The Journey and Inspiration of DJ LiKWUiD: Discussing this year’s Banjee Boombox festival

Episode Transcript

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[00:00:00] Introduction to Banjee Boombox Festival

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Jay Ray: This week on Queue Points, we are celebrating the Banjee Boombox festival. Banjee Boombox is a fiscally sponsored, vibrant QTBIPOC festival, dedicated to the celebration, amplification and cultivation of safe spaces for the diverse voices of women, non-binary individuals and LGBTQIA+ artists, DJs and musicians. Their mission is to create an inclusive platform that not only showcases the incredible talent within the community, but also fosters an environment where every unique voice can be heard and appreciated.

[00:00:40] Meet DJ LiKWUiD: Co-Founder of Banjee Boombox

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Jay Ray: On this episode, we welcome festival co-founder DJ LiKWUiD.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes. Yes. Sure. We have with us the one and only proprietor of Banshee boombox. The lady, the person in charge DJ liquid is in the building. What's going on DJ liquid. Welcome to Q points. We finally got you here.

DJ LiKWUiD: Thanks for having me. I've been looking forward to this all week. Super excited. Um, it's just great to have a nice tiki with y'all.

So

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. I'm so excited. I'm excited for a bunch of different reasons. One, I get to see Jerry in person to we get to see you in

person?

and the fabulous lineup that we're going to talk about in a second. And on top of all of that, I get to be in Brooklyn once again, which is where I grew up and it's a homecoming for me.

[00:01:34] DJ LiKWUiD's Musical Journey Begins

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DJ Sir Daniel: But, uh, before we get into all of that, DJ liquid, DJ liquid styles, talk to us about this musical journey that you've been on DJ to DJ, talk to me, what, what got you started on your journey?

DJ LiKWUiD: that is a long question. And just for reference, I need to know again, what part of Brooklyn are you from again? I know you told me before.

DJ Sir Daniel: So I grew up in Crown, we lived in several different places, but the longest place that I stayed was on Crown and Utica in the Crown Heights section. I used to walk right on up to, um, to Eastern Parkway to catch the Utica, the number four, so I could go to school in downtown Brooklyn, right, right across from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

That's exactly where I went to

DJ LiKWUiD: Bam. Literally

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes, exactly.

DJ LiKWUiD: Literally. Yes. Um, no, I, when I think of Brooklyn, I think of music. I lived on McDonough between Marcy and Tompkins for maybe like two or three years, but Harlem was like home to me. You know, not that Brooklyn wasn't, Brooklyn was Brooklyn is a planet, and I know you know, but for folks that have visited, you can be in Brooklyn and not need to leave, because everything is right there.

There's,

Jay Ray: every time I visited New York and visited Brooklyn, like, I'll just be in Brooklyn and be like, Oh, yes, I am in New York City and I'm

DJ LiKWUiD: other boroughs I could go to, but, um, but yeah, my, Brooklyn's where it's at. So, yeah, for my musical journey, I pulled from so many different places, and My cousin, Ray Ray, shout out to my cousin, Ray Ray. It's funny because, um, the way I got into DJing was I inherited his equipment

and yeah, I was like eight years old.

My Aunt Johnny Mae, shout out Aunt Johnny Mae, Georgetown, South Carolina. Um, you know, my cousin went away and she had his equipment. She was like, You know, they call me by my middle name back home. So Shoshana, you want this, you like music,

Jay Ray: Yeah, you like music. You want this?

DJ LiKWUiD: you like music, you want this. And I was like, Oh my God.

Yeah. So I'm eight years old with two techniques. I did not know what I

Jay Ray: Wow.

DJ LiKWUiD: I did not know what I had. So I'm like figuring it out in my room. Um, just calling myself mixing and just kind of mimicking what I'm hearing. So I'm, I'm like taking my mom's Marvin Gaye records, like scratching them up, y'all Frankie Beverly and maze.

And I'm just figuring it out, you know, as I go along, but it was, it was like a long journey from there.

[00:04:09] First DJ Gig and Early Career Challenges

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DJ LiKWUiD: Like I didn't do my first party till like 2007. I think it was. Um, and my, my dear friend, Dwight Allen O'Neal, um, we were throwing a party in the West Village and we were like, Oh my God, we like inviting all these people.

