Today we’d like to introduce you to Samson Ogunleye.
Hi Samson, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sure thing! Born in Lagos, Nigeria. I lived there for about 11 years before moving to Michigan. I grew up in a musical family. My parents, siblings, and cousins are all singers. I and a few of my relatives picked up instruments instead. I chose the drums and later the piano. As far as I can remember, one of my first gifts from my dad was a small “talking drum”. Safe to say I’ve always been around music and I had the ears for it.
Years later, I went to a party and saw a close family friend (DJ K-Boog) DJing. He was a well know Nigerian DJ around the States, particularly in Ann Arbor. I thought to myself “That looks pretty cool. I want to learn!” He gave me tips on how to get started and things moved on from there.
Fast forward years later, I’m spinning at some of the top parties around the city. I started gaining a lot of awareness/attention when I became a radio DJ on TruSpot Radio — arguably the number 1 African online radio at the time. My show was called TRL (TruSpot Request Live). I’d take requests from listeners and sometimes interview some of the top celebrities in the industry. Some of my guests included Wizkid, Davido, Rotimi, and so on.
In 2013, I received a booking in Toronto, Canada. I loved Toronto city so much that I ended up moving there and soon became one of the top DJs in the city. Although I was enjoying my time in Toronto, I always felt something was missing, so I eventually moved back home to Michigan in 2016.
I joined the JerkxJollof team and we’ve been pushing the culture to the world ever since. We currently have a themed summer series. Our first date (Afrobeats theme) was a huge success with over 1.000 people in attendance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh no! I wish lol. I honestly feel like the majority of it has been a struggle, but I’m grateful nonetheless. My main struggle was not knowing exactly what to do with the attention I had at the time. I was a pretty good DJ but didn’t know how to handle the business side of things. I also had no one to guide me through it. A lot of the older DJs saw me as a threat, so they weren’t willing to give tips.
Having to figure out most things by myself was rough, but I think it all worked out eventually. I am now at a point where I can look out for some of the upcoming DJs and give them advice that’ll make their journey a lot easier.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a DJ/ Event organizer. I am known for DJing and organizing “JerkxJollof” — one of the top Afro/Caribbean events in the city of Detroit. I also organize and DJ events in Toronto.
I think my favorite moment so far was when I planned Burna Boy’s Toronto concert with a few friends of mine. It was a pleasure to organize a concert for one of Africa’s top talents in history. I’ve also worked with/opened for some top artists in the industry such as Sister Nancy, Femi Kuti, Wizkid, Koffee, Davido, Jidenna, and so on.
I’m not only doing what I do for personal glory. Everything is being done to push my culture to the world. My vision and my ear for music are what set me apart from the other DJs.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Detroit is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world. We’re the city with the highest percentage of black people in the U.S. Some of the greatest humans in the world were born and raised in this city. Detroit brewed some of the top musical talents the world has ever seen — the likes of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and so on.
I dislike people’s perception of Detroit. People tend to focus much on the negatives. Yes, there’s a lot of crime in Detroit, but you could say the same about a lot of cities around the world. Detroit keeps thriving regardless of all the negativity and that’s why I love this city.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jerkxjollof.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/djblakito
- Facebook: facebook.com/djblakito
- Twitter: twitter.com/djblakito
Image Credits
RioVisuals
Bre’Ann White
