In a world where nearly anyone with a MacBook and headphones can call themselves a DJ, only a select few have the talent and drive (and representation) to actually succeed. Helping such artists along the way are the genius founders of dGi Management. Partners Damon DeGraff and Yoni Goldberg have made it their business – not to mention their passion – to develop and nurture the standout stars of this saturated market.
But for dGi, DJs were only the beginning. The rapidly growing company now represents an impressive roster of celebrity DJs, recording artists, record producers and cultural influencers. From Rev Run to The Misshapes, this client list effortlessly runs the gamut from hip-hop to hipster. With nightly fees soaring into the thousands — on top of numerous endorsement opportunities – DeGraff and Goldberg pioneered their way to the top of this underworld.
We selected a group of artists from dGi who exemplify everything we deem cool. Click through for a look into a world most of us only enter well past our bedtimes.
Photographed by: Spencer Wohlrab
Produced by: Marni Golden
Art Direction: Patrick Biesemans
Hair & Makeup by: Allie Smith
1. The Misshapes: Greg Krelenstein, Leigh Lezark & Geordan Nicol
soundcloud
Song most played on your iPod:
At the moment "Move in the Right Direction" by the Gossip - it's from the forth-coming album.
How did you get into the biz?
Our party Misshapes
What's the biggest perk/con of your job?
Perk: Travel
Who are your style & music icons, inspirations and/or mentors?
Madonna
What's your most memorable career-related moment?
Meeting/working with Madonna & Karl Lagerfeld
2. KirillWasHere
Song most played on your iPod:
Jackie Mason - "Jews & Gentiles"
Party must-have song:
Ludacris - "What's Your Fantasy?"
How did you get into the biz?
A combination of drugs & alcohol gave me the confidence to harass drunk girls at a party with a camera one night three years ago.
What's the biggest perk/con of your job?
Perk: Free alcohol. Con: Hangovers.
Who are your style & music icons, inspirations and/or mentors?
Style: Anything that makes a doorman not want to let me in.
What's your most embarrassing and/or memorable career-related moment?
I forget almost everything I do on account of the blackouts. I have a man crush on Jason Statham and recently I ran out of a party because I was too scared to meet him.
What advice would you give to someone entering this profession?
Biggest lessoned learned? Don't become a nightlife photographer, be a DJ. I wish I was.
3. DJ M.O.S.
Baby I'm A Star every Wednewsday at Mister H in the Mondrian Hotel, soundcloud
Song most played on your iPod:
Michael Jackson - "Baby Be Mine"
Party must-have song:
The Romantics - "Talking In Your Sleep"
How did you get into the biz?
I started out as an intern at Elektra Records in the promotions department for two years, then moved to MTV as music marketing intern. During that time I picked up a residency at Luhan which was a hot spot back in the day and few spots in the lower east side. At the end of my internship MTV offered me a job, I turned it down to pursue deejaying full time. The rest is history.
What's the biggest perk/con of your job?
Getting a chance to travel the world, doing what I love and getting paid for it. Biggest con, doing interviews...lol. Seriously the biggest con would be dealing with drunk people making requests.
Who are your style & music icons, inspirations and/or mentors?
My style icon growing up was Grand Puba, he was always fresh back in the 90's. Musically would have to by The Neptunes, Pharrell and Chad are geniuses.
What's your most embarrassing and/or memorable career-related moment?
The most embarrassing moment was having my laptop fail during a party in front of a bunch of people I went to college with. I was so looking forward to killing it, but instead I tanked. The most memorable was deejaying for the President at Tyler Perry's studio in Atlanta, doesn't get better than that.
What advice would you give to someone entering this profession/biggest lessoned learned?
The only advice I would give someone is to believe in yourself; if you don't believe it's possible you've already failed.
"He who says he can and he who says he can't are both usually right" – Confucius
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