Dude! How did you get started?
Well, let’s see. I saw my brother DJing and wanted to follow in his footsteps. It looked kinda fun and I liked all the girlies giving the DJ’s love. This was back in 1983. Some of my first records were Egyptian Lover, Afrikka Bambatta, and Debbie Deb. I used to get my records from Tower Records, Licorice Pizza, and The Wherehouse. A few years later, we formed a DJ group under different names like Local Sounds, Elite, and Nu Image. But, we ended up with the name 3 Style Attractions in 1986 and stuck with it. The founders were me (DJX Ray), Mike Fresh, and Rich-E Rich. We started by DJing house parties. Then we moved into high schools, colleges, underground events, and in time, moved into club events. We had a big crew. We had a gang of DJs, dancers, and a huge entourage of people who were down with us. We had our own jackets, shirts, sweats, and hats with our logo on it. We religiously represented our crew. There were a lot of DJ group battles, four turntable battles, and dancer battles. Most of them were at SDSU Montezuma Hall and the UCSD Price Center. 3 Style Attractions is now on its fifth generation of DJ’s.

How did you progress?
Around 1993, me, my homie Rob Zoomy, and Rated R formed ZXR Productions. We called our events Club Deviate, which was started eleven years ago at Sybil’s Down Under (now Aubergine). Club Deviate events take place on the first Saturday night of the month at E Street Alley, on the Sunday of a three day weekend, or the day before a major holiday. Our smallest turnout for our monthly event is about 1200 people. Man, I hate it when, on the day of an event, people call me and wanting to be put on the VIP list and I ain’t heard from them in years. I’m like, “What have you done for me lately?! Biootch!”

How did you get your own record store?
It fell into my lap. A good friend of mine, Tony a.k.a. DJ Mr. T started a store for DJ’s. Most of the store consisted of DJ equipment geared toward mobile DJ’s and clubs. It’s called The DJ Store. He asked me to provide music specifically geared towards DJ’s. He designated a section of the store for my record store. My section is called Direct Vinyl Source. That’s my business during the day. Some people think it’s cool to listen to and play music all day. It’s not really. It’s hard work to keep up with constantly changing new music. Man, I hate it when people ask me for a discount. This ain’t no 99 cent store! Biiiiotch!

How did you get your DJ residency at On Broadway?
My good friend Tony a.k.a. DJ Mr. T asked me if I wanted to DJ at a new club being built called On Broadway. Originally I was DJing in the hip hop room. I started on the third night the club was open. I was the club’s second resident DJ until DJ Scott Martin joined our team. He took over the hip-hop room and I painstakingly started building the Ultra Lounge, also known as the 80’s room. When I started, I was lucky to have more than ten people in that room. Eventually, it became a hit, wall to wall people. Nowadays, I get switched up and DJ in both the hip-hop and the 80’s room.

What’s the funniest thing to ever happen to you while you were DJing?
During one particular Halloween party. This girl that I didn’t even know, very cute, came up to the DJ booth and started macking on my face while I was DJing. She was grabbing my family jewels. Not that I didn’t like it, but I had a job to do. That’s why DJ’s use 12 inches! Ha ha! Biootch!

What was the coolest thing to ever happen to you DJing?
When the club finishes for the night, the lights come up, and the crowd starts applauding my set. That’s the coolest feeling to get at the end of the night. But, I prefer a hot date!

What styles of music do you spin?
I prefer spinning hip hop, r & b, and dancehall. But I can get down to all types of music. I spin house, trance, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s hits. It’s all about being versatile.

Have you DJed any events with any other music artists?
Yeah, I’ve DJed at events with Jocelyn Enriquez, Notorious BIG, Britney Spears, Simple, Pinay, Touch, Buffy, The Movement, House of Pain, and Kurtis Blow. I’ve DJed so many events I can’t remember all of them.

What the best thing about your life as a DJ?
For starters, I have an extensive music collection in my possession and in my mind. Also, I’ve met a lot of interesting people. It’s a great feeling making other people happy through my DJ skills and ability. I play music for the people, not for myself, or other DJ’s. I’d rather have a bunch of girls dancing than having a bunch of dudes standing around trying to look cool.

Anyone you want to give props to that helped you get to where you are now?
The Man Upstairs, my family, Rob Zoomy, DJ Mr. T, my entire 3 Style Attractions family (North and South), Club Deviate- ZXR Productions crew, Jay Q, DJ Rage, Mr. Groove, Felt 1, Rells, R- Type, Rich E Rich, Mike Fresh, Risk, Rom, Pac Man, DJ Style, EROC, Sharpshooterz, Lucky Bronson, Playtime Attractions, Javier Lugo, NLY10 Magazine, Phil Drew, Mike and Brian Viscuso, The DJ Store, Direct Vinyl Source a.k.a. DVS, Etcetera, DJ Scott Martin, DJ Marc Thrasher, Vaughn at Custom Printing Service, Armory, Cris B, Carlo C, Jenn and Noi, ImportCulture.com, Sonic Sounds, Joeski, Fred Sotelo, Mikeski, Universal, E Street Alley, On Broadway, Deco’s, Red Circle, ClubDeviate.com, 3StyleAttractions.com. Thanks DJ Johnny Johnson for interviewing me. Thank you to all of the people who have supported me by coming to my events. If I forgot any of you, that means I haven’t talked to you in a year or so. Meaning you’ll be calling me to get on the VIP list any day now. LOL!
For bookings, e- mail DJ X-Ray at SD3Style@Aol.com