Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Problem.
Hi DJ , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey started with a genuine love for music and the way it brings people together. What began as a passion eventually grew into a career that I’ve been building for more than 14 years.
I’m originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and today I’m based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Over the years, I’ve grown from simply wanting to be a good DJ into becoming an entertainer, radio personality, and brand. That journey has taken me well beyond my local market, with opportunities to DJ in major cities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and throughout North Carolina.
Along the way, I’ve been blessed to work around major events including Dreamville Festival, Roots Picnic, One Music Fest, BET Awards Weekend, and R&B In The Park, while working with brands such as Hennessy, Charmin, Nissan of Lumberton, Honor The Gift, Dunkin’, and Bojangles. I’ve also had the opportunity to DJ a presidential campaign event for Kamala Harris and have my work featured on SiriusXM’s Shade 45.
Radio has played a major role in my journey as well. Today, I can be heard on Foxy 99 in Fayetteville and K97.5 in Raleigh, and I’ve also had the opportunity to bring my mixes to Power 98 in Charlotte. Radio has given me another way to connect with people, but whether I’m on the air, behind the turntables, or in front of a crowd, I’ve learned that what I do is about more than just playing music. It’s about creating a moment and making people remember how you made them feel.
The road hasn’t always been easy. There have been setbacks, closed doors, moments of doubt, and times when I’ve had to reinvent myself. One of the biggest things this journey has taught me is the importance of consistency. I’ve learned that every opportunity matters. Sometimes the opportunity you think is small is the one preparing you for something much bigger.
That’s really what DJ Problem represents to me now. It’s bigger than a DJ name. It’s something I’ve spent years building, and it represents the work, sacrifices, relationships, and experiences that got me here. When people hear “IT’S A PROBLEM!”, I want them to know they’re about to get an experience.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but at the same time, I still feel like I’m just getting started. My goal is to continue taking DJ Problem to bigger stages across the country, work with more major festivals and brands, continue growing in radio and entertainment, and ultimately become one of those DJs people know they can call when they need someone who can truly move a crowd.
And no matter how far this journey takes me, I want to continue representing Fayetteville, North Carolina, while never forgetting that the story started back home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I think one of the biggest misconceptions people have about entertainment is that they see the opportunities, the pictures, the events, and the accomplishments, but they don’t always see everything that happened behind the scenes to get there.
One of my biggest challenges has been continuing to believe in myself even when the opportunities didn’t match the work I was putting in. There have been plenty of times when I felt like I was ready for a bigger stage, a bigger market, or a bigger opportunity, but the answer was either no—or sometimes there was no answer at all. In this business, talent matters, but I’ve learned that relationships, timing, consistency, and simply staying in the game matter just as much.
I’ve watched opportunities go to other people. I’ve had doors close. I’ve had situations that I thought were going to change my career not work out the way I expected. There have even been moments when I questioned whether all the time, money, travel, and sacrifice I was putting into this was worth it.
Another challenge has been balancing everything. I’m a DJ and radio personality, but outside of entertainment, my family is a major part of my life. Building a career in this industry while making sure I’m present for the people who matter most to me is something I take seriously. Events, radio shows, traveling, networking, and preparation can mean long days, late nights, and early mornings. Finding that balance isn’t always easy, but my family is also a big part of what motivates me to keep pushing and building something meaningful.
I think those challenges have shaped me just as much as the accomplishments have. I’ve learned how to adjust, how to reinvent myself, and most importantly, how to keep going without allowing somebody else’s “no” to determine what I believe I’m capable of.
After more than 14 years, I’m still here, still growing, and still hungry. I haven’t reached every goal I have for DJ Problem yet, and that actually motivates me. The journey has taught me that sometimes success isn’t about how quickly you get there—it’s about whether you’re willing to keep showing up until you do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the core, I’m a DJ, radio personality, and entertainer. I specialize in creating an experience through music. I’m open-format, so I’m not limited to one genre, one type of crowd, or one type of event. Whether it’s Hip-Hop, R&B, throwbacks, current music, or records people forgot they loved, I take pride in being able to read a room and understand what that particular crowd needs.
