Okay.. so i just started typing and wrote this.. I’ve obviously missed out whole chunks of information, but at some point i’ll add bits to this…

I’ve been doing this a long time.. the first club night I put on (with a couple of friends) was at Cargo in Shoreditch. This was back in 2003, while I was studying Design For Communication (graphic design) at Chelsea college of art and design (apparently a top 2 art college in the world), and long before Shoreditch was anything like it is now.. the mighty boosh was a pretty accurate portrayal of the Shoreditch twats that joined the creatives, living amongst and the Top Boy esque estates of Hackney. There was a ton of artists living in warehouses, Banksy’s everywhere and the bagel shop on brick lane was the only late night food spot worth going to. I spent many many nights handing out flyers and cellotaping photocopied posters to walls and lamposts across London (as that was by far the best way to promote events pre broadband internet). Mainly around Soho, Camden, Angel, Shoreditch, Central, Kings Cross and at and and every relevant Hip Hop event going on. I actually lived in Central, and spent all my student loan and small income from DJing (and coaching kids basketball) on records. Def got ripped off and sold records I didn’t want from Mr Bongo’s, Deal Real (but i ended up working in the store so i’m not mad at them) and Uptown.. didn’t even realise Kish did the same at scenario (a little later on) but he became a friend so it’s all good.

At the same time I was DJing house parties, bars and clubs around North, East and central London (occasionally in South - elephant and Brixton).. played a bunch of Student events. I used to get paid £75 to design a shit flyer and DJ (I think he paid £50 just to DJ) and then DJ’ed events for my university, won their DJ competition. Came 4th in the national student competition - I was robbed and still pissed off that i didn’t win. The guy who won literally just blended a few big tracks together while I was out there cutting up records, live acapella mixes where i switched beats a ton of times and even used the reverse button on the vestax turntables. Still vexed.

It’s hard to remember a lot of the gigs I played back then, but through our Ill Commotion party, we got a lot of great bookings around London. Played a ton of trendy east London venues.. 333, Herbal, Rhythm Factory etc etc and some of the bigger clubs too - fabric, Turnmills, The End.. I played my first international gig DJing for Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins in Budapest and then Paris i think that was early 2007. Oh and Dynamo was our resident magician. I also used to stroll round London with him and hit the westend clubs to do magic for people. We had some amazing artists play the party. Artists like Foreign Beggars, a whole Stones Throw tour, Black Twang, TY, Sway, Skinnyman and many more. We even got mad ambitious and did Foreign Beggars Album Launch at Scala on a Weds. Had A0 posters all around London (mad expensive), with Scratch Perverts, Oh No & Roc C supporting. Then realised waaay too many people had to get in free and we lost a lot of money.. Live and learn.

Still, London was such a vibe. So many dope Djs and parties.

I left my part time job coaching youth basketball in 2007 to take on the roll of promotions manager at the Westbury, a DJ bar / club in Kilburn (sold and closed down now) owned by Steve Ball (for those that know). That was a pretty full on 3 years, but I’m stillI impressed with what we managed to make happen in that venue. Couple highlights include Flying Lotus, J Live, Mayer Hawthorne, Stanton Warriors, Scratch Perverts, De La Soul, 9th Wonder, Plump Djs, Cuban Brothers, Rob Da Bank, Wajeed, Sa-Ra, Pharoahe Monch & Boogie Blind, Hot Chip, Bugz in the Attic, Norman Jay, Daddy G (Massive Attack), Breakbot, Mark Ronson, Ali Shaheed Mohammad (Tribe Called Quest), Aaron Lacrate, Bonobo, Foals, Aloe Blacc (live), Dj Derek, Duke Dumont, L-Vis 1990, Beni G (Jack Beats set), James Lavelle, The Nextmen, MJ Cole, Zinc, Wookie, Zed Bias, Shy FX, Dj Krust, Dj Die, Zero 7, Jazzie B, 4Hero, Fabio, TY, Ed (Chemical Bros) and so many more.. We even had Breakbot record a mix for us that blew up on youtube!

