ABOUT DJ SEMTEX

© 2008-2009 Semtex Media

‘ A bloke from London, England ’, blazing the hottest HipHop.

CONTACT
For more info on DJ Semtex and bookings, contact:
djsemtex@mac.com
michael@codaagency.com

SEMTEX LIVE ON AIR
Fridays 10pm to 12am
Saturdays 12am to 2am.

On DAB Digital radio or online at www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/hiphop/semtex

SEMTEX ONLINE
Djsemtex.com
SemtexTV
Twitter
Imeem

SEMTEX PRESS KIT

THE SHORT BIOG
‘It’s been said that the backbone of Hip-Hop is the DJ. If that statement rings true, then DJ Semtex is perhaps connected to every bone in the body of Hip-Hop. For years, Semtex has made it his mission to break artists, records, radio shows, and his undeniable skills for rockin’ a party.

Recently named the Most Influential Radio DJ in the New Nation Power 100, Semtex plays an instrumental part in Dizzee Rascal’s continued success, hosting two primetime Hip-Hop shows on the BBC’s digital station, 1Xtra has him interviewing the biggest names in Hip-Hop as well as breaking exclusives on a regular basis and his blog is one of the most popular sites within the Hip-Hop world. Semtex has made it his mission to bridge the gap between Hip-Hop's starting point, the US, and one of its hottest battlegrounds, the UK. Assisting in key relationships, with Akon signing Sway to his Kon Live Label and Kanye West signing Mr. Hudson to his GOOD Music label imprint.

His company Semtex Media worked the promotional campaign for Dizzee’s Certified Gold Maths + English album, as well as the Single “Dance With Me”, which resided at the Number One spot on the charts for four weeks. Semtex Media consults blue-chip corporations, global brands and continues to market some of Hip-Hop/R&B’s highest selling acts including Kanye West, Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Throughout his career Semtex has been standing at the forefront of technology. While wax manipulation has morphed into CDs and Serato, Semtex maintains the purity of the craft while allowing innovation to surround it. A lucrative partnership with Pioneer enabled him to get his hands on the latest DVD/ DJ technology, from which he created the first ever visual mix for commercial release via Universal.

Semtex brings to light the dream that many involved in Hip-Hop hope to achieve someday - the title of Hip-Hop entrepreneur. It isn’t everyday that people like Kanye West say, “DJ Semtex helped me launch my career and Semtex is proof that focus and love of the craft can travel a long way ”.

THE EXTENDED BIOG
There are DJs that play records, and then there are DJs that have the power to influence the masses in more ways than one. The award-winning DJ Semtex is much, much more than a man who simply spins singles. The Manchester born beat-juggler lives, breathes and sleeps hip hop; it’s in his blood, his heart and his soul.

Of course, you don’t need to just take our word for it. Ask those whose careers he has helped create, the artists whose singles he’s broken, or the blue-chip companies that employ Semtex as a consultant to let them know what’s hot and what’s not. Publications like RWD, i-D, the Guardian and Mixmag have given extensive coverage to his already incredible career, while MySpace has called upon his expertise to host interviews with Kanye West, Dizzee Rascal and Pharoah Monch. When Madame Tussaud’s launched their Tupac Shakur waxwork, who did they call? Yeah, you got it.

“Semtex helped me launch my career,” says one of Hip-Hop’s most high-profile performers, Kanye West, who also thanked Semtex during his BRIT Awards acceptance speech last year. He’s no stranger to public thank you’s; Dizzee shouted Sem out when accepting his Mercury Music Prize, while artists all over the world name-check the UK’s No 1 Hip-Hop DJ for helping to blow up their careers.

But while he’s interviewed Hip-Hop’s hottest players, Semtex always keeps it cool. This is the guy who remains 100% focused, whether interviewing 50 Cent live on radio, hosting Mariah Carey’s Halloween party or taking strategy meetings with Jay-Z via his own A&R and Marketing Consultancy, SemtexMedia.

Beginning his career while barely in his teens, Semtex started out spinning at house parties in Cheetham Hill, a rough and ready area of Manchester. “I'd bring my own turntables and get paid ¤50 to play from 10pm to 7am,” he remembers. "If the crowd didn't like you, you're getting bottled! By the end of the night you‘re lucky if you get paid, let alone leave with your records." Ten years later, the world-renowned DJ is playing to over 100,000 people on the Red Hot Chilli Pepper‘s tour, interviewing the likes of Stevie Wonder at Live 8 and DJing at showcases for Destiny‘s Child.

