Tracking Trap’s DJ Journey
WORDS BY Kayla Curtis-Evans Photos by Anthony Hilliard
Trap is an Atlanta-based DJ, known for his vigorous mixes that blend hip-hop, trap and electronic references. His events are not only performances, but also community gatherings that contribute to the local culture and unite individuals over a love for music, art and creativity. He began his career by uploading tracks on Soundcloud, but now his practice has evolved into more live content — live mixes, concerts, parties and more.
Trap set the tone for his future series when he produced his first party, Atelier, at Sound Table in 2018. Since then, he’s coined his own series, Champagne Sundays, and has honed in on his sonic forms of expression as well. He notes that he’s come a long way since his early party days, but that learning the business side of his operation is a constant pursuit. “I guess, most important of all, is just enjoying the moment,” he adds. Continue through the digital experience to learn more about Trap’s journey and how he rose to the occasion to bring forth the best version of his music and parties.
Process
FIRST STEP STORIES
[BACK TO TOP]
[spike lee]
profile 02
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[spike lee]
[QUESTION]
How did your love for music evolve into a party series, and what audience did you want to attract to your events? Has that changed at all?
“I feel as though the audience back then is still the same today. I don't feel like I've aged out of that. My initial audience was people who were into music, maybe not the top 40 hits, but they enjoyed music. I don't really like to box myself in, and I don't want other people to box me in.”
[past]
[present]
“I remember being a kid and burning CDs and selling them at school for honey buns. Music was always involved in my life, and it was a way for me to connect with people. So from there, I just stuck with it. I don't know if I even believed in myself always, but I kept at it and now I’ve created a community from it.”
What were some of the early decisions you made to get the ball rolling?
“I started to get to the point where people were reaching out to me to book me. I wasn't making a lot of money or anything like that, but I was having fun. I had to make that first decision to just put myself out there."
“I think I needed to trust that internal validation that was telling me I could go far. That was a decision I had to make. And then the universe comes together to make things happen for you.”
Pitfalls
[QUESTION]
[past]
[present]
What challenges did you face along the way?
“In the beginning, I quickly realized that being creative can feel like a lonely path sometimes, because there are other people who do what you do, but they don't necessarily do it how you do it. DJing is very unpredictable. Everything could be going well, but if you're the type of DJ who relies on just being booked by other people, you're at their mercy.”
“I'm still feeling the effects of the pandemic today, because a lot of the things that I used to do back then just never came back for me. But facing struggles creates innovation. And fortunately for me, I have a lot of people who believe in what I do around me.”
“I face challenges by just really believing that what I'm doing is going to pay off and recognizing my small wins. In the moment, you don't always realize that it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.”
[2025]
[2016]
[QUESTION]
[past]
[present]
What tools were instrumental during your creative journey? What new tools have you discovered along the way?
“I would always AUX in college, and one day, my friend told me I should download 'Virtual DJ.' He said he thought I'd be a decent DJ. It changed everything for me.”
“Outside of Virtual DJ and, later on, Serato, the most important tool for me was SoundCloud. I started DJing in an era before Instagram even had videos. People weren't doing recorded sets on YouTube or TikTok. So if you really wanted to be heard, you had to put things out on the internet. Things did come full circle a couple of years ago with SoundCloud, so when they reached out to me, it was a great feeling.”
TOOLS
[QUESTION]
[past]
[present]
What did this experience cost you — both financially and mentally — when you were first starting out? What costs do you face now?
“When I first started, I didn't feel as though I had to worry about balance as much. I was balancing schoolwork and everything else I had going on, and the biggest cost was trying to make it into class or work the next day!”
“The cost now is a little bit different than back then because one thing that I didn't realize: how mentally taxing the business side of things can be. The calls, following up with people, and things like that. I throw events, but most of my work in between the events is more organizational. When you get deeper into what you love, you may not have as much time to actually invest in the things you care about.”
costs
[QUESTION]
[past]
[present]
Who helped you along the way?
Did you ask for help or find enthusiastic volunteers?
“I could be a hard-headed person, and part of that deal is not asking for help when you need it. But I've been fortunate in my life to attract a group of people, Player 99, and a lot of really great close friends who are going through the same experiences as me.”
“My team keeps me grounded and I root for them just like how I root for myself.”
people
Trap was never afraid to pave his own lane.
“I always had an interest in music, but I didn't really think that it would be something realistic for me growing up. I didn't personally know anybody who did it or anybody [who] was good at it. But I kept pushing,”
Takeaways
For Trap, community is everything.
“I feel very strongly about that regarding Champagne Sundays because it feels right. I want to continue to be a place of connection for others.” How could I be lonely if I have my team with me?”
[2025]
[2017]
[2019]
[2025]
Takeaways
[QUESTION]
[past]
[present]
FIRST STEP STORIES
[BACK TO TOP]
First step stories
— Presented by Timberland
[spike lee]
[trap]
[Mike Ruiz Serra]
[Romeo Okwara]
[spike lee]
[trap]
[Mike Ruiz Serra]
[Romeo Okwara]
First step stories
— Presented by Timberland
[ROMEO OKWARA]
[MIKE RUIZ SERRA]
[TRAP]
[SPIKE LEE]