You know, when you're in your 20 somethings in New York, you're trying to be outside. You can get people to show up to the club. That's not the hard part. The hard part is how you keep them there because there's so much going on. So we were like, okay, we got all these people coming. We got the space confirmed.

We're like, who's gonna DJ? And I'm like, well, can we afford a DJ? We quickly found out we could

not. Um, so I was like, well, shoot, I DJ,

Jay Ray: Yes.

DJ LiKWUiD: kind of, right? Because every DJ starts out as a bedroom DJ,

Jay Ray: Yes. Yes.

DJ Sir Daniel: Thanks.

DJ LiKWUiD: we all

DJ Sir Daniel: Kitchen for me. Kitchen for me. Go ahead.

DJ LiKWUiD: So, um, so yeah, this was a time where, like, In New York, especially we have the two CDJ set up for you and you just brought your case of CDs and I played the mix and we got picked up for a weekly.

So that's how I

Jay Ray: That's dope.

DJ LiKWUiD: Yeah. Yeah. So we got picked up for a weekly and we kept it going for like six or eight months, maybe close to a year. But I like as far as like the music itself, like I love house music. I've always loved house music and that's, I think it may be an ode to funk and disco.

Like if you know how

the journey of music works, cause all music is black music. I know I've heard y'all's y'all know where I'm going with

Jay Ray: We

DJ LiKWUiD: but I think it's just kind of like disco and funk and then soul and then gospel. I just think it like all connected.

[00:06:02] Finding Her Groove in Harlem

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DJ LiKWUiD: So, um, that was kind of where it went, but I didn't really become who I am now as a DJ until I got my residency in Harlem. And That was because, like, I knew how to lend in R& B, hip hop, funk, so, like, hip hop samples, a lot of jazz records, soul records, so it was easy to kind of dwell in between, um, and then at the end of the night, you could throw on some house, so people know what's up, but in Harlem, it's such, like, Brooklyn, very rich in culture, and very Black, but very diverse Black, right? So, you had your, it's Harlem, so you got the HBCU kids. You know, with Howard and Hampton, let me go ahead and throw it out there, y'all always out, um, in, in Harlem. Then you have the tourists, the tourist ladies who come up to Harlem to, you know, Be touristy, I'm gonna say it like

Jay Ray: Mm-Hmm. Mm hmm.

DJ LiKWUiD: a lot of Nigerians, you have a lot of Africans.

Whereas like, Brooklyn is like west Indian, very west Indian, you

DJ Sir Daniel: Down. Mm

DJ LiKWUiD: say there, you know, you can do a pretty good reggae set in Harlem. But if you're going to like, wine, wine your way, so you're probably going to go to Brooklyn, you know, and hang out there, but in Harlem it's, it's, Afro beats is, you know, it, you know, so I had to find a way because people would come up and ask me, yo, are you gonna play some DeVito?

Can I get some Mimi Alliday? Like, Burna Boy, where were we like, you know, where are we going with that? And so I would say, even though I started DJing professionally in 2007, it probably wasn't until like 2014 ish that I started to really like get in my bag and really like get into the African American diaspora music, like across.

The board. So track road beats was my thing. It was like, you know, I'm still from the South. So I got that Southern hip hop. So all that, then Harlem, the influence of Afro beats in there as well. And then just like a lot of times, the journeys, how are they all connected and get to each other?

Jay Ray: Oh my goodness. So I'm glad. Okay.

[00:08:22] Blending the Diaspora in Music

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Jay Ray: So what you just described really does kind of feed into this next question because one of the things that we know about you is that you wear many hats, right? So DJ is just one of those hats. You're a performing artist, you're a spoken word artist, you're an educator, marketing guru, all of these things, right?

I'm curious because you, you talked about this blending of the diaspora, right? When we listen to your music, we also hear that blending. Can you talk to us about two things? One, how the journey to, um, how you, how you began to create music in the way that you create it. And also, how do you integrate all of these things in a way that feels organic to you?

DJ LiKWUiD: Ooh, that's a good question.

[00:09:20] Ella Mae Flossie: A Tribute to Heritage

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DJ LiKWUiD: I think in my very last project, that was Ella Mae Flossie.

