Today we had an exclusive chance to interview DJ Flip:
What is your legal name and age?
My name is Eddie Neam, I am a full time entrepreneur 32 years old.
Where are you from?
I was born in Rockville, Maryland. Raised in Cape Coral,FL. Threw out my music career I lived in Atlanta, DC, Maryland, VA (DMV).
What is your stage name and how did you come up with it?
My stage name is Dj Flip I got it from a younger age when I was doing mixtapes in school and someone called me Flip because I’m half Filipino, so I took that name and ran with it.
Have you heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time?
Yes the last few years of my life I lost family such as my mom during the pandemic. It was very hard for me because she was the only thing left in this world that I had left. I have no brothers or sisters not as far as my dad he was my mentor and I lost him a few years back as well as losing my Music manger Spitz. My old friends turned into enemies during my process and went threw a few bad heartbreaks. I used all that energy to create music and to getting into genres I would never thought I could be in. My depression and stress tried to take me down, but I believed in myself that I would take it to the next level and now I’m here. I thank god everyday that I’m breathing to see what’s next in path.
Where are you now?
Since the times I was working in the field in LA in the music industry, going on performances and tours with independent artist. The pandemic made it harder for creatives to live. Money was getting tighter and the opportunity’s where very slim. I ended up moving back to the east coast to reset and rebrand. I’m currently in the Virginia Beach area. I’m always traveling to DC Maryland,VA (DMV) and Richmond for music projects and DJ bookings. I could never stay still. Sometimes I’ll be in a city for 3 months because of important projects that need to be done in person then remotely.
What tools do you find indispensable?
The biggest tools in my production is my team. From what I’ve learned working around Def Jam Recordings with their promotions team. They told me “dream work makes the team work” this mindset shifted me to work with artist and producers, record labels around the world. Whenever I need a project done I’ll jump on a FaceTime, Zoom call and remotely work with them. It’s really not the same being back in a studio where we can all vibe and create but I make the best out of it with the teams.
What’s the coolest, most important show you’ve played to date?
Before the pandemic I was humbled to play at NOVO in downtown LA. I was working with an independent artist at the time I was able to open up for Young Thug, DJ Quick. RJ Mr LA. It was a sold out event and it was crazy to be I front of that many people.
How did it feel when you were losing friends and family threw your career process?
It was tough. Being on the road for 5 years being in different places all the time. A lot of people never understood me or my vision and what I’ve been creating. I was always behind the scenes as a ghost producer and A&R. My friends would talk negative about me thinking I was just taking picture with celebrity’s when I was really working behind the scenes.
Losing my parents was everything to me. I am 32 with no family and if you ever put yourself in my shoes how would you feel when you lost everything and what would you do about it? I took those challenges in life and created with it because I don’t want anyone feeling like the world is over, especially with anyone that is on the same path you got to keep pushing and know that you are on earth for a bigger purpose. You will never go threw any struggles that you can’t handle.
What are your thoughts about your last friends and relationships to see where your at now?
I would honestly say I keep the past in the past. They made me who I am now and all I ever wanted was peace with my past. All the story’s that others spoke about me I pay no attention to. I know they have been watching my process of who I am becoming and I just wanted to say I prayed for the best for them. I’m not the same person who I was 5 years ago and I just want them to know that I’ve changed for the better and my new music that is on the way is going to make them feel that energy.
Who would you say inspired you the most, as an artist?
The most common person that inspired me the most is Ye. I was honored to do a couple of projects for him with one of the labels he’s signed to. I was never a fan of Kanye after 808’s and heartbreaks but when you go threw what he’s been threw in life you could honestly relate to his music and that’s what made me understand Kanye a lot more.. I’m really excited for DONDA to come out whenever he’s ready to drop it. I’m also looking forward to working with him again.
Hulda Hicks was born in Brooklyn, NY in the late ’70s, at the time when Hip-Hop music was just emerging as an art form. Her entire life was influenced by the culture, having grown up in the epicenter of the creative movement.
As a trained musician and vocalist, Hulda got exposed to the industry in her twenties and has worked on projects with iconic figures such as the Chiffons, the Last Poets, and Montell Jordan, to name a few. Her passion for music extended past the stage on to the page when she began to write ad copy and articles as a freelancer for several underground publications.
A written review from “Jubilee Huldafire” is as authentic as it gets, hailing from one creative mind that has a unique voice, on paper and in person.