At the same time, ill commotion phased out (live acts cost a lot of money), and Deal Real was closing (Not writing about Deal Real is missing half the story, but it’s too much to write about now). someone needs to fact check these dates 🤷🏽‍♂️. Livin’ Proof was born at marketplace in 2007. It was such a dope party to play, none of us even cared that we made about £20 each from it lol, and no one knew then what it would turn into 🙏

Along with running the venue and the start of LP, my DJ career was suddenly doing well. I got a lot better, held down a bunch of residencies around London and started getting booked at a lot of cool parties. John & Sam’s party at Bungalow 8 was a monthly highlight where i got to play alongside a ton of my favourite acts. No idea how I managed to play that, get like 3 hours sleep then go to work on Tuesday morning (I was usually late, but still) 😳.. I remember bumping into Sara who I knew from a year at Art College and chatting about the party they’d just started, Work It (which was dope). Even Ash started putting on some stupidly hot and sweaty Warehouse Parties with the Nike ID crew. Those were dope.. until the one we did got shut down by undercover police (we did have a queue in people down 3 flights of staircase and out onto the street lol). But still, London was a vibe back then. I started playing Europe a lot more. Went from fees covering costs and sleeping on sofas to building some regular gigs and actually getting paid a decent rate. Definitely messed up a well paid Zurich link by getting blind drunk before my set 😩, but it’s all good. Had enough other opportunities. I even took a month off work to zip round Europe in 2009 and filled it with some really dope gigs around Germany, Switzerland, Prague, Slovakia, Hungary. Oh sit… totally forgot I got to record the CD that was on the cover of Hip Hop Connection magazine for THTC in 2008 - what a long and stressful process. Massive thanks to Fin for staying up all night to produce the intro and arrange cuts. Still so happy that I got to do it! I used to read that mag as a teenager and love the CDs (Shortee Blitz Rawkus one was dope).. having my own mix CD on the cover was a dream I never thought would happen.

Went full time as a DJ in 2010. figured I’d give it a go for a year or two, and get a proper job after that if needs be. It started well with a 2 week university tour as a Mixmag DJ. Great experience to look back on, but being stuck on a tour bus for 2 full days in Sheffield without a shower or proper toilet felt like a lifetime. Played NYC for the first time with Evil D, Boogie Blind & Sucio Smash at APT in 2009. Played regularly in Europe.. Was being booked to DJ the support sets for for a few acts, and Livin’ proof went from strength to strength, been packing venues from the start, and continued to do that at bigger venues, CAMP, XOYO, VU, Oval Space. Put on shows with ASAP Rocky, Danny Brown, Schoolboy Q, Ferg, Giggs, Joey Badass and others, had a fake MF Doom DJ our party then get kicked off halfway through his set.. flew out to Hong Kong and Manila, then spent a couple days with bad food poisoning in Tokyo (sorry guys). Became Shystie’s tour DJ. Miss the team. We had had so much fun though. Best shows were Prague, Rome, Milan, France (I don’t remember where) and a very fun weekend in Belarus. I stupidly fell asleep with the window open in -15c weather and woke up freezing. Oh man, I developed a very very real fear of flying coming back from somewhere with them. Our flight just tilted and then dropped, and then did it again. 100% thought we were gonna die. the fear was very real. Hated flying after that. Actually had to get hypnotherapy before I had a run of 10 flights in 2 weeks cos I was so scared (I’m alright now, thanks for caring)

Damn this is so long... I’ve skipped tons and haven’t even started talking about NYC and everything that’s happened since... gonna try to keep it short..

So I was coming back and forth since 2012. Big up Stim for looking out for me and connecting me with Moma. Played his party in Harlem hosted by Mark and Maine the weekend after the hurricane! Was a crazy time in NY. Actually came to support my mate Tim run the marathon, but that got cancelled. Obama’s second election win was a good time though. Came back in 2013 to see the Knick’s in the playoffs. No one wanted to pay $500 for a ticket, so I went by myself - I know that’s mad, but it felt like a once in a lifetime thing to do (probably the last playoff game they won lol), and my accommodation was free so i somehow justified it. We also put on a LP party at Sway Lounge that didn’t do too well but was a fun night. Started a long distance relationship, so went on to spend all my money on flights for the next two years before moving here. Big up to everyone who booked me to spin those years Moma & Everyday People, Get Summered, Conrad, Freedom Party, Kinfolk (actually played 94’s opening night with 3’Hi).. this isn’t short is it..