Jay Ray: Hot project, hot

DJ LiKWUiD: Thank you. Um, that project was a time for me to go home, and I literally went to South Carolina for a while, while I was recording. We recorded everything in New York, like everything was done, um, actually in Brooklyn.

Um, Ba Ba Studios, Willie Green, amazing audio genius, put everything together for every musician, singer, uh, person that touched that project was just amazing. What I heard in my head. Um, at the time of conceptualizing it was really touching, um, intersectionality, I think, namely for Sea Island Gullah people, because I feel like we're, um, I guess the lesser known Creole folks, you know, um, when you think of African Americans, um, as it relates to subcultures and, you know, In America, you know, there's always that West African link to it, but Um, they're, I think New Orleans is just, it just, it's top of mind.

Like you, whenever you think of the combination of African, French, American, it's just like, Oh, Creole people, New Orleans. Like you can hear it in their voice. It's like melodic when they speak to you, like, you know, and there's so many customs that are specific for New Orleans. Like if somebody puts you on a plane and drop, like, I'm going to take you somewhere.

You got to guess where you are type thing. I'm going to blindfold you. If you woke up in New Orleans, you'd be like, Oh, I'm in New Orleans,

you know, you wouldn't have to, you would know immediately

Jay Ray: I know where I am.

DJ LiKWUiD: I know where I am, you know,

DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm.

DJ LiKWUiD: um, I don't know. I feel like now I think now, especially, um, because, uh, there's So much work being done, um, to, to speak to Sea Island Gulf from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, uh, the northern part of Florida.

And I think now, like, Rice did a documentary, like, so many more people are having that conversation, um, was it High on the Hog, did this beautiful

segment on the food, and, and, and it took me back to my childhood, like, when my uncles and cousins would just take a sheet shack, a piece of the, uh, shack and put it on the ground.

Um, Um, with aluminum foil on top and, uh, it would be in a fire pit

Jay Ray: Yeah,

DJ LiKWUiD: and pour a crab on top. And I'm talking newspaper on the table, like,

Jay Ray: we going eat. We go sit around this table as a family and we going to partake

DJ LiKWUiD: come on

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely.

DJ LiKWUiD: Come on

DJ Sir Daniel: And now and now it's in Charlemagne. The God is probably like the most visible. Um, Southern, Southern Cal, south Carolinian now who's put monk's corner on the map and the whole low country. So yeah. You got a lot to celebrate in your work.

DJ LiKWUiD: absolutely. It, it felt very celebratory. And I think starting there kind of helped to branch out everywhere else.

Jay Ray: Got it.

DJ LiKWUiD: So, um, it was a matter of taking, um, Southern spirituals, um, and I would say any hits of gospel. Yeah. Cause it's all connected. It would, I think it would be more like call and response spirituals before we got to full on choir.

Like there are melodic choir moments in the album, but I was really thinking just spiritual. Yeah.

[00:13:16] The Role of Drums and Spirituals in Music

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DJ LiKWUiD: Like how we would have to communicate drums were another important part for me when I was communicating with the music director like drums were, um, very important because when it came to communicating with each other, um, especially for our ancestors who were experiencing slavery at the, uh, in the time where we were figuring out ways to communicate with each other. Um, music was often the thing, and if you notice like black folks, we communicate, we can communicate without words like, like it don't matter if you're from la, New York, Atlanta, like we just have certain things that are universal. And we don't need to talk to do it, you know, and when you take that a step further with with drum. Right. Um, even with, with humming. You know, um, all those things were important to incorporate into this album. So it started with hip hop, right? Cause it's like, that's where I was introduced to creating and writing for myself, but all of those things played a part in it. And it was, it was like gumbo. It was like, I'm just going to throw it in there and mix it around and see what we've come up with.

And, um, that's where that particular project came. And I think like, ultimately I'm the type of artist where, you know, I really live by the quote, like Nina Simone said, an artist's duty is to reflect the times. So, it's easier for me to communicate in writing, in song, in poetry, than, um, to go about doing it other ways.

