SPOTLIGHT: DJ Nabs - ATL Hip Hop Trailblazer

DJ Nabs is a native of Durham N.C. who began his career in Atlanta as a mix show DJ for WVEE. After hearing Nabs' skill on the turntables, upcoming producer Jermaine Dupri quickly teamed up DJ Nabs with the teen rap group Kris Kross and was featured on the group's second album release Da Bomb with a solo turntable performance called 'DJ Nabs Break'. Nabs would eventually become So So Def's exclusive DJ backing up Da Brat, Xscape, Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow. After years of touring, Nabs returned to Atlanta radio as a full time on air personality/mixer on Hot 97.5 (now Hot 107.9). During his three year stint at Hot, 'In The Lab With DJ Nabs' became a household name in Atlanta along with his weekly party showcase 'Old School Sundays' which was held at a trendy club in Midtown called Kaya .

In 1998, Nabs produced his first commercially released mixtape/album for Columbia Records entitled 'In The Lab With DJ Nabs: The Live Album'. This project featured the live performances of Kurtis Blow, Big Daddy Kane and Wyclef from 'Old School Sunday' and studio tracks from Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri and a then unknown Ludacris. In 1999, Nabs began touring again with Kenan Thompson and Nick Cannon for Nickolodeon's 'All That Music and More Festival' and later with Mariah Carey's 'Rainbow Tour' in 2001, performing with longtime friend Da Brat. In 2002 Nabs produced the remix for Trick Daddy's 'In The Wind' featuring Ceelo and Big Boi from Outkast. 2003 became the year that DJ Nabs returned to Hot 107.9 and also ventured into television with Bryant Reid's 'B.St Live' on Turner South, a half hour performance driven dance show with Dj Nabs spinning the tunes and co hosting. In 2005, DJ Nabs released 'The Product & The Power' mixtape compilation and XM radio show on channel 67 The City.

Today, as the president of Jermaine Dupri's DJ collective 'The Def DJs', Nabs continues to work the turntables at various industry events but combines all of his various experiences to helping build artists and songwriter's careers thru his company In The Lab Productions, working alongside Michael Mauldin as an Artist Development Manager and Music Publisher at Mauldin Brand Agency (Scream Tour, Bow Wow, Anthony Hamilton, Common, Kandi Burrus) and A&R of Scream Star Entertainment/Atlantic Records.

www.djnabs.com

-- #140 Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 --