Moved to New York in the summer of 2015 (and have remained between London and New York since). Started BackToLife at Louie & Chan (really miss that venue) - was constantly told we were the BEST party in New York at that time by some very well respected peers. It did feel like everything just came together very perfectly, and I wish all parties I played now had that same crowd, energy and vibe. Was such a dope mix of people. DJs, brits, New Yorkers, friends, actors, models, felt so London and so New York at the same time. It was so special at Louie & Chan. it felt like a secret escape from NYC in the middle of Manhattan. You had to know about it, and it was hard to get into - was so packed inside. Guests at that time include the likes of Just Blaze, Idris Elba, Daniel fucking Bedingfield, Lady Leshur, Kindness, Clara Amfo, Roska, 808INK, Venus X, David Rodigan, Donae’o, Spinna to name a few. We even made a 1 year anniversay mix for Fader with mixes by Just Blaze, Kindness, Moma & Jasmine Solano alongside myself and Pauli. The party was by far the most successful event at the venue and as a result I took over the music programming and promotion of the events.. if you were lucky enough to be at some of the special nights you know how it could be. Love the venue, staff, owners and managers. We def had something very special happening down there. Highlights included Teddy Riley (Yes, the Teddy Riley), J Rocc, Mayer Hawthorne, Virgil Abloh, Questlove, Starro, Kid Capri, MNDSGN, Denzel Curry, Tiffany Calver brought AJ Tracey in to perform (True story, Dave was too young to get in), Scratch Bastid (although we had the worst tech and sound problems that night), Sosupersam, Obviously Moma every month and everyone else… sadly all good things come to an end, the venue had some really bad luck and sadly had to close down :/ But New York has been kind to me. I’ve met some of my hero’s and played some incredible events. Damn completely forgot i DJed at Rucker Park! Read about this court as a kid, so to be there and DJ was kinda mad! Plus Kyrie came down and joined the game which i was sitting right under one of the hoops to watch… Love to Al D and Vashtie for having me as a resident at House Party at Webster Hall, I played at the Guggenheim Museum, Everyday People have kept booking me as they’ve grown! I’ve played events for Soundcould, Pandora, Victory Magazine, Mother NY took me on their staff ski trip to DJ for them, Whalebone Mag and actually quite a few brand events, but my minds blanked DJ’ed alongside Craig David, Little Simz, Dave, AJ Tracey, met some very cool people, played Adwoa’s Bday and then Martha Hunt’s Bday, and done this and that… Haven’t played any Boiler Room sets in NY (actually I played one, but it wasn’t broadcast), but I lent A-Trak my turntables, smashed a plant pot at Rich Medina’s one and got to chill at Just Blaze’s house for his one. Shapes was created by myself and Yellowtech at L&C and grown into its own party. The real challenge has been to keep the events going strong in both London and New York! The balance is tough and at times it feels like i’m never in one place long enough, but we started LP in NY, and have brought BackToLife to London, both quite successfully! Oh on a separate note, I Met David Beckham in Miami (our gig turned into his afterparty), recently I’ve played shows in Philly, Miami, Boston, Toronto, Vermont & DC while maintaining some of the key shows in Europe. One day I’ll check out the west coast. Toured Asia twice in the last couple years with BackToLife shows in Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong & Korea. We had some other incredible BackToLife shows which was amazing. Our Afropunk afterdark parties were mad, but the most legendary one featured Little Simz live (with Miguel dancing on stage) and DJ sets from Sampha, NAO, Budgie, Femi from Ezra Collective and Richard Russel (XL records), and were the first people to do a club event with Colours Studios. Oh, once had Yasin Bey (Mos Def) partying and requesting tunes at a small gig I was playing in Bedstuy, met Omar at Casablanca just a month before (another great venue thats gone). Oh shit, joined Donaeo and Moma to cover one of Ebro’s Beats 1 shows, plus done a few guest mixes for him. Woke up in time to play a set on Sway on the morning too! Went to Dubai for SoleDBX with Snips which was mad too.

2020 was a madness, but in hindsight, we did some amazing tings on twitch! it’s a long watch, but the best of 2020 show was kind of epic with guest appearances from Daniel Kaluuya, Just Blaze, Donae’o and friends.. plus an insane totally unplanned bit embarrassing to look back at month long online battle with a knight… yeah lol. Think we hit 25k viewers a couple of times though. Started a secret project with a friend that I havent posted to social media. Some people would call it a mixtape, but we think of it more as an audio art piece, which has been broadcast on NTS. Oh, totally forgot to say we had a weekly NTS which only ended when i moved to NY. Post pandemic life has been interesting. Sadly my Dad passed away. I can’t explain the sadness that surrounds that, life has to go on, but I really miss him, and nothings been the same since. Back to DJing.. Shapes has become a prominent event on the calendar and was amazing through 2022. I’ve played a lot more corporate events, some weddings and a couple of Film premiere afterparties including the NOPE premiere afterparty in Los Angeles.. It was actually amazing to be at the world premiere of the film and play the party.. although Travis Scott coming and deciding to get on the mic and control the music meant I didn’t get to go back on later in the night lol. Fair enough i guess. The Whale premiere afterparty for A24 was great, but a very different type of event. I travelled a lot since the pandemic with events in Italy, London, Barbados, Los Angeles, Germany, around the US too.. Let’s see what the future brings