Like, I wish I was a great content creator. I wish I could, like, streamline my thoughts to 30 seconds. In a TikTok or you know what I mean? Like shout out to people who can do that because there's 10 different voices in my head telling me, girl, say this. Uh uh, no, say it like this, but then you got to go back and pick up this point.

So I need to write it down.

Jay Ray: I am a sir. Daniel knows I am a scripter. scripter. We have questions for you in front of us right now. Okay. So we know what to talk about.

DJ LiKWUiD: Yes. Yes. And

DJ Sir Daniel: as we get older.

Jay Ray: Yes.

DJ LiKWUiD: It's, it's real. So, I mean, all those things I wanted to communicate in that particular project and it, it just continued to grow. So, and I ultimately wanted to pay homage to my LMA Flossie, um, who are my mother, maternal and paternal grandmother. So l ma is my paternal grandmother, Dorothy Mae White is my mother.

And Florence Flossy Bri, um, is my maternal grandmother. And it's funny 'cause people are like, oh, Flossy, I like it, like the Rihanna song. I was like, no. Like my grandmother

Like she was legit flossy. That was, that was her name. ? Yeah. Like my, no, like my grandmother . So, um, it, it was um, one of those things, it was a journey home, but also connecting all of those pieces together.

And paying homage to the women who made me who I am. And it was trying to do so in a, in, in a very condensed space. And we played with other things, Afrofuture. There was a lot of themes going on. Like all of the artwork was done by, uh, black women. Um, the presentation, we did it in a planetarium. Like it was a labor of love and something that I had to do before I stopped rapping

Jay Ray: Yeah. Yeah.

DJ Sir Daniel: You know, um, so like Jerry was saying, he and I have, we've gotten, created a synergy between us as far as our work is concerned. And we also have, um, before the podcast, he and I have put on events as well. Um, and. If anybody knows how much work goes into putting on an event, it's me and Jerry.

DJ LiKWUiD: along there.

DJ Sir Daniel: And the thing is, what I can definitely say is that I don't know.

There was no way in hell I could have gotten a lot of that stuff done that I did several years ago with the, the shuffling repeat parties and things like that. I, there was no way in hell I could not have done that without Jerry's help.

[00:17:44] Partnership with DJ Mary Mac

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DJ Sir Daniel: But you DJ liquid also have somebody in your corner, um, to help you lift the load.

And that's a phenomenal DJ in her own right. A legend herself, DJ, Mary Mac, DJ, Mary Mac. Tell us how you guys linked up and started this partnership to create Banshee boombox.

DJ LiKWUiD: I have to say, I, if I haven't met her in person and we've been like working together for so many years, I would think it's three of her

Jay Ray: Ain't that special where you like, that's how dope.

DJ LiKWUiD: because that woman is Right now, she's in, um, Minneapolis, I believe. Like, I can't even keep up sometimes. Like, where are you this time? What are you doing? Like, you know. Um, but, huge shout out to the legendary icon, DJ Mary Mac. Um, Mac and I met, I want to say, 20, 2010? 2011? It, you know, in New York you meet people.

You meet them five times before you meet them.

DJ Sir Daniel: for

DJ LiKWUiD: Um, but we actually did. So for my 30th birthday party, um, we're both Aquarius. We're like two days apart.

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, wow.

DJ LiKWUiD: we did our birthday party together and it was this. Um, big thing, like, uh, from, we, we had, um, Whitney Mixer from the Real L Word, the reality show, not the Showtime show, well, it's Showtime, but you know, the reality show.

Um, she hosted, uh, DJ Evil D from Beat Miners came through and did a, a guest set.

Uh, and we,

Jay Ray: His house sets be crazy by the

DJ LiKWUiD: oh, it's insane.

DJ Sir Daniel: That's

DJ LiKWUiD: is one of the, yeah, insane. This man is a, a machine

too. Um, but. That was like, had to be like 12 years ago, 12, I don't know, however many years ago,

DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm.

DJ LiKWUiD: that we met and we, we got to do the party together.

And then we just kind of kept in touch and we like reconnected in an app called Bego during the pandemic. And we started doing Mothership together, where we get on every Wednesday and spin records, you know, as a, as a joy thing. And we play. We do like theme nights sometimes, Chaka Khan, Janelle Monáe, Whitney Houston, like, you know, um, and in 2021, we got a grant to do it in real life.

