front-line - Ozone Magazine

dj dapa
Dapa originally set out to DJ. After working the
underground radio circuit with Dawgman in
Orlando, Dapa became a part of the Hittmenn
DJs and eventually started his own management
company. He now assists many artists’ careers in the
Central Florida area.
You work with a lot of artists in Florida. Tell me about
the management company.
I’ve got my management company with Pee Wee
Kirkland which is called S.O.G. Management. We manage
Benisour, Stick 3000, Wes Fif, Paperview, Furyis Stylze
the producer and we just got a new artist named Grind.
Between doing the management and running Hittmenn
DJs, I’m real busy.
How long have you been working with the Hittmenn DJs
The Hittmenn DJs started four years ago and I was one
of the first people they pulled in. Greg Street and Kaspa
put it together and asked me and Dawgman to get in
it. I set up tours and different types of things. I set up
tours for The Franchise Boyz, Young Capone, P. Stones,
and Rich Boy. We just put together I-15’s tour. That’s
Polow Da Don’s new R&B group.
What were you doing prior to the Hittmenn DJs
Me and Dawgman had a studio together and we had
the underground radio station. I was doing that and
working records. Originally I started off as a DJ years
ago in ’95. I started working with a record label called
Backstage Records. It was run by the Diaz Brothers. I
was doing marketing for that label with the Diaz Brothers
and Pitbull. We had an artist named Black Face we
were working with. Black Face had a record with Fat
Joe. We’re the ones that introduced Khaled to Fat Joe.
Do you still DJ at all
Not really. The last time I DJed I went overseas in
Europe. I mean I’ll party rock and get on as a favor or
as a guest.
What will you and your artists be doing during the
Florida Classic weekend
All the artists that I’m working with, whether it’s
through Hittmenn or my own personal artists, will be at
Dawgman’s events like the car show. We’re at The Buzz
Record Pool on Friday. Saturday is the block party and
Sunday is the car show and after party.
Where are you from originally
I’m originally from Toronto, Canada. I grew up in Miami.
I went to high school and everything in Miami. I moved
up to Orlando in ’98.
What are some of the differences between Miami and
Orlando
The Miami scene has been growing since even when
I was down there. Half of Miami is dance music and
heavily dance influenced. A lot of people automatically
assume it’s like a second New York but there’s a lot
of Dirty South in Miami. A lot of people think that the
handful of artists that are popping off in Miami are the
only artists there but those are just the ones that are
shining right now. I think Orlando is starting to network
and pull together. There’s a lot of talent in Orlando.
You got K.C., Stick 3000, The Runners, DJ Nasty, and DJ
Prostyle. From the DJs to the managers to the artists,
everyone is starting to pull together. For example, all my
artists have features with K.C. I believe in him. I think
he’s the next big R&B artist to come out. I support artists
in Orlando before any other artists outside of here
because I live here.
Do you have anything else going on
Pee Wee Kirkland just signed a movie deal. Dreamworks
is doing a motion picture on his life. So I’m going
to be getting into doing the film. I’m working on the
soundtrack. We have the management company but we
also have the record label.
Do you have a website
HittmennDJsLive.com and Myspace.com/MrDapa. //
Words: Ms. Rivercity
Photo: Teran Photography
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