Location: Silver Spring, MD
www.twitter.com/djJAV

His name is short for Javier, so please pronounce it correctly: DJ JAV®. A student of hip-hop, yet a master on the turntables, DJ JAV® has grinded out his DJ career the old fashioned way. He showed a propensity for record selection by making mixtapes in high school, in the most organic way possible. On actual cassette tapes. Then he got his hands on a pair of turntables, learning how to mix, blend, and scratch in 1993, DJ JAV continued to hone his skills while pursuing an alternate yet parallel career path.

As a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, DJ JAV has served two tours in Iraq. In his capacity as a Medic, he helped heal injured soldiers in combat. But he also used his DJ skills to heal the homesickness they felt by spinning hip-hop and salsa twice a week. “The soldiers loved the break from the daily rigors of live overseas,” says DJ JAV. “And they appreciated the feel, if only for a night or two, that they were back home dancing in a club with their friends!”

Since returning stateside, DJ JAV continues to make his mark on the hip-hop club scene in Washington, D.C. He is featured weekly on WPFW’s “Decipher”, a show widely recognized in the city as being the source for authentic, non-commercial rap music. DJ JAV is known as the go-to DJ in DC with party-rocking credibility for a wide range of audiences. Spinning at every hot venue along the historic U Street corridor, including Busboys & Poets, LIV, Bohemian Caverns, Jin Lounge, DC9, he’s also the resident DJ for the wildly popular “Cakes and Kisses” event at Asylum in Adams Morgan.

Born in the Bronx and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, he lists Pete Rock and DJ Premiere as his main influences. DJ JAV’s tools of the trade include Technics 1200’s, a Rane TTM57 SL mixer, and of course, Serato. He’s released two mixtapes: El Mix-O Primero and El Mix-O Segundo, both a subtle blend of mellow rap tunes, custom remixes, and the best features from local artists.

DJ JAV does all events, from club dates, birthday parties, house parties, wedding receptions, Bar Mitzvahs, Quincinieras, you name it, he brings the party with his own two hands...and turntables. Contact DJ JAV for all bookings at 240-398-1432 or email at javierluisvelasco@gmail.com

Decipher Hip-Hop Radio Show, Engineer & Affiliate 89.3FM - WPFW
Ill Street Grooves Affiliate (Monday Nights), & Holla Back Wednesdays
listen online at http://www.wpfw.org, 10pm - 11pm
http://www.djjav.com
http://www.twitter.com/djJAV
http://www.myspace.com/djjavsolo
thejav@hotmail.com (find me on FB)