There is nothing like the rush of walking into a room that is playing the perfect song for my entrance. Nothing.

I cannot stress enough the importance of a good DJ. S/He sets the tone for the entire night and has the power to make or ruin it. So I have decided to declare on this here Dwende-stone my pure and ever-burning love for the Disc Jockey in hopes to stay in the good graces of the party gods and continue to have positive experiences with all DJs I encounter coast to coast.

via Manny Black facebook page

I first met DJ Manny Black of FreshloveINK back in my undergrad days at University of San Francisco. I had the pleasure of hearing him spin at Azul SF, downtown. From the first track, I was hooked. I never knew Erykah, Bilal, Musiq, Jill – all the champions of my college years soundtrack could sound so deliciously-blended-into-each-other good. I keep up with MannyB via a newsletter that makes its way into my inbox every now and again, updating me on the happenings with him and the FreshloveINK crew. They consistently provide new music and mixes and commentary on this crazy world we live in. I got the courage to the man behind the tables and discovered that, not only was he salt of the earth sweet but we also had friends in common. I asked him to spin for my birthday party/going away party in the summer of 2006 and the night was total perfection iced with a DJ I never want to lose track of.

Currently DJ Manny Black is steadily putting out new mixes under Museum of 9ine. As they say in the bay, “It goes.” The whole collection can be downloaded here. I’m quite partial to Collection 4 myself. But you will love.

via DJ Intel's Vimeo Profile

DJ Intel blew into my life via The Windy City. You gotta love the Chi. My best friend lives there. There’s Michigan Avenue. And hotdamn if there isn’t a SERIOUS nightlife! Back then, I was under the impression that the only places that partied past 2AM were New York and Europe. I ate my words in May of 2008 when I arrived at Ohm and danced until 3:30A under the tutelage of DJ Intel. It was my first time in Chicago. It was me, my best friend, two guy friends and the DJ that night. We were grooving and Ms. Fat Booty came on and we were on our feet spitting lyric after lyric right along with Mos Def and smiling ear-to-ear. Hands down, this was one of my top 5 club moments of all time. I had to meet the person responsible so I went up to the tables. I was immediately greeted and asked to hear some Janelle Monae or J*Davey. The unusual request stuck with the DJ so when I MySpaced (RIP) him a few days later, upon my return to introduce myself and beg him to come to New York, prodding him with a reminder of my requests, he remembered me. I was in love. I still am. I went from MySpace to subscribed Google Readership to Twitter and as soon as I get my money right, I’m flying him  out here to do what he does best at the celebration. He’s totally booked through New Year’s so if you’re in Chicago, the set is a must!

This mix has gone from my iBook to my 30G iPod to my iPhone. I’m never without it.

via TheInsider.com

Like many of you, I am an avid reader of OkayPlayer. It’s where I stay in the know with a lot of the artists I prefer. It’s no surprise to me then if you have already heard the mixtape of DJ Melo-X, Mustafa’s Renaissance. I was totally and completely in it with this project of his. It is a journey of groove and smooth – from hard to harder. The beauty about New York is that so many more artists are easily accessible to me. Then come to find out, he rolls with Theophilus London. SWOON! It wasn’t long before I was at Webster Hall listening to Melo-X  open for Theophilus like a champ. The connection was instant and seamless. I couldn’t resist jumping on the mailing list. And one glorious day, I learned that I would be available to catch his set at Sutra in the East Village. I grabbed 3 friends and arrived in time to catch the end of his residency but got up the courage to talk to him afterwards. I wonder if he remembers me. I was a total stan about the whole thing, telling him I follow him on Twitter and read his blog. I am still continuously impressed ultimately with his creativity and originality. You have to have something special to get love from the likes of Maxwell for digitally remixing his originals.

You can have that delicious goodness right here.

This concludes my love letter to you sweet DJ. It takes a lot to impress me but once you get me, you have me forever. Do you love me as much as I love you? (Circle One)

Yes

No

Maybe

Yours Always,
Lauren