In the world of entertainment, New Orleans is celebrating 40 years of hip hop and 35 years of Bounce music. Many great artists helped paved the way by creating the soundtrack of urban music in the Big Easy. All great artists have great deejays supporting them along the way. DJ Ro, a legendary mixologist on WQUE FM (Q93), has been a mainstay deejay who helped curate the soundtrack of New Orleans hip hop and bounce for more than 30 years and counting. DJ Ro has curated most of the fresh new music coming out of New Orleans and helped jumpstart several artists careers including Gregory D, Mannie Fresh, Devious, FullPack, Black Menace, 39 Posse, Mia X, Sporty T., Ice Mike, Tim Smooth, Bust Down, MC Thick, TT Tucker, DJ Irv, DJ Jimi, Juvenile, DJ Jubilee, Lil Slim, BG, Lil Wayne, Turk, Fiend, Mac, Everlasting Hitman, Partners N Crime, UNLV, Lady Red, Willie Puckett, Big Ramp, PMW, Lil Slim, Warren Mayes, Mr. Magic, S-8ighty, BlaqNMild, Big Freedia, Big Boy Records, Cash Money Records, No Limit Records, Take Fo Records, 5th Ward Weebie, Choppa Style, Sess 45, Rob49, Cupid, T99zy, Treety, DeeDay, Jakk Jo, Jazzysonola, Amaayah A, Allay Earhart, Subtweet Shawn, Daniel Heartless, Junior Montana, Paco Troxclair, Tre Billy, and many more. As a result, DJ Ro is a highly decorated stakeholder in the community of New Orleans.
Now he gets to enjoy and embrace the creative advancement of his daughter Assata Renay also known as DJ Flowerchild. Not only that, they have created a father-daughter deejay duo and have continued to showcase urban music. The Heat Magazine had a chance to link up with the father and daughter to find out the latest about their father daughter duo launch.
The Heat Magazine: What made you start the duo?
DJ Ro: After doing a few gigs and providing sound services alongside Ashley and her husband Alfred’s Allstar Band. I started brainstorming on creative ways to market our brands as a collective. That’s when I came up with the idea to do a Daddy/Daughter Dj Duo. I felt it would be interesting and exciting to witness. Dj Flowerchild A.K.A Assata Renay is a total package entertainer! My vision is to combine my years of experience as a Dj and radio personality and incorporate her singing abilities and Dj skills as a stage performance. When we connect with music on the forefront it’s always organic and I pray and believe this performance would be something people would want to see.
The Heat Magazine: Why do you feel it’s important to the culture?
DJ Ro: I believe it’s important to and for the culture. We need more creatives collaborating and blending the new with the old. That’s the space where the magic and evolution of music happens.
The Heat Magazine: How does it make you feel to know your daughter is following in your footsteps?
DJ Ro: I am very happy that she added deejaying to her hat. It’s in her blood! She’s been hearing music being mixed since birth. She has a naturally trained ear and amazing old school to new school untapped mixes that the world will witness.
The Heat Magazine: We saw a clip of both of you performing together for Q93 Welcome Affair. Explain that moment.
DJ Ro: Performing along side my daughter was a surreal experience. To perform with your baby is a rare thing you see in the industry. To witness it is something to see! We talked about the opportunity and collectively curated a taste of what we have in store for bookings. When I see the clips I see and feel the magic of destiny.
DJ Flowerchild: When people talk about full circle moments, this is what they mean! It was really cool to look around the room and see the Q93/WYLD family that showed me this was possible. The same people that have walked the path of a dream manifested into reality! I am still processing the excitement and I am looking forward to the journey of what’s to come.
(See Performance Below)
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The Heat Magazine: How long have you been deejaying?
DJ Flowerchild: I began deejaying during Covid. My husband and I started a Karaoke night where he was the Dj and I was the host. Out of curiosity, I began picking up on how to operate the Dj board. I would play around on it late nights when the event was over while the staff finished up for the night. I would ask my husband to show me how to do certain things. When I told my dad I was interested in learning more about how to scratch and his overall approach to music, he was overjoyed! We talked about visions of combining our talents as a family to create something unique and powerful. Between my background as a live vocalist performing with bands, my husband’s background as a Dj and drummer, and my dad’s background as a Dj and radio host, we knew we had something special that was needed in our culture!
The Heat Magazine: How did your father influence your style as a deejay?
DJ Flowerchild: My Dj style is all about feeling and the ability to capture the emotions of a room. My dad and I approach music in a similar way. We want to make sure that the people have a great experience. That is always top priority! When I was a little girl, I remember how my dad would go into his mix room and create mixes for hours-sometimes the whole day! The sounds were bursting out of the room and I would hear his mixes, transitions, and how he told a story with the music. I didn’t realize then that I was being prepared to be the artist that I am today!
The Heat Magazine: What can we expect to see in the near future as it relates to events, tours, and collaborations?
DJ Ro: The Welcome Affair was the start of the vision we talked about. Next we will continue to collaborate and brainstorm awaiting the opportunities and platforms to see the magic of Daddy/Daughter Duo Djs. Legends making legends is the goal.
DJ Flowerchild: The Welcome Affair was our debut but we are working on something different, new, and innovative! Without giving too much away, we’ll just say that you can expect to see what happens when talent meets legacy!
The Heat Magazine will keep our readers locked in on the DJ Ro and DJ Flowerchild movement. Follow DJ RO @djro504 on Instagram and follow Dj Flowerchild @assatarenay on Instagram.