Jay Ray: Ah.

[00:20:23] The Birth of Banjee Boombox

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DJ LiKWUiD: So we did a party at this, this, um, Zombo Aroma, this really small, cute shop where you go in. It's one of those shops, it's Black owned, queer Black owned, a gentleman and his partner, uh, can make soaps, candles, that sort of thing. And we just DJed in there in the, yeah, it was great. Then the 50th anniversary of hip hop was coming up and this is where it was getting real and I was like, yo, I got this idea and then I was like, Mack, I just want you to come spin.

She was like, nah, let's do this together. Let's, let's do this.

And so That's where Banjee Boombox came from. And our first year we did it on Governor's Island with Art Crawl Harlem. Shout out to Uncle Richard for that connection. Um,

DJ Sir Daniel: Richard Pelzer.

DJ LiKWUiD: you know, I don't know Uncle Richard's last name. I think it's the Harlem X.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. Yeah. Listen, there's so many people that I've gotten to know. Online and over the years. And he is one of them. I think I have yet to meet him in person. So

DJ LiKWUiD: I hope he comes.

DJ Sir Daniel: in New York, y'all better come out to Benji boombox in Brooklyn so we can all meet in person finally, but please continue liquid.

I'm sorry.

DJ LiKWUiD: August 3rd, Soul Time Room rooftop. Come through.

[00:21:44] Get Tickets for Banjee Boombox 2024: https://qpnt.net/banjee24 (Save $10 with the code QUEUE)

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We need y'all to grab some tickets because Sir Daniel, we are going to be in person in your hometown on Saturday, August 3rd. That's right. We are headed to the planet of Brooklyn because QPoints is an official media partner for the Banjee Boombox Festival taking place at the Sultan Ween Rooftop. Yes, yes, Banjee Boombox is a QT BIPOC festival.

dedicated to the celebration, amplification, and cultivation of safe spaces for the diverse voices of women, non binary individuals, and LGBTQIA plus artists, DJs, and musicians. Some of the dopest artists in the game will be gracing the stage. Including acts like Sonny Chiba, Dave Berger, and Nitty Scott, among others.

It's going to be a great time. Come hang out with your boys and rock with these amazing artists. Get your tickets today for Banji Boombox. Visit qpnt. net forward slash banji24. Use the code Q to save 10 off your tickets today. That's Q U E U E. Doors open at 5pm y'all. Peace. Peace.

[00:23:07] First Year Success and Future Plans

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DJ LiKWUiD: We did the festival for the first time in person. Um, out of the virtual space. Uh, with the performances and everything, Governor's Island, Dave Berger was our headline. Shout out Dave Berger. Uh, Bryant came in too, did an amazing set. It was just a good time and people loved it.

People were talking about it for months after. And the immediate question is, okay, when's the next one? You know,

Jay Ray: you're like, Oh, this is real.

DJ LiKWUiD: so this was real. This is real.

[00:23:35] Support and Collaboration

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DJ LiKWUiD: So Mary and I have for this year, especially, and I just want to, I have to say this, um, as well, even as artists, we think about on stage a lot when, when things are on.

But when I say like. Mary has been so supportive, like, offstage too, like, you know, with, with me leaving New York and moving to Atlanta and with just things that have occurred this year, like, I'm working through, like, she has been a person, like, get on the phone, like, yo, Liquid, what's, what's up, talk to me, we'll get to the, we'll get to the business stuff, talk to me, like, she's that person and, um, I am so grateful for that alone.

Like I have to say that like, yeah, it's great to do this event together. It's great to, and we have some wonderful surprises. Like it's going to be a good time. Um, but yeah, eternally and you're right. You can't do this alone. So I get it like with what you all do.

Jay Ray: Yeah.

DJ LiKWUiD: A podcast is a lift, so couple in events and other things too,

Jay Ray: Yeah.

DJ LiKWUiD: you need that person who's going to be right there with you.

[00:24:48] Challenges of Event Planning

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DJ LiKWUiD: And when you're in it, you're in it. And we all know how some of the craziest things will occur with, with events. Something as small as where are we going to get ice from?

