DJ Yung Nas

 AI is getting improvements everyday and its only a matter of time before it becomes a trend in the DJ industry. It's already got its foot in the door with curating playlist and mixing songs together but how else can the art of DJing improve over the years?

Cloud-Based Music Libraries

 Cloud storage will allow DJs instant access to vast music libraries from anywhere, making it easier to manage and retrieve tracks on the fly. Say goodbye to losing music forever because now it will be impossible and forget losing or forgetting your hard drive as music will be with you forever.

Enhanced Audio Technology

 Improvements in sound quality and new audio technologies will push the boundaries of what’s possible in live performances. streaming platforms are even catering to the culture like twitch making it possible for DJs to live stream without takedowns.

Collaborative DJing

Remote collaboration tools will enable DJs to work together on sets and mixes from different locations, broadening creative possibilities. Tiktok has made this possible but the future of tiktok is uncertain as well.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

Stay Updated with New Music

Incorporate recent releases and trending tracks to keep your set fresh and relevant. Regularly update your playlists with new music to stay ahead of trends and keep your sets exciting. Don't get too comfortable playing your usual as it will get old pretty quick pretty fast.

 Transitions and Mix Points

Select tracks that transition smoothly from one to the next. Consider key and tempo changes to ensure a seamless flow. Including tracks that offer great mix points will help maintain the energy and keep the audience engaged.

Energy and BPM

Arrange tracks by their energy levels and BPM (beats per minute). Create segments for different energy levels—starting with lower BPMs for the warm-up, building up to higher BPMs for peak moments, and then slowing down towards the end. A good way of having music set up in perfect places you want is building crates. Make a Turn-Up crate, Twerk crate, House crate, Dancehall crate. Each genre has different energy to it so its important when organizing them to know when to play them.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

DJ gigs are not always going to go 100% perfect every time you set up. You are bound to experience a problem at any moment and you always have to be ready for when the time comes. The biggest advice I can give to minimize the chances of this issue ever occurring is to always test your equipment throughout the week before the day comes. Even on the day of the gig, test it out, power it on make sure everything goes the way you expect it too. 

Computers are the biggest problem causers, it can be something as simple as a update fixing the bugs and malfunctions in the performance of your computer. Sometimes the software your using to DJ with can use a update as that can pose a big problem for equipment you use to connect to the software. 

As far as equipment issues like bleeding, pad buttons not working, and other problems, If the issues can't be fixed immediately you may need to find an alternative way of performing your set as once said by many, “The Show Must Go On”.

If a problem happens during the set, that anxiety rush that you feel in your body is alarming as no one wants to be the center of attention when a problem is happening. Analyze the situation at hand and locate the problem. Most softwares have internal mode where you can fix what you need to fix on your equipment you are operating on. if your computer becomes a problem during the set, first and foremost pray to the most high that you can solve this issue, secondly buy a back computer that you can always bring just in case the first one ever becomes a problem even though that maybe costly but you will never have to worry. 

Problems always occur when your on a DJ set, but a Real DJ will always find a way to keep the party going.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

Observe the Body Language

As your DJ set begins, always pay close attention to the crowd’s body language. You want to ask yourself,  “Are they engaged”? Obviously they will never come up and tell you but if they start dancing thats all the answers you need. Small movements like head-bobbing and singing the lyirics are always a good sign that the people are enjoying the music. If at a point you see people sitting down just watching others, people having their backs against the wall showing no emotion to the positive environment that they're in, I suggest it’s time to switch things up and find something thats going to give the boost they need.

