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DJ Short-E Biography

dj-short-e
  • Born: December 31, 1969
  • Years Active: 1990s-2000s
  • Genre: Hip-Hop

A record label head, nightclub owner, and DJ on AOL Radio's mixtape station, DJ Short-E was born in New York City but fell in love with Florida while on a family vacation. At the age of 18 he followed his dream and moved to Tampa to avoid the War of the Roses-style divorce his parents were going through. It was 1996 and Short-E noticed two things: Tampa's party scene was healthy, and it had not yet succumbed to hip-hop. He transitioned from being a freestyle to a hip-hop DJ, getting in on the ground level and bringing down a crate of N.Y.C. hip-hop just as Florida was falling in love with rap. He became part owner of Tampa's Rain Lounge, a popular nightspot with a sushi and sake café featuring a signature dish, the "Short-E Roll." While spending his nights DJing many of Tampa's celebrity parties, Short-E keeps his connection to the streets by working with rapper Verbal Science. The duo dropped the single "Whatchu Ridin' On" on Short-E's Hot4Eva label. The accompanying video featured cameos from Paul Wall, Mike Jones, T-Pain, Tony Yayo, and Jacob the Jeweler. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi

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