To get to this point has seen some serious graft. After making his DJ name on the mean streets of Manchester, Semtex began working in Eastern Bloc Records during the day and DJ'ing at legendary clubs like the Hacienda by night; in-between all that, he also began promoting UK tours for US DJ‘s.

Proving his power in producing and distributing mixtapes, Sony, Universal, Def Jam and Loud all scrambled to commission the disk-spinner to put together promotional mixtapes for their rap rosters. Once his degree at Manchester Met was completed in 1998, Semtex moved to London to set up Sony's street team. It quickly became the most effective on-road marketing movement in the game, from Destiny‘s Child to Dead Prez, Semtex was breaking their records.

The fuse was lit; setting the Hip-Hop scene alight, he began mixing for BBC2 and appeared all over TV, from Nickelodean to the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Clothing company Fubu flew Semtex to Germany to host their parties alongside LL Cool J and DJ Clue, with further gigs taking him to South Africa, USA, Denmark, Dubai, Amsterdam, Ibiza and Bangkok. The International DJ Semtex was born.

From here on in, Semtex became one of the UK‘s most requested; he organised the Lauryn Hill afterparty, span for MTV at their Notting Hill Carnival, hosted and opened shows for Mos Def and Pharaoh Monch.

In 2001, two more events took place that would ultimately shift Semtex‘s career up another gear. First, he set up the urban department for Def Jam UK, and then he was asked to host the primetime Hip-Hop slot on the UK‘s first national black music station, 1Xtra. As well as hosting two weekly shows live from London, Sem has broadcast from New York, Miami and The Bahamas. He‘s also hosted shows from some of music‘s most high-profile events, including the Philadelphia leg of Live 8 and the Prince‘s Trust Urban Music Festival as well as the annual Mixshow Power Summit. Past guests on the highly-influential 1Xtra Mixtape Show include Kanye West, 50 Cent, The Game, P. Diddy, Akon, Common, will i am, Mims, Lupe Fiasco, Busta Rhymes, Dizzee Rascal, Sway, LL Cool J, The Streets, Ludacris...the list is never-ending and ever-growing. The shows are available online and listened to the world over.

But like we said before, there‘s more to Semtex than being just ya average Disc Jockey. Throughout the last few years, he has constructed three of the UK‘s most seminal mixtapes. He produced the ‘Piece Keepers‘ series with Britain's premier urban act Dizzee Rascal, and also mixed a CD for Dizzee‘s Dirtee Stank label in conjunction with sports giant Nike. He also put together ‘Grime Wave‘ and ‘Crunk N Grime‘ that sold into the thousands and quickly became collector‘s items.

Talking of one of the UK‘s most innovative, you can hear Sem‘s scratches on Dizzee‘s smash ‘Stand Up Tall‘ and latest single ‘Old Skool.‘ As Diz‘s official tour DJ, the pair has played all over the world; from Japan to Brazil, Chile to Australia and performed on BBC1‘s ‘One Big Weekend‘ and Channel 4‘s ‘Popworld.‘

Promoted to A&R at Def Jam UK several years ago, Semtex‘s first signing was Fatman Scoop, whose debut single ‘Be Faithful‘ hit No. 1 in both the UK and all over Europe. As well as being big in the boardroom, and broadcasting live twice weekly, Semtex is often asked to speak at seminars and conferences across the UK, and acts as a consultant to some of the world‘s biggest brands. He continues to promote and market many of Hip-Hop and R&B‘s highest-selling acts including Jay-Z, Rihanna and The Game, and still rocks the crowd whether hosting award ceremony‘s for rap‘s most rich and famous, or holding residencies at the biggest nightclubs in the UK. Thanks to his incredible prowess on the decks and an eye for a hit single, Semtex has been the headline DJ for Kanye, DMX, Nas, 50 Cent, Jay-Z , Nelly, and the Game on their UK tours and hosted Parties for Russell Simmons, Wyclef, Mariah Carey, and the official after-parties for Timbaland at the o2 Dome.

When the man ever sleeps is a mystery to us all; but be assured he brings new meaning to the phrase "You Can‘t Knock The Hustle.‘ "It isn't a job or a career, it's a lifestyle," he insists of his unrelenting work ethic and dedication to Hip-Hop, both UK and US. You will find the biggest names as well as the street‘s sickest MC‘s on his IXtra Mixtape Show: Sway, Newham General‘s, Boy Better Know, Kano and many more have all received support and guidance from Sem throughout their careers.

There‘s only one DJ that you truly need to know about - his name is DJ Semtex.

PRESS SHOTS
A variety of shots can be found here.