If the phrase �Tragedy to Triumph� had a spokesperson, it would be DJ Quicksilva. After being shot, paralyzed, and losing his parents by the time he was 18, this music and media veteran has built a career as an award-winning celebrity DJ, on-air personality, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Whether touring the world as a DJ, hosting a syndicated radio show with Dominique Da Diva, teaching aspiring DJs, running a nightclub, or speaking to audiences about resilience, DJ Quicksilva has developed a reputation as one of the most recognizable figures in the business.
DARF caught up with the Baltimore native to discuss his journey, career milestones, the hustle behind his success, and the moment a classic hip-hop film helped shape his future.
Hassahn: We’ll get right into it. You definitely have a real �tragedy to triumph� story. I already knew about you, but doing the research really showed how incredible your journey is.
DJ Quicksilva: I appreciate that. It’s been a long journey, but every experience helped shape who I am today.
Hassahn: Before we get into everything, what�s your favorite scene from Beat Street?
DJ Quicksilva: I see you�ve been doing your research. My favorite scene is when the DJ is on the upper level and plugs the equipment into the electricity he stole. Then he says, �It�s working� it�s working.�
Hassahn: Yes! Love that scene.
DJ Quicksilva: Then he starts DJing and everybody starts dancing. That moment made me fall in love with being a DJ. I was ten years old when I saw that movie. From ten until now, DJing has literally been my life�and it saved my life.
Hassahn: I read that you got your first turntables at ten. Were you self-taught or did someone show you the ropes?
DJ Quicksilva: I was self-taught. I got turntables for Christmas. There were a couple older DJs in the neighborhood I watched, but mostly I practiced in my basement every single day. When I say every day, I mean Monday through Monday. I�d come home from school and spend hours down there. That practice paid off.
Hassahn: What was the hardest thing to learn early on�blending records?
DJ Quicksilva: Absolutely. Blending is tough. DJing isn�t easy. Learning smooth transitions, scratching on beat, counting bars�it all came from trial and error. I�d record mixtapes, listen back, and redo them until I liked what I heard.
Hassahn: You mentioned your DJ school. That�s a powerful way to give back. When beginners start, do you teach them on vinyl first or modern equipment?
DJ Quicksilva: Most of our classes use controllers�similar to CDJs with a mixer. Turntables are still my heart, but most clubs don�t use them anymore. What we teach are fundamentals. No sync button. We teach counting bars, starting on the one, blending for eight bars, using headphones. We teach real DJing.
Hassahn: Let�s talk about something more personal. You were shot at 13 and paralyzed for nine months. What was going through your mind during that time?
DJ Quicksilva: I started DJing at ten, but I also played football. My dream was to be a football star. I was good at it. I even framed my jersey from a championship run. When I got shot, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I was on bed rest for nine months. The hardest part wasn�t just being shot�it was hearing the doctor say I might not walk again. What I heard was that I might never play football again. That dream was over.
But everything happens for a reason. If that hadn�t happened, I might not have pursued DJing the way I did. Now I say I made it to the NFL of DJing by becoming one of the biggest DJs in the world.
Hassahn: Were you a running back or quarterback?
DJ Quicksilva: Running back and middle linebacker. I averaged two or three touchdowns a game. I was a beast.
Hassahn: Do you think your early life experiences forced you to mature faster?
DJ Quicksilva: Definitely. By 18 I was living on my own. I bought my first house at 21. I bought my first car at 16. A lot of people reach those milestones later, but I had no choice�I had to grow up fast.