Like, it doesn't sound important, but

Jay Ray: didn't talk about the ice part of the whole thing. And you're like, Oh, huh. I didn't think of that.

DJ Sir Daniel: And there's nowhere to, and there's

DJ LiKWUiD: just thought they had ice here.

Like,

Jay Ray: to get it right here. Yeah.

DJ LiKWUiD: no.

DJ Sir Daniel: it when you

DJ LiKWUiD: No, you need to

take, you need to take a plane to a train to a cab to,

Jay Ray: Right?

DJ LiKWUiD: the ice,

DJ Sir Daniel: that part.

DJ LiKWUiD: yeah, I, it, you know, it's, it's definitely, you got to have that person, you got to have that person.

[00:25:32] Excitement for This Year's Festival

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Jay Ray: For you, not to give anything away, but what are you most looking forward to for this year's festival?

DJ LiKWUiD: Oh, that's a good question. You know, it's funny because start to finish. It's something different at every turn. I can kind of give a little tip. I'm excited. Okay. I'm excited about the silent disco. I'm excited. I'm excited about that for sure. there is a, Oh, I'm excited about the DJs. One of the DJs is my former student from girls club.

Jay Ray: that's amazing.

DJ LiKWUiD: Who's a grown woman now. It's crazy. It's like, I knew you when you were 17.

Jay Ray: Yeah, and

DJ LiKWUiD: Now you're out here clubbing. Oh, now, I'm am looking forward to that. Um, and there's like a cute mixtape moment that's going to happen

Jay Ray: Okay.

DJ Sir Daniel: okay.

Jay Ray: Okay.

DJ LiKWUiD: have like some of the artists from last year and some of the artists for this year. So I'm interested to see how that is going to look. And I mean, I'm, I'm excited about Nitty Scott. I'm excited about Sunny Cheeba closing out. Um, Uptown Vinyl Supreme is like a staple

Jay Ray: Yeah,

DJ LiKWUiD: in, well, Uptown Harlem, Bronx, uh, Um, Inwood, you know, that entire area, but Sonny Chiva is just dope. She's a vibe, and she spins with all vinyl, and you just, like, I'm looking at, I keep

looking at Daniel, Sir Daniel's vinyl in the back.

DJ Sir Daniel: You said the magic word. You say vinyl and my

ears

Jay Ray: perk up!

DJ LiKWUiD: I'm really excited for that too. And I, I think the entire night is just going to be a vibe. I really have that feeling. The energy around this year is, I'll say it's different from last year. Both are great, but there's a, I don't know, a certain magic too. And maybe it's just like coming back for the second year.

Um, that's, that's playing in, but it's going to be dope. Dai Burger is going to do a special thing again. It's Recess is going to host like the, the blurred happy hour. Afro crowd, shout out to Afro crowd, Wikimedia. Um, Sherry Antwine is a gem. We're excited to have them not only come back again, but also sponsor us.

Thank you, girl. Yes. Shout out, shout out. Um, and yeah, it's, I'm also excited because every. Almost every performance is going to be bilingual.

Jay Ray: Ooh! That's dope!

DJ LiKWUiD: Almost every performance is going to be bilingual. I think except with the exception of two, maybe, maybe just one, but I'm excited for that too, because that's something else. Like, we started in the realm of hip hop because it was the 50th anniversary of hip hop, but, um, and that was something Mary said too.

She's like, nah, we gotta branch out. We want all genres represented. Um, so I think that'll be fun to see that fusion as well.

Jay Ray: Listen, we are so excited to be able to be in the building. We can't wait. So y'all will get a chance to see us. So making sure that you come out because we're going to have a setup where people can like just tune in put on some headphones and like really just kind of hear some of these moments, right?

And we're just excited to see all of our folks, you know in Brooklyn. So we can't wait to be there. This is going to be fun and we're looking forward to that.

DJ Sir Daniel: It really is. Like I, you know, being, Being asked to be a media partner in this, in, um, the situation and knowing what it takes to put on an event because it's passionate to you

Jay Ray: Yes.

DJ Sir Daniel: and because you're tapping into all of your talents to make this thing happen, it's not an easy task, but. know, there are people that want to do these types of things, but they just don't know how or what way to start or how to, you know, where to go, how to start.