Use Track Selection Wisely

Mix tracks that complement the crowd’s mood. For example, if they’re responding well to upbeat, danceable tracks, continue with similar genres or BPMs. Conversely, if they seem to enjoy slower, more laid-back tunes, adjust your set accordingly. The key is to remain flexible and responsive. Bouncing around different genres can help with this. If one is not working immediately switch to a different one and see what type of reaction it brings.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, your instincts as a DJ play a crucial role. With experience, you'll develop a sense of what works and what doesn’t. Trust your judgment and use the crowd’s reactions to guide your decisions. Their have been times in my early career as a DJ where I would ask someone what you think If I played this track, I would get mixed answers of Yes & No's but the reality is, If you feel its going to get the crowd going their is nothing wrong with trying things out because you never know.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

Do you ever just look at all the DJ's in the world and wonder how can you be a stand out DJ in this day and age especially in 2024 with AI and other factors making it a tough industry to succeed. In this article I will dive in to the 4 main factors that will help you get started and improve as you go.

To be a good DJ in 2024, you would first start by finding your sound and the best music. Their are tons of DJs out there with diverse backgrounds. Afrobeats DJ's, Edm DJ's, Reggae/ Dancehall DJ's the list goes on but there is a way you can tap in to each genre and apply it to your skill set, you just have to learn the music. Finding good music requires in depth research. Ripping from youtube is NOT the best way even though many DJ's do it. The record pools are your best friends and their are a lot of good ones and bad ones. The Good ones have a high subscription price which can make you think twice if you want to purchase but to be fair it is quite worth it if you find the right one. Once you find your record pool, go deep diving for music that your familiar with and one you have not even heard before even if its outside you style for downloading music because you will never know when you need it. There are certain DJs who have curate playlist on record pools for others to see and honestly this really helps give an insight on whats being played therefore expanding your knowledge on what to add to your sets, which is a perfect way to become the best DJ there is in 2024, being diverse with your music.

Standing out as a DJ in 2024 definitely requires the right content. Learn your techniques and mixing strategies so you can show off your skills and be in the spotlight. Creating content is one of the fastest ways to grow a fanbase and which consistency you will accomplish this goal. Whether if its making mixes for mixcloud, doing livestreams on Youtube and Twitch , or posting content on Instagram and TikTok, hitting all of these marks will increase your online presence and push you to where you want be in years to come. Make sure to have good audio quality and video quality so these algorithms don't punish you for putting a bad rep on account as this can hurt you if you put in half effort to your content.

When you post content make sure you market it correctly. Marketing is the a sure way to stand in 2024 as everything is digital. It is so easy to make post and let everyone in the world see the thing is how do you get the world to see? Well, all these available social media platforms have different features that make it easier for a DJ to stand out. How you use these features is where you have to put the the necessary effort to succeed. Utilizing Hashtags, eye catching and meaningful captions, and creative titles for your content. Research the social media apps you consume and use them to your advantage for pushing your content through the cracks of bottom tier post and they cant be ranked at the top if you once again apply the necessary tool such as reels, and doing live streams. Be careful with copyrights as too many them will slow your account and prohibit your growth temporarily.

Lastly, to succeed as a DJ in 2024 is to have the networking down pack. You will never know who you will come across when your out their in the field mixing up fire on those DJ sets. You can meet celebrities, to CEO's of this company, or promoters of this venue and honestly the more you introduce yourself too, the more your name will spread. If your the type of person you just do your own thing and leave, there is nothing wrong with that its just there want be much networking you can do from that unless someone is eagerly to meet you. Networking can put you in places you wouldn't think. You never know who you will meet so always take advantage of the opportunity while its there because if your at a venue and you don't know network with certain people you never know what you can be missing out on as it can better help you and your career.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

In this article, you will find the best websites and record pools to discover new music for your dj sets and playlist. As a DJ, I understand how much of time consuming job it is to find a website that suits yours needs getting the best hits.for your sets. If your constantly looking for a good source, look non further as I created a list of place where safely download music without any issues.

