• the217
• Music
• Spotlight on...DJs

Related Media

DJ Belly at his home studio. Photo by Rebekah Nelson.

• See Slideshow (6 images)

Related Venues

Boltini Lounge »
Address: 211 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 378-8001
Show on map

Radio Maria »
Address: 119 N. Walnut St. Champaign, IL 61821
Phone: (217) 398-7729
Show on map

Cowboy Monkey »
Address: 6 Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 356-0006
Show on map

These local men can be found nearly every night of the week mixing, spinning and getting CU ready to dance.

Check out what they have been up to and have planned for the future.

DJ Belly

Catch Him: April 2 at Boltini Lounge

In 2008: “Wow, 2008 was just insane for me. This was the year I really came into being a DJ downtown. [I] pulled a weekly night at Boltini Lounge and started booking hip-hop shows at Cowboy Monkey. Some of the best moments in 2008 for me would have to be opening for The Roots in Decatur, playing with Lupe Fiasco at the U of I and playing a show with Wu-Tang Clan at the Canopy Club. [It was] a total whirlwind of a year for me as a DJ, to be sure.”

In 2009: “As far as what is in plan for the future, my main focus right now is finishing up two solo projects I’m working on. One is a hip-hop-styled album with all of the beats made by me, and the other is a dubstep album I am currently about 20 percent done with. As for live shows, expect more Dubstep Massacre in the future. It’s a night I have been helping to put together once a month at Cowboy Monkey and features the best DJs south of Chicago who spin dubstep. For more info on [Dubstep Massacre], check out the blog we have been keeping of everything at http://dubselecta.blogspot.com. Also, expect more live hip-hop coming your way over the summertime. It’ll be a fun place here in Chambana!” — DJ Belly

DJ Kosmo

Catch Him: April 2 at Radio Maria

In 2008: “2008 was the rebirth of my DJ career after being out of the picture for many years. I wasn’t sure if it was gonna work out, but it has with mulitple DJ gigs throughout Champaign (on- and off-campus), Central Illinois, Chicago.”

In 2009: “Now I’m trying to venture out to other markets like Indy and Milwaukee, as well as holding down my full-time job with Red Bull North America.” — DJ Kosmo

DJ Legtwo

Catch Him: April 3 at Radio Maria

Check Out: Politricks at http://www.myspace.com/curbservicemusic

DJ Mertz

Catch Him: April 5 at Boltini Lounge

Check Out: Back in the Box at Exile on Main St.

DJ Delayney

Catch Him: April 2 at Cowboy Monkey

DJ Substr8

Check Out: http://www.myspace.com/flexinex