[00:30:03] Advice for Aspiring Event Planners

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DJ Sir Daniel: What would be your advice to somebody, DJ Liquid, if they have this concept, something that they just know is going to go off, but they really don't know what first step to take, what advice could you give them in seeing their, um, their dreams come to fruition?

DJ LiKWUiD: See, this is where purpose and favor come in because I've been sitting with this for a while. So, uh, my, my, so, uh, Just like I said, before I answer the question, just a quick circle back. Just like I said, Mary had been there for me this year. My sister, Keosha White, I'm saying your name, and my partner, Chelsea Nicole, have also been there for me. This has been a journey of a year for me. And Lauren, Lauren Purcell, as well. Um, and that's from Day Job Work,

uh, for reference, for you folks. But, um, I have spent a lot of time this year thinking about purpose, like, you know, that gospel song is my living in vain, like, you know, you know, we all want to hear those words at the end of everything, well done, my good and faithful servant, we all want to hear that.

And we all want to know, like, what I did made a difference. You know, and not just for me, because I think that's part of life. We lived as we climbed, but I think the sweet spot is how do we honor our ancestors and set up space for our children to come after, right? And I think when you find that thing, that's where purpose lies. Maybe, but okay, so let me bring it, bring it home to the question. Um, I would say to a person who wants to, to begin or start some type of event plan, or setting up safe spaces, creating your own space, or creating your own table. Right, because sometimes a lot of these events. A lot of what we create happens because we don't see ourselves in another thing, you know, like I don't see movie enough movies with queer black women who aren't the spicy attitude person for, you know, the over masculine, you know, whatever, and no shade, no tea to that.

But, you know, sometimes it's just a quirky girl who also loves women, you know, and she just wants to hang and be a part of the scene. And. If I don't see that, like, I can either, A, talk about it, uh, B, remove myself completely, or C, I can create it, right? And sometimes that happens with, with, with creating spaces, creating communities, creating podcasts, you know, we sometimes have to create the table that we want to sit at.

So a lot of what I did, I did my first event when I was in high school, I was like 17 or 18 years old.

DJ Sir Daniel: Nice.

DJ LiKWUiD: was a basketball player. And, um, I did a shootout for cancer and I'll never forget, uh, when I was promoting the event and I, this is back in the day, I think I went to the library to like print off copies of the flyer.

This is how old school we're talking.

DJ Sir Daniel: Tell them about it.

Jay Ray: is QPoint's world. This is what we do.

DJ LiKWUiD: you know,

Jay Ray: Microficient. What

DJ LiKWUiD: come on now. Exactly what we got to do. Um, but I'll never forget Curtis Wilson was on this radio station in South Carolina called the big DM and he was at this event and I heard him on the radio and I was like, yo, I'm gonna just, I'm gonna pull up, you know, this is, you know, South Carolina.

So I'm going to pull up on them, see if he'll just announce my show, my event, uh, for the shootout for cancer. I got all the kids. In Carolina, who was like top contenders. I mean like McDonald's all stars were like playing in this game. Like no, like no cap for real. Like a lot of cats went on D1 basketball development leagues, like professional, like these were like legit players. And I rolled up on them and I had my flyers like, yo, Curtis Wilson. I love your show blah blah blah blah. Can you shout out my event? It's going to be next week, Saturday, Columbia high school. He was like, all right, this is a good event. And I'll never forget. He looked at the flyer. He was like, okay. And I was just like standing there, like, that's it?

Like, he's not going to like, I don't have to. And legit. Like I was listening to the radio and he, he shot it out a couple of times. Like he, you would have thought I paid for a commercial. You know what I mean? So, um, I tell that story to say, like, I'm gonna be honest. And this speaks to things that both J Ray, DJ sir, Daniel have said.

It's not easy, but you can't count yourself out ahead of time. Like I could have told myself, ah, he's on the radio. Like he'll never, he doesn't know me. You know, listen, all you need is one. Yes. You know, all you need is one. Yes. And what I've also learned is if I do get a no, it's probably cause I'm a asking the wrong question or B asking the wrong person, those are two lessons that I've kept with me forever. And doing so, I, I, I've done events, I've worked on tours with, with my cousin, Quentin. I've worked on, um, events for organizations, corporate organizations. And each time I go in with a lens of that same 17, 18 year old.