Discover New Music

Artist are always releasing music from the underground all the way to the mainstream but most we don't hear about obviously because of promotion. DSP's like Spotify & Apple Music make it easy to find these artist just by doing little research. Visiting different playlist is a great way to explore different sounds. How I do it is through regions of countries like the East, West ,of the U.S. or go specific, The UK for a more different style. If you find music here its most likely available in record pools and you just will have to find what record pool it's in. Youtube and SoundCloud are good sources to finding new music because they carry a wide range of content from artist that may not be available on DSP's like Spotify and Apple Music but carry weight in the music world from other music lovers who have came across their art.  For DJ's only this source helps extremely for your libraries for other audiences this is barely a tool but Mixcloud is a good source because listening to whats played in other DJ mixes, their are a lot of DJ's with their own music and make it fire! 

Record Pools

Record Pools are the best way to discover and download the best music. There are some very notable ones that stand out and really help DJs make the crates and sets they need to succeed.  First is Heavyhits.com. This is Not Paid Promotional partnership with heavyhits but as a returning subscriber I must say I am impressed with their music library and wide range of genres giving detailed analysis on songs they add helping DJs better understand the music. The only thing that dissatisfies me about them is that their high price of $25 can be just slight lower but I think because of the exclusivity of their music they can price it that way

BpmSupreme is another good record pool for most DJ's. They are another that carries a wide range of music and genres to give the DJs what they need to perform successfully. Pricing is not bad although there have been at times where you need to pay attention to what you download as some songs can be remixes and not the originals

Another great source for Music is Beatsource. Beatsource carries all the Indie music that Producers and DJs release. Lots of Upbeat Uptempo music to get the groove going on the dance floor. Pricing is good here as well. Not the place for mainstream music at all but still a valuable tool.

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!

Research venue

• When preparing for a DJ gig, you need to know your environment. Researching your environment will give you a better insight into what music best suits the venue you are going to be playing. In big cities, they're multiple venues with different music scenes scattered all throughout, a simple Google search and maybe a youtube video if any are out there, can help you make a successful gig. Another tip that can help you with your research is that if you are somewhat close to the venue that you will be playing at and your gig is spaced out from when you're booked, try visiting the venue at least once to get a feel of what the vibe is like so you can have a better understanding of what to do when it is your time. Listening and watching other DJs who are in the same venue as you can help you grow and be unstoppable.

Know your client's request

• Understanding what your client wants for the gig is very important, not only for making a successful gig but it creates trust that gets passed to other clients, who are in need of good DJs. You always want to leave a good impression. The best tool that gets all of your client's requests in order is to make a contract for your client. I will elaborate more soon on How To Make a DJ Contract, but let's get the gig first! Making a contract protects you financially and sets the rules straight, but it also gives your client the ability to detail their event and select their playlist. Playing what they want to hear is all you should focus on unless instructed otherwise by the organizer which is likely to happen so be prepared.

Budgeting expenses

• For some DJs, expenses are included in the budget and that includes travel and hotel. Travel should never have a huge impact on your budget. This should only apply if your gig is so far away that you know for a fact your not coming back home on that same day, you need to make a plan. You don't need a fancy hotel that cost two arms and an eyeball for one night, just a nice one that's clean and not too pricy. If you are within driving distance of a gig, know how much you will need to spend on tolls and gas. If you are flying to a gig, I hope this gig is worth it.

What setup are you bringing

• Knowing your setup is crucial. You never want to bring too little or too much to a gig. Most venues will have speakers and all you will need to bring is your controller and laptop, or even just a laptop because clubs have their own controllers. Know what the venue has as well. Make sure all wires are compatible with your setup for connectivity. Make sure everything is working properly and that you are ready to go.

Get the music ready

• You are all set to go for the gig. Your client signed and finished the contract, your expenses are calculated, and you know what setup you need to bring to the gig. Now it's time to get your music ready for the event. If you are using Serato or any other DJ software, make and organize your DJ crates. Structure them how you want them to appear when you open your laptop. Go through some songs and see if you can make creative transitions to show during your set. Categorize all your music so you know where to find it when you need it. 

Written by DJ Yung Nas – Bringing you the New Hip Hop & DJ culture!