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Meet D-J Renegade
by D-J Erwin
James Garrett
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D-J Renegade, who some people know as James Garrett, comes from Gaffney South Carolina. He is an eighteen-year-old freshman who describes himself as creative and multi-talented. He chose Mars Hill because his father wanted him to go here because of the dry county status. Personally he says he really wanted to go to college, and Mars Hill was the only college that he viewed.
His family, he says, "are not as into hip-hop, partly because of the age gap, more so the Temptations, Marvin Gay etc." On the other hand his friends, he says, encourage him to listen to hip-hop, and they all influence each other. "When we listen to the radio and a good song plays, we liven up by reciting lyrics or dancing."
D-J Renegade's hip-hop style of clothing consists of: Timberlands, Nike, FUBU, Hillfiger, and any other type urban clothing. He says Mars Hill, by allowing the D-J Nights, has given him the opportunity to express himself over the mic - an opportunity that he would not otherwise have - "an opportunity to express my artistic ability."
If D-J Renegade were able to change one thing about hip-hop, he says it would be "that there are no limits on the form of expression that an artist is displaying, and that his lifestyle shouldn't affect what people think of an artist's lyrics." On the negative side of the track D-J Renegade says that "I tired of bling bling, 20 inch rims, mansions, jewelry because it all leads to going bankrupt."
At this particular point in time D-J Renegade has no favorite artist. "I feel that different artists are for different days. For example, if I want to get pumped up, it's Little John and The EastSide Boyz. If I want to bob my head, it's 50 Cent, and If I want to groove, it's Cash Money. New artists emerge constantly that possess the ability to convey various messages that carry different meanings that affect me differently."
What does hip-hop have to offer? "Hip-hop has everything to offer: employment, a better lifestyle, and it gives you an opportunity to venture into other aspects of the entertainment business. More importantly than that, it touches the youth by presenting a role model. If hip-hop never existed, I would be the same person. Hip-hop helps me to deal with problems, relieve stress. A wide variety of things contribute to hip-hop and hip-hop would still be here, just not recognized as such."
So in closing D-J Renegade has this to say, "Come visit, call in, give shout outs. We just want the student body to get involved. If the involvement is there, we will have a better show."
(Editor's note: In this article "D-J Renegade" refers to James Garrett only, not to any recorded rapper who may have a copyright on that name.)
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