Jay Ray: Yeah.

DJ LiKWUiD: Keep the joy, keep the joy in it. And don't be afraid, like, move fast and break things. At first, you know, like sometimes you just gotta go in and try it and don't be afraid to start small. If you think about it, Benji boombox came out of out of the app. Like if you really think about it, you know, like we didn't start DJing together thinking, oh, we're going to do a festival in Brooklyn on a slow time room rooftop,

you know, in the middle of August. It was like, oh, let's just get together and try this thing and see if it'll work.

But, um, yeah, the two things that I would definitely share with anyone who wants to create your own space Build your own community is keep perseverance in mind and also don't be afraid to intern slash work with other people who are already doing what you want to do. Sometimes you don't have to, you know, rebuild the wheel.

You can just perfect it or, you know, add your spice to it, you know, um, those would be the things that I would say. And it's always someone who came through that road too. I think that's. That's the last part of it. So just go in with your heart intention, fulfill your purpose,

Jay Ray: heart intention fulfill your purpose.

DJ LiKWUiD: or your purpose.

DJ Sir Daniel: Jerry, I'm going into this with joy because I that that's the main message that I got from this is that we are going to have a joyful time. at the Banjee Boombox, Saturday, August 3rd.

[00:38:18] Final Thoughts and Contact Information

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DJ Sir Daniel: Uh, please let the people know. We're gonna have all the information is, um, going to be linked to this interview. But please, let the people know how they can keep in contact with you, DJ Liquid, and the whole Banjee Boombox movement.

DJ LiKWUiD: So, um, you can always hit me up directly this at liquid, L I K W I D that's across everything. Um, I'm not really on Twitter right now. I'm, I'm don't really see Eli. I refuse to call it the new name that he gave

it. So that's where I'm at, but. Um, I'm everywhere else. Um, I am liquid. com. That's my website.

I usually keep my blog up, Diary of a Mad Black DJ. And for Banshee Boombox, come out August 3rd, 5 p. m. to 11 p. m. The Soul Time Room rooftop. Huge shout out to the Soul Time Room. The entire staff, James, Emily, everybody there, Gabe, thank you so much for being welcoming to us, to allow us to come and celebrate there. If you go to at Banshee Boombox or www. bansheeboombox. com, you can see all of the artists. follow their pages, follow them, come out, hang with QPoints, hang with Afro Crowd, come early. Shout out Brown Girl Brew. Uh, they will be, um, sponsoring also, giving away samples at the, uh, first hour of Benji Boombox.

It's a craft brew space owned by a Black woman,

Jay Ray: Love that.

DJ LiKWUiD: and I love to throw that out because she is, she's one of the only people that I've met in the craft brew space. Um, and she has some amazing flavors, like, You know, she, her people are from Chicago, but she's based in New York. So imagine like soul food and craft beer coming together.

Jay Ray: all day.

DJ LiKWUiD: So that would be fun. Um, and huge shout out to recess as well. Josh, um, he's going to be in the house too, hosting and the artists are going to be amazing. Lady Scott, Sunny Cheeba, um, Key Hutchison, Indigo Prodigy, Naya Orla, My Girl Sincerity, like it's, it's just going to be a good time. So we hope to see you there.

And, um, yeah, what else? Those are the main things. Yeah, holla at us. Holla at us.

Jay Ray: Yo, DJ Liquid, thank you so much for trusting CuePoints to be able to be part of this. We are so honored and grateful. Thank you for coming by. and sharing a piece of your story as well as giving us some things to look forward to as it relates to Banjee Boombox. We will see everybody who is tuning in, either you're listening or you're watching, we will see you August 3rd in Brooklyn at the Soul Time Room for Banjee Boombox, y'all.

Thanks for stopping by DJ Liquid.

DJ LiKWUiD: Thank you for having me. I love y'all. Can't wait to see you in person. Give you big hugs.

Jay Ray: Yes!

DJ LiKWUiD: All the things.

Jay Ray: Absolutely. Peace, everybody.

[00:41:24] Closing Theme

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