Meet DJ Montana, known to the entertainment industry as “The People’s Champ”. Born and bred in Greenville, SC, DJ Montana has grown into a talented, hard-working, and well-known Celebrity DJ while balancing multiple hats. DJ Montana is also a Radio Personality/DJ on 96.3 The Block, housed in Greenville, SC, A&R for Atlanta, GA based record label, Street Capital Records, and the official tour DJ for Atlanta Artist, NewMoney Quez.
His resume boasts of experience and recognition, and he’s gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to take him to an elite level as the sensation that he is.
Being raised by a single mother, and responsible for caring for three younger siblings, DJ Montana was forced to become the man of the house and a hard-worker at an early age. By the time he actually touched his first turntable, DJ Montana understood exactly what it took to be successful and to reach his dreams. After purchasing his first DJ setup in 2012, DJ Montana quickly rose to the top and was coined as one of the best in his state. He signed his first brand ambassador contract with Armadale Vodka in 2014, which opened the door for many opportunities including him working with and becoming a part of Maybach Music Group.
DJ Montana’s list of achievements also consist of “On-air Personality/DJ of These
Year” (2017), featured on the cover of “Success Isn’t Easy” Magazine (2018), featured as a “DJ to Know In America” (2019), received a “Key to The City” (Greenville, 2016), and won “DJ of the Year” (2019). His rise to fame, however, has never impacted his love for his hometown and community. DJ Montana founded his #ForThePeople campaign in late May, 2019. Giving back to the community is something that he has always been passionate about. #ForThePeople campaign is his way to give back, and partner with other organizations and individuals to assist with the needs of the people around him.
DJ Montana is focused and striving to become not only a well-respected entertainment industry DJ, but also one of the industry’s top A&Rs. Stay tuned for more from The People’s Champ.
RESPECT.: You are Carolina-Bred and the hub is waking up after the breaking of the rapper DaBaby. How has your roots made you who you are today?
DJ Montana: Being from Carolina forced me to grind and make people pay attention. Like you said, the hub is waking up. I tell people all the time, my work-ethic is crazy, that’s what you gone love about me the most. Nobody was looking at the Carolinas like that man, we had to grind for this attention. But you already know, it’s time to go even harder now that we got it.
RESPECT.: Who are a few of your inspirations?
DJ Montana: My mother, definitely. And she just beat cancer, so she’s my inspiration to just keep pushing through everything no matter what.
RESPECT.: What’s it like in the DJ world, what’s more lucrative the producer or the DJ?
DJ Montana: Man I couldn’t even tell you. I know plenty of DJs that’s getting money and I know plenty of producers that’s getting money too.
DJ Montana: What’s the definition of A&R to you? A&Rs are who keep the industry on fire. They’re the ones going out and finding what’s hot in the streets, I mean social media too though. But deeper than that, A&Rs connect a lot of dots for artist. They’re really a middle man for the artist too, it’s just a lot more than finding new talent. A&Rs got a full list of job duties just like any other position.
RESPECT.. What’s your day to day grind like? My boy it’s all over the place, and that’s because I’m just always trying to come up with something new or just putting in some work somewhere, somehow. Like if I don’t have anything on the calendar for the day, I’m creating something. Which I think that ties back into being Carolina-bred too. Because in South Carolina, you have to create your own opportunities.
RESPECT.: You’re working with NewMoney Quez, can you tell us about him?
DJ Montana: Soon as his name come up, I tell folks straight off top that’s my boy for real. We been working together almost a year now, he’s an artist from Atlanta. His music tells stories, and that’s what I respect most about him. He’s solid, his music is real, his music is his life story. We just dropped his debut mixtape this past summer, I Want New Money Forever, hosted by me. So we’re pushing that right now, and getting everything prepared for a big first quarter (2020).
RESPECT.: You had a chance to join Rick Ross on the POM 2 tour, what’s it like to watch him live and take jewels with you to study?
DJ Montana: It’s a blessing man, nothing but a blessing. Night after night watching him hit the stage is dope, and no show is ever the same because the energy in each city is always different. I’m learning a lot though for real man, I’m ready to get off the road so I can really study everything and start applying it.
RESPECT.: You started #ForThePeople do you feel like the game needs more mentors and partnerships?
DJ Montana: What do you want to bring to this game?
RESPECT.: Of course. You can never have enough mentors in a community, especially with the way negative music influences the youth now. I’m bringing another positive black male presence to the game. It’s not enough positivity surrounding our youth.
RESPECT.: Do you see us being the big homies for hip-hop over the next 20 years?
DJ Montana: It’s nothing to it but to just make it happen. If we plan on being the big homies, let’s keep taking these steps and let’s make it happen.
RESPECT.: What is in store for the remainder of 2019 and 2020?
DJ Montana: I’m getting ready to drop my OnDemand Worldwide merch, so yeah, that’ll be here before 2020. Outside of that though man, just continuing to build and grow with everybody I’m connected with. My focus this next year is to expand and expand in a big way.
RESPECT.: What does RESPECT. mean to you?
DJ Montana: RESPECT. to me means understanding and appreciating someone’s worth.
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