SHOWCASE: What made you want to be a DJ?

DJ Q Mix: As a child, I was always intrigued by watching records spin while listening to them being played on my mother's stereo. When i was five years old, I went to my brother Charles wedding reception. Our other brother, Brian, was the DJ. When i saw him playing one record after another, continuously with two turntables instead of one, it was almost like i had an awakening. Between watching him DJ, and watching music videos and live performances of Jam Master Jay(R.I.P.) DJing for Run-DMC, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.

SHOWCASE: How long have you been a DJ?

DJ Q Mix: 14 years

SHOWCASE: How difficult was it to start once you decided to do it?

DJ Q Mix: It wasn't difficult for me. I started off with two turntables i purchased from a flea market. They were not the best turntables, but they carried me through my early stages of learning the basics of mixing and scratching two records. I was only 13 at the time so all i could do was stay at home and practice. Until i turned 17, got a car and my drivers license.

I started out DJing events for my highschool. Then I started DJing events for my classmates families.

SHOWCASE: How are you different from other DJ’s?

DJ Q Mix: I like to mix music continuously. Without any silence between songs. I don't scream and talk over the music much at parties. Just a little bit. Most DJ's do that to "hype the crowd up". My selection of music and the way i mix hype the crowd up without me talking all over it. Sometimes I even mix in sampled lines from movies and T.V. shows. I just keep the party going all night. My mixtapes are the same way.

SHOWCASE: Are you an old school DJ with the turn tables or is it all computer for you?

DJ Q Mix: I'm an old school DJ with the traditional vinyl record playing turntables.

I still carry a couple of crates of records. But I've also incorporated the use of DJ programs

on my computer for downloading and mixing new music from industry and independent artists that are not available on vinyl records.

SHOWCASE: How has being a DJ evolved from when you first started until now?

DJ Q Mix: I started in 1996. A time where vinyl records were pressed exclusively for DJ's using

the traditional turntables. Either you had skills or you didn't. Now that its nearly 2010, most traditional DJ's have abandoned crates of records and turntables for CD players and computers.

These items have computerized cueing, beat matching and mixing features. Although these features are convienient for the traditional DJ, its allowing the new DJ's to be lazy.

SHOWCASE: Who are some of the people that inspired you to do what you do?

DJ Q MIX: My brother Brian, Jam Master Jay, DJ Magic Mike, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and Funk Master Flex.

SHOWCASE: Is there any advice you can give to up and coming DJ’s?

DJ Q MIX: Practice your mixing, blending and scratching everyday you can. Make some mixtapes to showcase your true talents. Network as much as possible. If you can't afford the monthly "dot com" website fees, promote whatever social networking site you have a page on. Know what you are worth and don't settle for anything, go for what you really want.

SHOWCASE: How can people contact you for a booking?

DJ Q MIX: I can be reached for booking at 704-277-2674. quintillion1982@yahoo.com myspace.com/quintillion and blackplanet.com/quintillion