Today would have been DJ AM’s 40th Birthday. He was and still is my favourite DJ of all time. In my eyes, the man was a genius when it came to mixing and scratching. He had technique and skill that other DJs couldn’t even dream about possessing, and he was also one of the first people that made me want to get a turntable of my own, and make my flatmates angry with the constant noise of badly mixed and scratched soul records.
Sadly in 2009 AM died due to a drug overdose, and for those not aware he had been in a plane crash the year before where he had lost two of his friends, along with two crew members. AM had been a recovering addict, and from what was speculated he had an enormous amount of survivour’s guilt after the crash. In fact, just before his death, he had begun shooting a program staging interventions for other addicts.
However, I personally think what’s important is to remember how DJ AM lived, and the legacy he left. A hardworking, creative artist that whilst was only on this planet for a short time, carved out his own space within music and hip-hop. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with some of my favourite DJ AM’s mixes, and even if you’re not as big a fan as I am, I hope you’ll still enjoy what he left behind.
May he rest in peace, God bless.
-Aimee
