Description
Inspired by the dancehall reggae and hip-hop music which he has always loved so much, and driven by the creative art of mixing them -- DJ A.K. Vybz is the definition of versatility. Hailing from Philadelphia, A.K. had humble beginnings as a Temple University student where he developed a passion for the art of blending and scratching records, as his older DJ friends did with such finesse and style. Throughout the course of college, A.K. grew from an ambitious novice to an experienced party-rocker... working his way up from events around campus, to consistent residencies at bar/club venues like Fat Tuesday and urban retail stores like Sneaker Villa. Ultimately, A.K. had become busy DJing all around the city and sometimes even beyond. By the time he approached graduation from Temple, his resume spanned from clubs all over Philadelphia to private events in New Jersey and Maryland, as well as guest sets at nightclubs in New York City and Rome (Italy).
In Spring of 2009, A.K. accepted a generous job offer as full-time Marketing Rep with Universal Music Distribution, and moved down to Miami. As his new job in Florida picked up, the active pursuit of DJ gigs in his new environment fell to the backburner. Before long, however, contacts he made in the course of field marketing for Universal led him back to the turntables - but in a different way. This time, A.K. found himself becoming immersed in the private events scene of South Florida -- getting booked to bring his precision and club-rocking background into the upscale format of Sweet 16s and Weddings. He gained insight and evolved into a much more seasoned, professional businessman... and also began acquiring an impressive fleet of speakers and other equipment for such gigs. Coupling his years of experience from Philly clubs with his new opportunities in private functions served to multiply his knowledge of music and crowd control. Eventually, UMD's company restructuring and downsizing would bring his full-time job to an end and naturally he returned to DJing once again.
By early 2011, A.K. had dabbled briefly in gigs at Blue Martini in Boca Raton and America's Backyard in Fort Lauderdale, FL... among others... but realized his true calling was above and beyond these local gigs. He yearned to travel, and the opportunity to visit Oslo (Norway) and DJ at a club there presented itself at exactly the right time - so off he went, rocking the party he was booked for and achieving a new stamp in his 'DJ Passport.' Upon his return to Miami, his traveling and experiences led him to an even bigger and better opportunity: a monthlong contract as a "Celebrity Guest DJ" aboard a Norwegian Cruise Ship! A.K. began working ship contracts where he DJ'd while sailing international waters and docking in the islands. NCL ship contracts brought him on amazing journeys to and from New York City, Boston, Seattle, Alaska, Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
By 2013, he had also earned the right to list one of the biggest and most respected brand names in world - DISNEY - to his ever-growing resume! Starting in January of that year, he began spinning multiple contracts on board the Disney Magic cruise ship on both its Caribbean itinerary (originating from Texas and sailing to Cozumel [Mexico], Grand Cayman, and the Bahamas); AND its European tour (starting from the Port of Barcelona and making stops in Italy, France, and Spain).
While his love of travel remains, he made the decision to leave the ship life alone at the start of 2014 and once again focus on building his brand at home in Miami.
Presently, he holds down weekly residencies at venues such as Bar Louie (Midtown Miami), C Lounge & Cigar Bar (North Miami Beach) and Will Call (downtown Miami) while peppering in private events, corporate & retail events, and guest sets at other nightclubs in between.
In the past year alone, A.K. VYBZ has performed at a variety of clubs internationally including:
-FICTION LOUNGE in Kingston, Jamaica (2013)
-MARGARITAVILLE in Negril, Jamaica (2013)
-SENSATION Club in Dubai, UAE (2013)
-CLUB FLOW in Amman, Jordan (2013)
-U ROOF LOUNGE in Amman, Jordan (2014)
As the scope of his traveling widens and his DJ resume continues to grow, the possibilities are endless. A.K. sports an impressive body of work as is, but believes the best is still yet to come. With a solid resume of experience already behind him and an array of exciting opportunities still ahead of him... combined with his passion for the art and a sincere willingness to learn... A.K. is TRULY the essence of a DJ!