COSIGN DJ SPOTLIGHT: Meet Kenny “DJ ill.Tommie” Hurst
Can you give us an explanation of the significance of your name?
ill.Tommie derives from the relationship I have with my grandmother. Her name is Tommie Lee. My middle name is Lee. In my opinion, she is one of the coolest, self-loving, and unbothered people walking the earth. I feel like most of everything I feel about myself comes from her. I did a little wordplay on the name “Lee”, turned it around to spell “eel”, and I changed the spelling from that to “ill” and kept her first name, Tommie, to pay homage to her, while using the name to express how I feel about myself.
What would you say sets you apart from other DJs in the area?
DJ’s have a lot of different things in common, but my passion for music and determination to create is what sets me apart. I enjoy creating using any instrument I can get my hands on (outside of woodwind instruments). I play bass & lead guitar, but I have a different type of love for the lead/electric. There is something about the opportunity it presents to think outside the box and not “stay in the pocket”. Takes me back to being creative, just turns me on.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
The thing I enjoy most about what I do is the fact that I can share my vibe with people & from that they can have the time of their life. There is nothing like using your creativity to make others forget about every care in the world, even if it’s just for a few hours.
Can you describe your style?
I’m soulful down to my core but at the same time, I need that bounce you feel from trap music. To be honest, I love anything that sounds good, but if I had to choose a style, it would be something like BBQ cookout music for all the grooves, Afrobeats/Reggae to get the ladies hips moving and trap music for the culture.
What other DJs do you #COSIGN?
DJ JayClipp, DJ Kal Banx, DJ PoizonIvy, DJ GS, DJ Bubba, and DJ She Real
What do you enjoy doing outside of DJ-ing?
Playing guitar, producing, and writing music
What upcoming projects are you working on?
My main focus outside of Hip Hop Book Club, House of Boom, and working on my own production would be projected with artists such as Brandon Anderson -@_banderson_, Keidric Berry- @kxpberry and Devin Parhms- @jahndough7203. A lot of their work is on the verge of being released and when it is, it will speak for itself.
Can you explain to us House of Boom?
In inter-city schools, students aren’t given the opportunity to exercise creativity in academic settings because such activities are being removed from our programs. House of Boom gives students a chance to challenge themselves beyond the classroom by using music production to help identify their gifted leadership and creative skills while encouraging them to think differently from the standard…all in the form of an after-school program.
How can people get in contact with you for booking?
ill.Tommie@yahoo.com
If you could make a playlist of 15 songs featuring artists (both local/and non-local) that you cosign, who would be on it?
1) Gucci Mane- I Get the Bag (ft Migos)
2) Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B- MotorSport
3) Kxp Berry- Uncle Sam
4) Young Dolph- Pacific Ocean
5) B.Anderson- Selena
6) Lil Baby- My Dawg
7) Jhene Aiko- Sativa (ft. Swae Lee)
8) Arin Ray- We Ain’t Homies
9) Miguel- Sky Walker (ft. Travis Scott)
10) Chris Brown- Sensei (ft A1)
11) French Montana- She Workin (ft. Marc E. Bassy)
12) Ycee- Juice
13) Mr Eazi & Major Lazer- Leg Over (ft. French Montana & Ty Dolla $ign) Remix
14) Tekno- Pana
15) Trouble- Brick (ft. Skippa Da Flippa)
Check out the Playlist on Apple Music here.