For me, DJing has never been about just playing the biggest songs. Anybody can have access to the same music. What separates DJs is what they do with it. I pay attention to timing, energy, transitions, song selection, and the microphone. I want there to be a journey to my sets. I want to know when to turn the crowd all the way up, when to let a record breathe, and when to completely switch directions because I can feel what the room is telling me.
Radio has made me stronger in that area as well. Being a radio personality has taught me how to communicate, think on my feet, and connect with an audience I can’t physically see. In radio, sometimes you only have a few seconds to capture somebody’s attention. I’ve been able to bring those skills back into my live performances, and I think that combination of DJing, personality, and knowing how to communicate with an audience is a major part of what sets me apart.
Another part of my work that has really grown is TikTok Live. It’s given me the opportunity to take what I do as a DJ and radio personality and create an experience that reaches far beyond a traditional venue. My audience continues to grow, and what I love most is that people can become part of the music, the party, and the experience from anywhere in the world. They might be at home, in their dorm room, at work, or even playing my Live at their own function, but for that moment, we’re all connected through the same music.
Music is a universal language. You don’t have to be standing in the same room for a record to make you feel something. TikTok Live has allowed me to take the energy I would normally bring to a club, festival, or radio show and share it with people wherever they are. It’s become more than simply going live on social media—I’m creating a party without walls.
It’s also introduced DJ Problem to people who may have never heard me on the radio or seen me perform in person. They can experience what I do in real time, become part of the community, and hopefully one day experience it with me in person.
One thing I’m especially proud of is my versatility. I’ve been able to walk into very different environments and still be myself. I can DJ a festival activation, nightclub, day party, corporate or branded event, entertain an audience on terrestrial radio, and then go online and connect with people around the world in real time. Each environment requires something different, and being able to adapt without losing who I am is something I take pride in.
I’m also proud that after more than 14 years, I still care about getting better. I study music. I study crowds. I listen back to my mixes. I pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. I’m never satisfied with simply saying, “I’ve been doing this for a long time.” Experience only matters to me if I’m using it to become better at what I do.
Ultimately, I want people to associate DJ Problem with an experience. That’s where “IT’S A PROBLEM!” comes from. It’s not just something I say—it represents the energy I want people to feel when I step behind those turntables.
And probably the thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to build all of this while still being myself. I didn’t have to become somebody else to get here. I’m still growing, still learning, and still chasing bigger opportunities, but whether it’s a packed venue, a radio audience, or someone watching from the other side of the world, the goal remains the same:
Connect people through music and give them an experience they’ll remember.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that networking is really about relationships, not contacts. Early on, I think a lot of us look at networking as, “Who can help me get to the next level?” As I’ve grown, I’ve realized the better question is, “How can I build genuine relationships with good people?”
Some of the best opportunities I’ve received didn’t come from walking into a room and immediately asking somebody to book me. They came from showing up, supporting other people, having conversations, doing good work, and staying connected. Sometimes a relationship you build today doesn’t turn into an opportunity until months or even years later.
When it comes to mentors, I also don’t believe you always have to walk up to somebody and officially ask, “Will you be my mentor?” Sometimes mentorship happens naturally. Find people who are where you’re trying to go, pay attention to how they move, ask meaningful questions when you have the opportunity, listen when they give you advice, and then actually apply what you learn.
Something else that has worked for me is being willing to show up before I’m needed. Support somebody else’s event. Congratulate them when they win. Share an opportunity when you can. Check in without always needing something. People can tell the difference between someone who genuinely values the relationship and someone who only reaches out when they need a favor.
I’ve also learned to treat everybody with respect, regardless of their title. You never know who somebody is going to become, who they know, or what room they may eventually be in. More importantly, treating people well should never depend on what they can do for you.
And probably my biggest advice is: don’t network so hard that you forget to work. Relationships might help get you into a room, but your preparation, professionalism, reputation, and talent are what give people a reason to invite you back.
I’m still building relationships and learning from people today. After more than 14 years in this business, I’ve realized you never reach a point where you know everything. Stay teachable, stay genuine, do good work, and don’t only reach out to people when you need something.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djproblem300.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djproblem300?stkn=MWlsbmFvYTU5Z2Jtdg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@djproblem300
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djproblem300?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
