Edwards is involved with Oneness Sneaker Boutique in Lexington, Kentucky.
THE MAN BEHIND
THE MUSIC: WARREN
DJPEACE W
BY JEFAWN EVANS | PHOTOS BY AMBER RITSCHEL
hen the lights go off, the Cats come out.
The commentator introduces the players, one by one. Then a hype song starts to play, and players and fans dance. Everyone knows the introduction song played at every game, as Rapper Young Thug’s voice blazes over the loud speaker: “Everything litty, I love when it’s hot,” as smoke and fireworks go off. Most people’s eyes are on the players, but what about the person behind the players? You know, the one playing the music to get everyone hyped up? That’s DJ Warren Peace. Many Lexington residents probably know who DJ Warren Peace is: the guy with the really cool shoes who DJs the basketball games. But they might not know Warren Edwards— Warren Edwards the son, the brother, the friend. The Warren Edwards who doesn’t go out to bars unless he’s DJing. The Warren Edwards who doesn’t drink, and who would rather listen to something soulful than the hip hop and R&B music he plays all day, every day.
mother. Even at the tender age of five, Edwards knew he loved music. “My mother has pictures of me as a child with headphones on,” Edwards said. “I know that if she couldn’t get me to settle down and she put music on, I [calmed down] immediately.” But it wasn’t until growing up that Edwards knew just how much music would get him through. Edwards’ life wasn’t always easy; his mother left his father when Edwards was a baby. They moved to three different states in just five years. His life was never really stable, and he has even experienced homelessness. “I’ve never lived in a house for more than a year or two… I’ve been homeless multiple times and never slept in my own bed until I was about 13 years old,” Edwards said. “I lived on a couch just to make it happen… just because of money.” Although Edwards’ life wasn’t always perfect, he did not let his struggle define him. Instead, his love for music is what got him through those rough nights.
Behind the DJ booth stands a man with a story— of hope and inspiration, of hard work and dedication, of love, good vibes and positive energy.
“As a child when you’re 10, 11, 12 and going through things, I mean, music was a way for me to do that, music played a big part in me coping with some of that stuff for sure,” he said.
Warren Edwards moved to Kentucky at the age of five. He was an only child and grew up with just his
Edwards’ professional love for music took off when he began DJing in high school while working part time at a
44 | KRNL LIFESTYLE + FASHION
