The greater Boston area has long been a major contributor to DJ culture over the decades the cultural phenomenon has existed.
Boston record stores were the first to sell Rapper’s Delight outside of New York City in 1979, and in the decades since, the New England Metropolis has embraced everything from electronic music to dancehall DJ culture.
So, it should probably come as no surprise the Boston Celtics have had at least one well-known disc jockey come from their ranks, with another perhaps in the chamber.
Former Celtic Shaquille O’Neal has made a career for himself off the court as a deejay, returning to Boston recently to perform as DJ Diesel at Big Night Live, to a capacity crowd of nearly 2,000 fans, reports HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky.
The 15-time All-Star might have passed the torch at the event, as a current Celtic happened to be in attendance — first-time All-Star hopeful Jaylen Brown.
Thank you Boston ☘ We SOLD OUT SHAQ's Bass All Stars! 🎥: @smileitzkyle pic.twitter.com/wOaojZPrua
— DJ Diesel (@djdiesel) January 13, 2020
The fourth-year wing has always had an eye for niche culture and how it intersects with the NBA, social justice and other related issues, so an interest in a discipline steeped in the roots of the African diaspora makes a lot of sense.
And contemporary Boston has plenty of options for Brown to get into, whether the local Jamaican community’s dancehall and dub-oriented deejays, local house music icons like Armand Van Helden, drum-and-bass stalwarts Elements, or the city’s vibrant hip-hop scene.
While visions of DJ Juice hyping up the team at halftime to a good boneshaker tantalize, it’d likely take some time before a perfectionist like Brown would let his craft hit ears.
So, we shouldn’t get our hopes up in a hurry — but don’t be shocked if you see the Georgia native behind the wheels of steel someday.
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