DJ Ruckus Details

Ruckus started spinning at age 15 in clubs in Miami, where Sean Combs discovered him and helped usher him onto the world stage. He’s since ascended to the ranks of sought-after, jet-setting international DJs. He came up long after Run-DMC’s groundbreaking records were new. But, he said, the rap icons were a substantial influence on him.

“I saw their influence on hip-hop and the way people continued to do it the way they did,” Ruckus said. “That was always proof to me that they were the best.”

Whether he’s playing in Russia, Italy, Spain or Vegas, he said, dropping a Run-DMC record always translates on the dance floor.

“Rev’s records are timeless — there’s not a place where I can play ‘It’s Like That’ or ‘It’s Tricky’ and not have the crowd go wild,” he said.

Unlike some of the button-pushing sucker MCs working clubs today, Run said, Ruckus has analog turntable skills to complement his digital acumen and ability to work a crowd.

He knows how to mix it and be down with EDM and all this other cool stuff, but he’s a hip-hop DJ — he can really scratch,” Run said. “You won’t find EDM DJs who can scratch like Ruckus does — that’s what makes him unique. … The fact that he knows how to do EDM while doing hip-hop, that’s why I hooked up with him.”

And while today’s youth might know Run from his reality TV show “Run’s House” or for his work as an author and preacher, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, now 49, has retained his skills on the turntables, Ruckus said.

“When he does touch the turntable, his cuts are mean,” Ruckus said.