Stupid (TICTOC Inspired)
In 2022 I Accidentally Played A 6ix9ine Song At Jamaica RIU Beach (The House DJ Came Running)
The world of a music producer is often defined by control. In the studio, behind the monitors of Feele Records, I have every second to perfect a snare hit or vet a vocal line. But the world of a DJ is the opposite—it is a live, breathing organism where one wrong move can shatter the "perception of sound" you’ve worked so hard to build. My recent trip to the RIU Resort in Jamaica was supposed to be a vacation, but it turned into the most high-stakes learning experience of my career.
The Preparation (Or Lack Thereof)
I’ve been practicing DJ performance for about a year now. For those who haven’t stepped behind the decks, I’ll admit it: it is a difficult act and often terrifying. It’s a mental marathon of simultaneously switching tracks, perfecting the transition, and maintaining the internal rhythm of a set.
As I always tell my students and collaborators, if I lose the rhythm, the transition won't really matter. If I mess up the transition, the next rhythmic piece will get lost in the noise. It won't deliver the punch and the "feel" that defines a professional DJ set. Knowing and practicing these mechanics is crucial.
However, when I packed my bags for Jamaica, I wasn't thinking about professional sets. I didn't prepare an "exciting" music set because I had no idea I was about to go live. I brought my Numark DJ2GO2—a compact, reliable mini turntable—mostly for personal practice. I imagined playing on my balcony, maybe catching a vibe with a few people down by the pool. I had no major plans to "DJ big." I just wanted to enjoy my time and make friendly encounters.
The Stage at RIU
Fate, however, had other plans. Through a series of those "friendly encounters," I found myself invited onto the main party stage at the RIU resort. Suddenly, I wasn't on my balcony; I was standing in the booth right next to the resident DJ, Shavi Rich.
The energy in Jamaica is unlike anywhere else. The crowd is vibrant, the sun is high, and the expectation for good music is intense. But there’s a cultural nuance to Jamaica that you have to respect—much of the local crowd is deeply religious and has a low tolerance for excessive vulgarity in a public, family-oriented resort setting.
I was holding my own, feeling the flow of the R&B and Rap tracks I had curated. But a shadow was lurking in my library: 6ix9ine.
The "GOOBA" Incident
I’ll be honest—while I keep up with industry trends, I wasn’t intimately familiar with the full narrative of 6ix9ine’s discography at the time. I knew he was a "character," but I hadn't realized the sheer depth of the dark, aggressive, and misogynistic lingo woven into his tracks.
I had a specific song in mind: "TIC TOC." It has a rhythm that I thought would bridge the gap between North American Rap and the island’s bounce. It’s a "cool" track that usually passes the vibe check.
Shavi Rich, a seasoned pro who knows his crowd, had already leaned over a couple of times to give me a few warnings about swear words. The party was going well, the people were moving, and the "perception of sound" was exactly where I wanted it. Then, the nightmare happened.
Instead of selecting "TIC TOC," my finger slipped. I accidentally queued and dropped "GOOBA."
The Horror and the Recovery
The intro hit, and before I could even process the mistake, 6ix9ine’s aggressive, high-decibel charade of swear words began pouring out of the massive resort speakers. It wasn't just a song; it felt like a tactical error. The dark energy of the track immediately clashed with the Caribbean sun.
I saw it happen in real-time: DJ Shavi Rich came running down in literal horror. He knew exactly what those lyrics were doing to the room. I felt everyone’s hair and eyebrows go up. The "punch" of the set had turned into a punch to the gut. I scrambled, my heart hammering against my ribs, looking for a "save" track. It felt like an eternity, but I managed to find a clean transition and switched the song up, killing the 6ix9ine track before the first verse could do any more damage.
The "Beyond Music Producer" Lesson
That moment was a massive wake-up call. At Feele Records, my motto is "Connecting with audiences through the experience and perception of sound." That day, the perception was one of disrespect and lack of preparation.
I learned that as a DJ, you are a cultural ambassador. If you are a guest in a place like Jamaica, you have a responsibility to know every single word of the tracks you bring into their space. "GOOBA" wasn't just a "wrong song"; it was a "wrong message."
Boy, was this a learning experience! It taught me that:
- Technical skill (the transition) is secondary to content (the lyrics).
- "Understanding the assignment" means researching the artist as much as the BPM.
- Recovery is a skill in itself. Being able to scramble and fix the vibe before the crowd turns is what separates a beginner from a professional.
I left Jamaica with a tan. I made a few new friends. I also gained much deeper respect for the power of the "Play" button. After salvaging my name carefully i eneded up playing on of partygoers favorite songs upon swift request play skills. Next time, the DJ2GO2 stays on the balcony until I’ve vetted every single lyric in the folder.
Me Salvaging The GOOBA Situation