The Beat Junkies — DJ Melo-D

ARTIST VS ART / BEYOND THE TURNTABLES

DJ Melo-D

Cerritos, CA · DJ / PRODUCER

DJ PORTRAIT COMING SOON

THE STORY

From Cerritos, DJ Melo-D remembers years of digging through records at the OC Record Show in Buena Park, late-night rolled tacos in Cypress, and unforgettable moments on the road with the Beat Junkies. Beyond music, he's a fan of no-limit Texas hold'em poker.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

How did you get your DJ name? What is the story behind it?

Unlike most in the hip-hop community, I actually came up with my own DJ name.

If you could sit down with your 1992 self, what would you tell him?

Don't be misguided by distractions.

Where was your go-to late-night food spot after a gig? Name, city and order.

The original Alberto's in Cypress, at Lincoln and Valley View. Three rolled tacos.

Your go-to record shop? Name, city and a memory from that place.

OC Record Show in Buena Park. I've been going there since the '90s and bought lots of records at that fair.

What's a Beat Junkies memory that still makes you laugh?

A low-stakes blackjack game in the Quentin Hotel lobby in Amsterdam with the crew.

What's one song you love that people would never expect?

"Only the Lonely" by The Motels.

What's something you're surprisingly good at outside of music?

Poker, specifically no-limit Texas hold'em.

If music hadn't worked out, what do you think you'd be doing today?

SUI detective.

PASS THE AUX.

OLD SCHOOL PICK

Whodini

Escape · Five Minutes of Funk

▶ TAP PLAY IN THE ALBUM PLAYER ABOVE · 30-SECOND PREVIEW

EXPLORE FULL SONG ↗

NEW SCHOOL PICK

Empire of the Sun

Ice on the Dune · Old Flavours