By Konviction of Triumfant Muzik Group Exclusively for The Oracle
konviction@triumfantmuzik.com
What’s good family? Once again, this is ya boy Konviction coming at cha to share Kingdom principles and wisdom according to the Word. God has truly blessed me today ya’ll, as he has in many times past! Tru indeed. Today's guest is an anointed man of God, one who serves in the shadows building the Kingdom and supporting the urban Christian movement like no other. The music you’re listening to at this moment, he most likely leaked to the net, or promoted it initially, giving it popularity and a voice among the many! He, ladies and gentlemen, is none other than DJ Dlite!
Konviction: Just for the record, can you tell the people of God who you are and what you do and with whom, because based upon my research you
appear to be a highly anointed man with many gifts and callings.
Please be specific in your various ministry affiliations, so that the
people will know how to support and connect to you in various places.
DJ Dlite: First and foremost, I am DJ Dlite, the host of 3rd Coast Fiyah, an urban Christian radio show. The purpose of this show is to highlight the urban Christian hip-hop movement, and we do this in conjunction with the Bus Shop Record Store. The centerpiece of this is the top ten countdown and top ten video countdown. We connect this to sales and charting in the Bus Shop, which helps to generate revenue, marketing, and additional attention to our genre. I am also the Program Director for the Dasouth.com Radio Network, and as such, I am in charge of all of the radio programming on Dasouth.com, which fields urban Christian radio shows from all over the world. In addition, I am also Director of the Kingdom Affiliates Records Pool, which is one of the major Urban Christian Record Pools in the United States.
K: Amen my brotha. God has certainly chosen you to assist in establishing His kingdom in this final remnant. All of this, in addition to being a devoted, husband, doting father, exciting praize and worship leader at your local congregation? Wow! Glory to God! And I thought I was busy?? Excellent. Moving onward, Explain to us how God pulled you out of sin and established you as a major player in urban kingdom business. Was this a gradually progressive experience, or something where God took your worldly pursuits for His Glory?
D: A lot of people don't know this about me, but growing up I was always a music lover. I am a leader of the worship at my church. Prior to this, however, I was active in the worldly R and B scene. All of the groups I was involved with were successful in their own right, and had opportunities at secular fame. More than any, the final group I was in, God blessed us with many opportunities, yet much if not all, of the spiritual aspect of what we were doing was not in line with His desire for my life. At a point, which was a difficult decision to make, I laid down my personal desires to pursue His will. It was like Moses, laying down his rod, a symbol of his survival as a shepherd in the wilderness, before the unquenchable flame of the Lord. And like Moses, God then empowered my rod! As I laid down my will, God began to release things to effectively replace those things that I had released. I began dee-jaying Christian events locally, and developed a local Christian radio show on local radio. Later, He opened the internet radio avenue to us, and the rest is history! When you surrender your life to Christ, He will exalt you and use you for His glory!
K: Awesome testimony fam. I love how God took your desire and love for music artistry and performance and used it to position you to bless other ministries, other artists. He blesses us to bless others. Speaking of blessing others, If you could establish a relationship with any ministry or organization to save lost souls, with whom would you work and why? What is so compelling about the organization you have selected?
D: I would love to work with Gospel Music Association and the Dove organization. I think that it is awesome that they have made a place for us! As a voice of a younger and often times lost, or dying generation, this structural support will assist in providing continuity and increased visibility to our particular genre of music. There is no telling what God can do with this relationship! We could have such a larger platform and widespread appeal, and people would be forced to respect our ministries and take us much more seriously, especially in traditional church circles! We are certainly contending for the faith of our future leaders, and we thank them for their assistance.
K: Not only that, but it would help to establish a protocol and standard for urban Christian music, ensuring that everything we do fits the universal standards of acceptable music practices within the industry, which is an area where sometimes urban Christian artist struggle! Amen to structure and obedience, for it is greater than sacrifice! Switichin gears now,what is your favorite scripture, book of the bible, or biblical character or person and why? Does that person relate to your own character or path in Christ, and if so, what does that individuals legacy speak to the men and women of God today, especially our youth?
D: That is real easy for me, Matt 5:16. “Let your light so shine before me, that they see your good works and glory of your Father in heaven.” This is the inspiration for the name that God has given me, and how we advance the Kingdom is thru the power and demonstration of the Word of God in our lives! If people see you live it, then they know that it is possible thru the power of God! DJ DLite aka “The Light”! We all have a light to shine!
K: Likes dat there fam. It cuts thru all of the gloss, glitter, self-glorification, and pride we sometimes find in those in the spotlight, both in the world and in the Kingdom, and places the obligation, the responsibility, back on us to be agents for His kingdom and not our own agendas! Yes! I hate to put you on the spot family, but who is your favorite artist and why? What about that person or ministry do you think serves as a powerful, Christ-like testament to others in ministry?
D: Honestly, it would have to be Lecrae. I was blessed to watch him grow from infancy to Christian pop status. Most importantly, he remained consistent in his walk, in his life, and in his thoughts. It is my prayer that he won’t forget to be a door opener, to create additional avenues for those to follow in his path. It is my prayer that God will continue to open doors for him to do so!
K: Very true. I agree that He has been chosen by God, in this particular time and dispensation, to lead the charge of taking the message of Christ into urban circles. The concept of successors and predecessors is also spiritual in nature and a necessity. After all, it’s all God's, especially the ministry. None of us own it!
How valuable is radio rotation today for independent and/or established artist? In what ways do you perceive record pools, internet radio, and technology changing the music business landscape
as it pertains to urban gospel music? Any advice for artist? Speak freely and be generous!
D: Radio, to me, mainstream in particular, has not helped to promote our genre. Internet radio and underground platforms, such as Dasouth.com, Rapzilla.com, etc, have promoted our genre and positioned us to be more effective as ministers. This allows us to maintain control of both the industry and the ministry. If you really sit back and look at our secular counterpart, one of the negatives that occurred was, after they had built the movement to the point that the existing corporations saw monetary value in the culture, they relinquished control for a larger platform! And it compromised the integrity of the art form and it’s message. Not that it was holy it begin with, but at least it was artistic in and creative in general!
K: There is absolutely a lesson to be learned in that, as far as Christian rap is concerned. It will be imperative to our future success, whether we are able to maintain some monetary control over our genre. Losing control on a widespread level could ultimately water down the gospel and eliminate the convicting and correcting power of the message!
In your opinion, what is the role of the dee-jay in today's music market, verses, say, twenty or so years ago? Do you incorporate the traditional persona of the deejay into your
repertoire? (cuttin’, scratchin’, mixtapes, music production etc.)
D: For me, I am more of the radio persona of a dee-jay! There are some cats out there that will run circles around me to be real. I do think the tricks of the trade are important, and I can scratch, mix, etc., but promotions is where God has positioned me to be effective. The position of the dee-jay has gravitated with the changes in the market. With the advent of the internet, the role of the dee-jay remains, but has been expanded!
K: Very true. Tastemakers and trendsetters may be a more accurate description!
I know you listen to a lot of music, so give me a list of your top 10 or so 'up and coming' underground Christian rap artist, meaning those that are new to the game, just dropping projects etc.? The so-called Next Generation?
D: Wow. Excellent question fam. I’m gonna have to get back to you on that one! Ha ha.
K: Yeah ok fam...I'll be waiting....lol...(I’m still waiting ya'll)
We appreciate DJ DLite sharing is testimony, ministry, life, and perspectives with us! To reach him or support him in ministry feel free to do so at the following:
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