Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Jus Borne.
Hi DJ Jus, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started DJing in 7th grade at Graceland Jr. High 1984 in Memphis, Tennessee.. I was into basketball and made the varsity team that year.. I quit the team and tampered with Break Dancing and Rapping, but DJing was it for me. The Christmas of my 6th grade year, I put 2 turntables and a mixer on my list and my parents got it. The mixer was from Radio Shack and the turntables were from Service Merchandise. Of course it was entry level gear. Belt drive turntables and a mixer without a crossfader. By the time I had got to middle school I had been practicing everyday. I had a shop teacher that was a former DJ named Mr. Robert Johnson, he was amazed that a 12 year old was interested in DJing. After entering a talent show as a rapper, I realized I was more shy that I thought I was. I instantly froze up and got nervous and I became a DJ from that moment on. In the 8th grade my older brother brought home a local mixer from the radio named Soni D. he was the only mixer that I had heard locally doing what I was trying to do. By him being 10 years older, he was able to give me some insite on the DJ culture.. I started as Cuttmaster JB. of my real name initials. I used to try to battle Soni D every chance I could. Jokingly one day he told me I wasn’t ready and the JB in my name was Jus Borne because I was a baby. I said “I like that name and I’m using that” DJ Jus Borne became my new name in 1985. I credit the movie Wild Style and Grandmaster Flash for my inspiration to DJ. By the time I had gotten to the 9th grade I met a guy in band class that played the drums and he lived right down the street from me. One day he borrowed my equipment and came back the next day with a tape of him rapping. I knew he could play drum but didn’t know he could rap. That friend would later become southern rap legend Tela. In high school we formed a group called 2nd Level along with another friend Cody Mac. We bought other people into the group, like Peachez. While picking up Tela one day he asked did I know another guy from school that can rap named Dirty Pat. I said no, but let’s go pick him up and see. We recorded demo on us and him. He later become the first rapper out of Memphis, named Gangsta Pat. In high school my mentor hired me to do weekly mixes for a national syndicated mix show called Mix America that played in over 30 cities. I became the house DJ at a teen club 21st Century. I begin to sale mixtapes to my fiends at school and stereo and record shops around town. I would use my friends to rap over different instrumentals in the mix. A year after high school I became a feature on the radio for the Downtown Jackson Brown radio show doing 5 Minute mixes called “5 Minutes Of Funk”. Gangsta Pat record had came out and after he got rid of his first version of his crew called Legion Of Doom, I became his DJ. While looking for new members Pat bought 2 rappers over my house to record, DJ Paul and Lord Infamous. we recorded a song and Pat didn’t like them, but I did. I started recording DJ Paul and Lord Infamous as the Serial Killaz on the side. 1993 I had made a name for myself, but my mentors Soni D and Parrish Johnson advised me to look at other cities. I decided to a recording engineer school in Florida name Full Sail Center for recording arts. 1994 I landed a DJ gig at a popular club in Orlando called Heroes. I learned a lot from that gig and met some awesome people there. I graduated in February 1995. I moved to Atlanta first and then came back to Memphis. I went on to mentor artists and help DJ Paul and Juicy J early on at their label.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
By the time I came around, the record business in Memphis was tough. Years earlier Stax had closed and the business of music was dead in Memphis. It was hard to break into radio locally. In the late 80’s and early 90’s radio stations didn’t have jobs for so called Street Mixers. Plus not coming from a music family, no one could guide me in the right direction. I was the first in my family to want to be in the music business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to say I’ve worked with radio stations and not for radio stations. After being a mixer at Magic 101 KJMS, it was bought out in late 1996. I thought I was done in radio. I helped a few friends get on the radio as On Air Personalities. In 1998 I got Michael “Boogaloo” Boyer on a new station Hot 107 KXHT and Big Sue in 2000. I was recruited to work for Hot 107 in April 2000 and stayed until 2016. I was production director a few years, producing station imaging and commercials. I believe what sets me apart from anyone locally is the elements I learned in Florida working at Heroes Nightclub. I was no longer this shy kid from the Whitehaven (Blackhaven) side of town.
How do you define success?
The mark you put on others careers, not just yourself. Success is 41 years later and people still pay you good to do what you love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @djjusborne
- Facebook: Jus Borne
- Twitter: @djjusborne
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-jus-borne
