DJ Spinz is the definition of what it means to ‘dream big.’ Starting off as a college student in the pursuit of a music degree, this Augusta, GA native relocated to Atlanta at the age of 16 and caught the attention of Hoodrich Entertainment’s DJ Scream. Acting as his protégé, the young DJ regards Scream’s mentorship as a monumental component to his career:
“Scream is a great person, a great talent, a trendsetter, and I feel very blessed to be up under him. He got my work ethic up and everything. Just from him being around and giving big brother advice.”
DJ Spinz went on to become an in-house DJ on Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 and Sirius XM’s Hip-Hop Nation, as well as a force to be reckoned with in the mixtape circuit. Acting as the producer behind 2 Chainz’ “Riot”, Travis Porter’s “Go Shorty Go”, Waka Flocka’s “Rooster in My Rari”, as well as other hits, Spinz regards his breakout moment with Ca$h Out’s debut single, “Cashin’ Out”. The song is currently number one on Billboard’s Rap Songs’ chart and is his most successful production credit to date.
Here we caught up with DJ Spinz to talk about “Cashin’ Out”, his sources of inspiration, and future plans.
Did you expect Ca$h Out’s “Cashin’ Out” to blow up the way it has?
Initially when I did the record, I knew it was going to be crazy. But, actually seeing it right in front of your eyes is a totally different thing. I felt it was big, but it’s really crazy that it actually happened. I feel like it’s a blessing.
How’d you link up with Ca$h Out?
I’m from a mixtape background. I was doing mixtapes, so part of my thing was always finding the new talent and who’s next in the Atlanta streets. Ca$h Out was working, and we had done other records before. He had other records that were popping in the hood clubs. Dee from Bases Loaded Records we had been in business with him before, he had another artist by the name of J. Money and he was like “Spinz, I need a single.” So, me and Ca$h Out got in and the first single we did was “Cashin’ Out”.
What was the idea behind “Cashin’ Out” as far as the references behind ‘Nina’ and ‘Kesha’?
‘Kesha’ is “loud”, as we would call it in Atlanta, good weed. A ‘Nina’ is a nine millimeter. It’s a part of how the living goes, so he put it in the song.
How did the remix with Akon, Young Jeezy, and Fabolous come about?
He [Ca$h Out] had told me Akon had done a verse and I saw it on the internet one day and I was like “Wow!” because Akon is one of my favorite artists of all time. I’m looking at it and I’m like, “Akon did a verse? That’s crazy.” Jeezy did his verse early. Fab reached out on the end, but he killed it. Yo Gotti did a verse too. He did one early. We really wanted to get artists who did the best verses and that was more widespread across the country. We didn’t want to just lay it in Atlanta. Jeezy, Akon is international, Fab is from up top, and Gotti is from Tennessee. We just spread it out a little bit and took the best verses from everybody.
Are you doing any other work for Ca$h Out’s debut?
Yeah, definitely! We have plenty of songs. We’ve been in quite a few times after “Cashin’ Out”. The world just hasn’t heard it yet, but be on the lookout for crazy records.
Do you have any plans to work with any other artists in the future?
Definitely. Anyone who I find talented or anyone who wants to reach out that’s talented, I’ll definitely work with them. I’m working with T.I.P.. We’ve been talking back and forth. Gucci, I got his new single with Fabolous and 8 Ball, “Don’t Make Sense”. I worked with Waka Flocka on “Rooster in my Rari” for his album Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family. I’m going to continue work who I’ve worked with as far as the southern artists, but I’m open to working with anybody else.
Who are your sources of inspiration?
I look up to Kanye, anybody who’s out here winning, the classic producers, people who have names who have been around for years, Timbaland, Dr.Dre, I look up to brands. I salute the OGs.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve received about the music industry thus far?
Just keep your people with you. Keep your circle small. There are a lot of different people out here, but if you stay positive and you understand where you’re trying to go, and you wake up every day and you hustle hard towards that goal. Just keep moving towards that forward direction. Don’t keep any negative attitude around you.
Photo Credit: Royal Rae