, Fred Da Great, DJ Finesse, DJ Rukiz, DJ CR, DJ Squeak, Mike Nice aka Big Lig, Funkmaster Flex, Kid Kapri, DJ Red Alert, Mister Cee, Tony Touch, DJ Camilo, DJ Clue, DJ Envy, DJ Self, DJ Superstar Jay, DJ Whoo Kid, DJ D-Strong, DJ Stakz, DJ Juice, DJ D-Nice, DJ Prostyle, DJ Nasty, DJ Khaled and the list goes on… Respectfully. Their music, and their impact on music, in particular, is always on my mind. Their turntable abilities and techniques have repeatedly inspired me and encouraged me.
So one day I was swiping through my Instagram when I came across a live stream with D-Nice, who had everyone on it from President Joe Biden to Rihanna, to Oprah and Michelle Obama, and everyone and he turned it into a dope vibe during the pandemic, and I thought to myself, I might do something similar and make it more interesting. So I went live for a bit of fun and shared it on social media, and kaboom! It soon went viral. I was overjoyed to receive such a positive response. I tried to respond to all of the responses, but it was just too much for me.
Source: Instagram
You’ve made a name for yourself as a hip-hop DJ; what is it about hip hop that appeals to you?
Hip hop has always been in my blood; when I was younger, I used to party a lot, and the one genre that always got me on the dance floor was hip hop. I was ecstatic to attend parties where hip-hop DJs played. As I began studying the music, I realized that hip hop became more than just a genre, it was a culture for me, my passion for it gradually increased. I was so fascinated by the hip-hop era that I discovered something new every day. I’m proud of the fact that my name, DJ Xclusive City, has become a part of the culture.
What are your plans for your brand over the coming years?
I recently started working for one of Orlando’s largest joint venture event companies, organizing and carrying out a range of numerous artists and acts from around the world. Right now, I mainly want to extend my brand in the United States. The club scene in Orlando is unique, especially in hip hop clubs, where multiple DJs are frequently booked for the night. So, you’ve selected your opening DJ to serve as a warm-up act for the closing DJ or guest DJ, and for the longest time, I was the opening DJ, which I loved because I was able to curate a vibe and set the tone for the closing DJ. I wanted to illustrate to everyone that my brand is so much bigger than a warm-up act. My goal was to build up my brand name and use it as leverage to get club managers and owners to give us nights in their clubs, and to my surprise, it worked and a large number of people always show up. People told us that they had been waiting for a vibe like this for a long time and that they had never had the opportunity to hear music with such a different energy in the city. So now all we have to do is keep using the same strategy to expand the brand and get more bookings in other major cities around the country and abroad in the years ahead.
Source: Instagram
In five years, where do you see yourself?
In five years, I’d like my brand to go international, and I’d like to use music to show the world my vibe and different energy. After the pandemic is over, I plan on touring the United States and Europe. My desire to master my craft has continued to grow, and I just want to devote more time to being a great DJ. I want to inspire and partner with other up-and-coming artists and DJs, using my platform to help them gain visibility and trust in the industry, as well as join them in bringing something new and bigger to the scene.
What do you like most when performing in front of an audience live?
For me, the most important aspect is energy, and the amount of energy that people offer you is tremendous. It has given me goosebumps since the first time I performed in front of an audience. It’s unbelievable how much energy they offer you. The sensation is out of this world, and you experience a massive rush of adrenaline. The best part about playing in front of an audience is the vibe, the energy, watching people smile and enjoy your music. It’s as if you just did a wonderful job and made everyone happy by being there. It’s as if they were your visitors, and they had a nice time.
Source: Instagram
Which venues, out of all the ones you’ve done around the world, have been your favorite? Do you have any places in mind where you’d like to play in the future?
The Orlando Caribbean Festival, I believe, was the best for me. The whole festival had an insane vibe, with so much energy and love in one place. I was ecstatic to be performing there, and the venue had so much to give me; the vibe and connection of the festival were amazing. 1 OAK in NYC, OMNIA in Las Vegas, and Ministry of Sound in London are among the few venues where I’d like to play in the future.
What do you have planned for the remainder of 2024?
I think I’d like to do a lot of club shows for the rest of 2024; things are slowly opening up in Florida, Texas, and Georgia, and this is the season to party. We’ve had a rough year, and this will make up for it. Also, I’m working on a new project that will be announced soon.
Source: Instagram
Where can fans follow you?
To keep up to date on everything, you can follow me on Instagram (@djxclusivecity), Twitter (@djxclusivecity), Facebook (DJ Xclusive City), and my official website www.djxclusivecity.com.
