Jonathon Ramirez is only 22 and has already opened for musicians such as Pitbull, Paul Wall, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ice Cube and more.
Also known as DJ Editt, Ramirez has been mixing music and disc jockeying since he was 14.
Born and raised in Bakersfield, Ramirez said that he got started because he “always had a passion for music. I used to break dance, and there would always be DJs at the competitions. I always liked the way they mixed music and I wanted to do that.”
Inspired by other DJs, such as DJ Felli Fel and DJ Smallz, Ramirez now works by himself as well as with his group, The Beat Boyz, at clubs, concerts, weddings, family parties, etc. The Beat Boyz group consists of Ramirez, who is the group’s DJ, and three rappers. Ramirez started The Beat Boyz with another DJ, but when they got into a conflict and went their own ways, Ramirez turned the group into a rap group, giving him the opportunity to mix all of their music.
“Most of our shows are at clubs. When promoters put together shows, they pick me and I put my group on the show. I know a lot of promoters so [therefore], they choose me. I’ve done six shows at The Nile and a show for Play 103.9 when they were around. The more people you know, the better,” Ramirez said.
During the day, Ramirez works at Mission Linen Supply as a sales and delivery person, but his ultimate goal is to have his own studio one day. “I want to be a big, famous DJ doing mixed tape CDs for famous rappers. The only reason I’m not there right now is because I have an 18-month-old son and family always comes first.”
Ramirez said he enjoys playing with mainstream artists such as E40, Mr. Criminal and Kurupt because it gives his group a good name. “It makes our group look that much better. We can get the crowd to go crazy just saying the artist’s name that we’re opening up for. It’s almost scary sometimes, though, because when I’m at a big show like Pitbull, which was sold out, I’m performing for 900 people. Being on stage and having 900 faces look back at me is pretty intense.”
Ramirez said that the economy has affected his business. “People don’t want to pay as much for a DJ. Some people won’t even hire me anymore, they just call for the CDs I make because it’s cheaper.”
Despite the downturn in his business, Flawless, a rapper and DJ on the radio gave Ramirez about 40 songs that Flawless has recorded over the past year for Ramirez to mix. The songs feature artists such as Lloyd and Young Jeezy, and Ramirez is confident once the songs are heard, “there will not be a problem with trying to get the songs played on the radio.”
Ramirez has created 30 different mix tape CDs of all different types of genres including, rock, Spanish, country, rap and hip-hop. “That’s why I call myself Editt, because everyday I tear tracks. I’m always cutting and mixing music for hours during the day.”
Down the road Ramirez would like DJing and mixing music to be his only career.
“I like the publicity and the notoriety of DJing. I enjoy entertaining crowds and playing music, I like hearing, ‘You did a good job. Can I get your card?’ I like partying and I like to have fun. Playing music is like a high to me.”