DJ Jack of Spade has been a mainstay rocking Hampton Roads, Virginia for over ten years now. The turntable specialist recently checked in with Hip-Hop Wired to discuss what he does best.
Origin: Born and grow up in Norfolk, VA
Current Location: Still grinding in Norfolk, VA!
HipHopWired: How did you get your start in DJing?
Jack Of Spade: As a kid music’s always been in my system. It’s something I was born with, everyone who knows me knows I been doing music forever. I was the one throwing all the block parties, house parties, school dances and all the teen events. I’ve always loved music and had an open mind to try all types of music.
HipHopWired: What DJs influenced your style?
Jack Of Spade: No one really influenced my style, I did parties. If one way didn’t work to get the crowd dancing, I will go home and work on another way to make them move. Sometimes I will listen to other DJs, take a little of what they did if it was good, take it and do it my own way.
HipHopWired: So you started out at Norfolk State University but I read that you weren’t in college. Tell me more about how you got that opportunity?
Jack Of Spade: By me doing mixtapes and my name was popping in the in street. Plus being in the right place at the right time. I had a friend that when to Norfolk State that told me they were starting a show over there because the station was all jazz at first. I sent my tape in with a lot of other DJs, the PD liked it and formed a group called the “Drop Squad” with me and a few other people, and it was a success.
HipHopWired: You’ve been affiliated with several radio stations. Tell me more about your transition from 91.1 to 92.1 to 102.1. How did you keep getting these opportunities?
Jack Of Spade: I was affiliated with a lot of radio stations after 91.1. After that the big dog station was looking for DJs for the new station that was coming, 92.1 which is nothing but Hip-Hop. I was the first to be put on with a lot of other great DJs. We took it to the top until it came to an end, then hot 102.1 showed me love and put me on the team. Got to thank them! Then 103 Jamz wanted me to come over which is the biggest station in the area. They give me a good position and here is where I happily stay.
HipHopWired: So you moved on to 103 Jamz…How does working with 103 Jamz differ from the other stations? Do you have more freedom to spin what you want?
Jack Of Spade: 103 Jamz is one of a kind. They trust they DJs to play what they want which a lot of stations don’t. This station has made me a household name.
HipHopWired: What’s your take on Virginia’s music scene as far as regionally? Virginia is somewhere in between the North and Dirty South. Do you think it’s influenced more by the East Coast or the Dirty?
Jack Of Spade: My take on Virginia is that it’s a wonderful place. I am glad to be here. This is one city you can play reggae, dirty south, Hip-Hop, R&B, Go-Go, house music…Whatever you want and people will party to it, from the colleges and military so we got to play all type of music. I don’t think VA got it’s own type of music.
HipHopWired: Tell me more about your music. Do you have any songs popping in VA right now?
Jack Of Spade: I was able to make a couple of songs that are doing very good on radio and clubs. “Pose Too,” “Bend It Ova,” “Back It Up & Dump It” and one with Dout Gotcha called “I Gottem Goin Inn.” So I am working hard to keep VA partying in the clubs and radio and having fun doing it!
HipHopWired: Do you have any new mixtapes coming out?
Jack Of Spade: I do have a mixtape coming out with all of VA’s hottest artists on it. That is my goal, to get an artist a deal and make them a star in VA.
HipHopWired: How can fans of your work keep in touch with you?
Jack Of Spade: You can listen to me on 103 Jamz every Friday from 10p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday from 6p.m. to 10p.m. and Sunday from 9p.m. to 10p.m. for all my local artist for 1 hr. Or email me at djjackofspade@gmail.com or jackofspade@103jamz.com!
