Meet Jedi Jimenez | DJ, Cultural Artist, & Community Organizer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jedi Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jedi, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
My inspiration as a DJ comes from the early days and foundation of Hip-Hop. As a kid who grew up in the Eastside of Long Beach, California, It was normal to hear soul and funk blasting out of every car passing by in the neighborhood. It was then my love for the culture and art deepened. As I grew older, I became very inspired to pick up the microphone which was my first love and also eventually picked up DJing. I am always picking up inspiration from the essence of DJing to the growth and evolving culture today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a DJ, I bridge the art with my passion in serving my community. Music is one of the tools that people historically have used to resist the powers that be and it is important to me in continuing that and the essence of what DJing is, that is what I’m most proud of and excited about all the time.

I began as a DJ playing in backyard boogies and house parties in Long Beach, CA and across LA county. I also began DJing community-led events which led to more exposure and have gotten many opportunities to DJ for the city, local elected city officials and non-profits. I eventually became one of the known DJs that played for most of the community events in Long Beach.

My DJ crew “Mass Movement” were the ones that really taught me how to DJ when I was 15 years old. Everything from understanding DJ theory, music, wrapping cables, understanding the “business”, understanding how important to never forget why I started DJing in the first place and never losing sight of that love.

The journey to get where I am at today was not easy. Many trials and error when it came to the business. It took me many low-paying gigs to really realize how important it is to be organized and understanding your worth as a DJ, and especially as an artist.

I’ve learned over the years that, never lose sight of why you DJ and that love for the art and music. Once you get to the point of dealing with the business, always understand your worth. I also try to think about not just respecting myself, but respecting the culture and the DJs before us that have created this pathway for us to be able to enjoy this beautiful art and to make a living off of it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend would visit my city in Long Beach, I would take them to all the iconic spots and there’s a ton! I would first take them on a food tour going to all the local spots like Sophie’s, which is a Cambodian restaurant that have the bombest boat noodles! I would also take them for some bomb cheesy tacos at El Sauz Mexican Restaurant, which is one of the hometown favorites by locals and we would eat outside since they have an outdoor area where they serve outside and indoor as well, and they are open until 3am!

Then, we would go to Cherry Beach where you can enjoy the sunset and beautiful scenery (the water is super dirty lol). Next, I would take them to the Eastside and pass by VIP Records and MLK park where some of my favorite rappers growing up are from, and also my old high school at Polytechnic High School!

The perfect spot to end at would be Signal Hill, which overlooks the whole city 360 degrees and if the skies are clear (no pollution!) then you can see Downtown Los Angeles from the hill.

That right there is a classic Long Beach hood tour that I usually give to my close friends and family!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout all my mentors Eric Tandoc and Romeo Hebron who literally took me off the streets as a youth who was lost and showed me a better way and helped to develop the person I am today from understanding my culture and heritage to the importance of being a part of the solution, and creating positive changes in my community. Also, I want to shoutout my friends who are no longer here due to gang violence and homies who are incarcerated.

I also want to shoutout the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition, which I am the Director of. BSS coalition cultivates the leadership of boys and young men of color to lead campaigns, address conditions of criminalization, and influence public policy that invests in young people and their future in LA county.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jedimindcuts/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdZy4iPylTc&t=2517s

Image Credits
Eugene
Coesk
Romeo Hebron