The Eight Mile Chronicle: May 2008

If the earliest memory of yourself is one of being popped on the hands by your aunt at the tender age of 2 for messing with her records and stereo, or if your allowance was spent on nothing but records, one would have no choice but to say that a career in music chose you.

Such was the exact case for Detroit native Jaycee. Having been exposed to a very diverse selection of music being played around the house as a child that included such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, KISS, The Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, The Jacksons, Roy Ayers, Prince, and Donald Byrd just to name a few, it was inevitable that he'd become a music aficionado, but the turning point towards becoming a versatile globetrotting party rocking DJ came after hearing legendary Detroit DJ's such as The Wizard and Mojo on the radio, buying the record "The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel" and witnessing a DJ by the name of Michael Saunders mix and scratch records during a school dance. Those moments, combined with music theory that he already knew by virtue of playing instruments such as the clarinet and the drums in the school band, led Jaycee to his current instruments of choice: 2 Technics turntables and a Rane mixer.

Upon relocating to Atlanta, Jaycee began his assault on the local music scene by being the DJ and producer of a local group who opened up shows for headlining hiphop acts like A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Redman, and KRS-One, and then by entering each and every DJ battle he heard about where he pretty much destroyed all competition. Being a battle champion then led him to the community and college radio mixshow circuit where he quickly stood out from other DJ's by displaying such skill and creativity on the turntables that his name suddenly began ringing bells in the city as THE upcoming DJ to pay attention to. The bells rang loud enough to catch the attention of So So Def's DJ Nabs who then took Jaycee under his wing and began featuring him on his show "The Thunderstorm" in late '95 on V103, which is the biggest urban radio station in Atlanta. Jaycee quickly went from making guest appearances on that show to being officially hired by the station and soon he became a musical mainstay in the city scene by spinning sets and destroying turntables at legendary Atlanta venues like The Warehouse, Velvet, Kaya, The Chili Pepper, and Vision (to name just a short few) as well as hosting and spinning on his own V103 mixshow called "The Late Nite Mixtape" where in addition to playing the regular mainstream hits, he also embraced other styles and genres of music in a way that DJ's before him had been scared to include in their sets. You'd never quite know in advance what tricks Jaycee would have up his sleeve, but after slightly revealing his hand, he kept your ear permanently glued to the radio eagerly anticipating more.

It was this regular routine display of musical knowledge and turntable dexterity which caught the eye and ear of one Chris Bridges a.k.a. Ludacris, and prompted him to personally ask Jaycee to be the only DJ to ever accompany him onstage. And from that point in September 2000 until now, Jaycee has displayed his skills in virtually every media platform that features live performances. From prestigious award shows such as the Grammys, the American Music Awards, the VMA's, and the BET Awards, to shows such as Rap City, TRL, 106 & Park, Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Carson Daly, Ellen, The Tyra Banks Show as well as historical performances at Live Earth and Nelson Mandela's 46664 Concert for World AIDS Day, there isn't a stage around the WORLD that Jaycee hasn't been on and rocked.

Plans for his next career move include music production because his ear for good music has proven to be golden at all times but through it all, Jaycee maintains a diehard love for rocking at clubs whenever and wherever possible because it keeps his keen sense of reading crowds sharp as well as musically keeping him on his toes. He's also a member of the dopest DJ crew in Atlanta The Aphilliates, through which he's released a few timeless mixtape classics of his own. Jaycee's extensive experience and unbridled passion for music has established him as a force to be reckoned with and many would say that this was destined from day one.

links to mixes by Atlanta's most versatile DJ are right here....

Jaycee Sez Kick Rocks!!

Michael Jackson: The Soulful Years

Eargasms

Eargasms: Version 2.0

Eargasme Le' Trois (part three)

Eargasms 4

Pizza At Primo's Vol. 1

Jaycee is "In Effect Mode"

Deja Vu: Jaycee & Don Cannon (hosted by Pharrell)