DJ Damage and his journey!

Cox: DJ Damage let’s get straight to it, where did you get the name from?

Damage: I started djing when I was twelve. I went to boarding school and there my teacher gave me a keyboard that could record. I was searching for a DJ name but nothing worked. Once when I came home from boarding school I would play and record for the homies in the hood. They came up with the name one day because they said you should be DJ Damage because you do damage. Honestly, I didn’t like it either but I had nothing else so I just rolled with it. 

Cox: Being from North Philly how has that shaped you and prepared you for this Hollywood/Entertainment industry?

Damage: Being from North Philly which is the roughest part of the city makes me appreciative of the small things in life. When I show people videos of where I’m like you guys don’t get it. I feel like I made it out so I don’t take things for granted. North Philly has made me where not a lot of things can intimidate me. 

Cox: So you have a story and journey that many people don’t know about. Elaborate on it!

From Philly to New York – Revolt TV

Damage: I was working at a Radio station in Philly and wanted to know what the next step for me could be because I was doing this at nineteen which I thought would at least take me to do around twenty-eight. People told me I could be a host, which I didn’t want to do because I was shy. That’s why I became a DJ because at first they just spun records but then they became personalities. My manager told me to write my goals down and I told him that when I do that things tend to happen for me. One of the things I wrote down was to host 106 & Park and believe you not we got an email a month later from BET expressing their interest in me hosting a new show. The show never happened but I was able to guest host 106 & Park a few times. Fast forward some of the executive producers went from 106 & Park to Revolt and they reached out to me because they remembered during their search for new hires. 

Damage talked about a full-circle moment that took place when he created and hosted his show in Philly. He was djing at a store called Sneaker Village that had programmable televisions. He sold the concept to the owners and had sponsors lined up. He was good to go and filmed 10 episodes ready to show. The problem was his videographer left him high and dry so the show never happened. But the silver lining was when the Revolt opportunity lined up the past videographer wanted to make amends and create a reel for him to send to Revolt. The rest is history from there. 

From New to Los Angeles 

Damage: It’s a long story because at first, I was back and forth between New York and Philly working at Revolt TV. Then I had the opportunity to work in LA for a flagship show that required me and a few others to test for it and interview artists. I had the upper hand because I already had experience doing radio in Philly. The day came and they asked me if I could move to LA on Monday, which they asked me the week prior on Thursday. Things were moving quickly and that was the scary part. 

Cox: With all that you have accomplished, what do you consider to be your definition of success?

Damage: For me, I look at success like this. If I’m able to do what I love and make a living, then I’m successful. It’s because I’m in the creative world and you know it’s difficult at times because you won’t always book that job. You have to consistently hustle. So If I can sustain a living doing what I love to do and having peace of mind at the same time. I’m not worried about accolades and I’m not focused on that “Big Job.” I say this because when I was at my highest and doing the most I was also the most depressed I’ve ever been in life. So I now strive for the balance of doing what I love and being able to take care of my family. I don’t need a huge income because at the end of the day again as long as I can take care of myself, and my family, love what I do, and have a flexible schedule then I’m happy. 

The damage went on to talk about why balance is so important because he was and felt overworked. He recalled being in this work wheel mindset where that’s all he did and didn’t have a personal life. The worst was he barely had time to spend with his son. From breakups to missing events in the lives of the ones he loves, it was a lot that he didn’t realize he was dealing with internally. He said he had to strip a lot of things away so that he could start living. 

Cox: Last question, what advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the industry?

Damage: First know who you are and what you stand for. Also, know what you don’t stand for and set boundaries early. You don’t want to try to figure yourself out in this industry. This industry will pull you in all types of ways. And remember to network and make genuine connections. It’s not about collecting hundreds of business cards or sending out hundreds of emails.