Rocking the 1s & 2s: Our Favorite Celebs Turned DJs
Celebrities know how to keep the party going, in more ways than one. From Solange to Erykah Badu and MC Lyte, here are the celebrities that have turned their ear for music into successful DJ careers.
Just when we didn’t think Erykah Badu could get any cooler, she went and started Dj’ing on us. Going by the name of DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, we’re sure she keeps the party live.
02
Solange
Solange has this cool-girl thing down. She’s a fashion maven, an entrepreneur and an established DJ. With big gigs like the the Oscars’ Governors Ball under her belt, an invite to one of her DJ sets sounds like a hot ticket.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
03
Biz Markie
DJ Biz Markie has got what partygoers need and he’s not just making the music with his mouth anymore. Biz is our favorite rapper/beatboxer turned DJ and he’s been rocking the party for years now.
Johnny Nunez
04
D-Nice
His name is D-Nice and you may remember him from his 1990 hit “Call Me D-Nice.” Although we haven’t heard him rap in a while you can still catch D-Nice dropping funky tracks on the 1s and 2s.
Jennifer Cooper
05
Q-Tip
Q-Tip has been responsible for plenty of hits over the years from “Bonita Applebum” to “Vivrant Thing,” so it’s no surprise that he’s still rocking crowds via his turntables.
06
MC Lyte
MC Lyte gave it to hip-hop fans straight when she hit the scene in the late 80s. Fast forward 20-plus years and she’s still “Lyte as a rock,” DJ’ing memorable moments like Michael Jackson’s 50th birthday and Jay Leno’s farewell party.
07
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri cranked out the hits in the 90s, introducing so many of us to the South’s hottest acts. He had a hand in everyone’s career from Mariah Carey to Lil Bow Wow and now he has his hands tied up on the turntables, still cranking out the hits that are “so so def.”
08
Idris Elba
Hey, Mr. DJ! Idris Elba is many things, an actor, a performer and a well-known DJ. In between film gigs, you can find the sexy star on the 1’s and 2’s, performing as DJ Driis.
Richard Young/Rex/Rex USA and Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.