DJ Mos

“ What makes me different is my passion and taste in music. I'm the type of person who when I set my mind on reaching a destination, I dont stop until I do."

DJ M.O.S

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. My name is DJ M.O.S., I've been a DJ for over 20 years. My wife

DJ Kiss and I are official DJ's for the Academy Awards. I have had residencies at clubs such as

Avenue Los Angeles, Hakkasan

Las Vegas, 1OAK New York, LIV

Miami, Base Dubai and VIP Room in Paris. I also was DJ for Diddy's

TV show The Four on Fox.

Q. What made you want to be a DJ?

A. Growing up in New York during the late 80's early 90s Hip Hop culture had exploded. I would stay up and listen to DJ's like Funkmaster

Flex and Red Alert on the radio.

I was obsessed, I'd fall asleep recording DJ's sets off the radio just to listen to the next day. That's when I caught the bug, so I took my allowance money and bought a pair of turntables and a mixer off of a friend who didn't want his anymore for $50. I'd spend hours in my room practicing with the 8 records I owned lol.

Q. Who would you consider to be a

DJ Legend?

A. That's a great question, there are so many. Red Alert because he's been such an integral part in so many legendary artists careers.

He was the sound of New York for

a very long time. Funkmaster Flex is a legend because of what he did for New York radio and for his party with Jessica Rosenblum and Chris Lighty at the Tunnel Sunday nights. The Mecca at the Tunnel was the equivalent of LIV on Sunday 25 years ago. DJ Jazzy Jeff who's probably my favorite DJ right now, he revolutionized turntablism and what he's presently doing to help push the culture forward with the Playlist Retreat is really amazing. I have to also mention my big brothers DJ Clark Kent and DJ Scratch who have produced some of my favorite hip hop records of all time and both put on a show when they perform. Mark Ronson who went from DJing the coolest nightclubs in NYC to winning Grammys and Oscars. DJ AM for changing the game, there was no one like him at the time, and no one like him since. Rich Medina whose legendary party Lil Ricky's Rib Shack at APT changed my life, taught me so much about music and how to create a vibe. Tony Touch legendary B-Boy, MC and DJ. Stretch Armstrong, one of the pioneers of New York underground radio. Him and Bobbito Garcia introduced the world to acts like Wu-Tang, Nas and Jay-Z on their show on WKCR and my brother D-Nice, Boogie Down productions the TR-808, for showing the power of music to bring people together during dark times. What he did during quarantine was legendary!

Q. Tell us one of your memorable moments you have had being a DJ?

A. I'd say one of my most memorable moments was DJing Diddy's 50th birthday. It was one of the most incredible parties I'd ever played.

Everyone from Kobe to Jay-Z was there. I played the main room before the performances then deejayed the after party inside his crib which started 3am and ended at 8. It was one of the last times I spoke with my guy Andre Harrell, rest in peace.

Q. What are some of the challenges you have being a DJ?

A. There are a lot of challenges being a DJ, especially on this level. We are a community but it's also very competitive. When a new club opens or events season comes around everyone is competing for the same gigs, so you have to always be on point and continue to solidify your relationships with your clients. As music collectors we tend to be introverted by nature, but networking is equally as important as the music if you want to succeed in this business. Some of the other challenges would be resisting temptation, working in clubs and travelling the world, the drinks are always free and it's easy to get caught up. I've seen it happen before. You need to learn how to keep your head because you're orchestrating the night, and nobody likes a drunk conductor lol.

Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ?

A. What makes me different is my passion and taste in music. I'm the type of person who when I set my mind on reaching a destination, I don't stop until I do. That's really how I've achieved most of what I have accomplished, hard work and being relentless. I also love music and I feel it shows when I play. I like to take a crowd on a journey. There's no better feeling than really connecting with a crowd and them following you along no matter where you decide to take them musically.

Q. Tell us some of your goals you want to accomplish the next couple of years?

A. In the next couple years I plan to drop my first album and continuing to produce music. Taking my virtual party Club Insomnia on the road and continuing to push DJ forward.

Q. Can you give any advice to upcoming DJ’s?

A. My best advice for up and coming

DJ's would be know your music, do your research. Go listen out and really listen to the DJ's playing at parties or events you'd like you do. Get their early and leave late, that's best education you can get. Also be social!! Nobody hires someone they don't know. Form real relationships with people in the industry.

Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming projects?

A. Right now my wife DJ Kiss and I signed a development deal with

Landmark Studio to produce a scripted show based on our lives in NYC during the mid-2000's.

It's about how we met and came up. We're really excited about that. I'm also producing for a couple of artists which you'll hear about soon. I've also been designing merch for my store www.theinsomniaclub.com. During lockdown I took that time to be creative and launch the merch line with my virtual party Club

Insomnia.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. You can follow me on:  djmos  djmos  twitch.tv/djmos6  soundcloud.com/djmos6  patreon.com/djmos www.djmos.com