SpAz Magazine interviews DJ Civil Rightz today at the Blue Diner Cafe downtown Tulsa. Interview below.


DJ Civil Rightz wants to make history. That is how we began the DJ Civil Rightz story in our Feburary 2009 DJ issue. Exactly three years later, he has done so in so many ways. His personal style-skinny jeans rising out of exclusive colorful sneakers made by Fila. His style is making Oklahomans realize he is on a mission of originality, uniqueness, and being creative all around as not only a fashion artist with his garments but one of the biggest DJ's in his region. Many may beg to differ but that's his motivation to keep striving for higher success daily.

But this year being 2009 was different for Civil Rightz. Many may have not known the radio situation back in April of 2007 at 106.9 Khits being fired and moving on to 97.1fm The Tulsa Sports Animal for the next two years and being laid-off there recently. It never mattered to him what personal problems and adversity he faced you could always catch him wearing a bright smile for the public.

We also found out he loves to blog now on his off time on the popular website www. freewayenterprise. com and he has so many accolades under his belt that he is very unpredictable when it comes to his next move. He has never been the type to wait on the next person to give him any hand outs and freebies in life and so now he shares with us his struggles, happy times, and what's in the immediate future for this Oklahoma DJ.


For this issue, we're talking to the people who inspire us, who give us something to talk about every issue. You, of course, do that, but also, by pushing the things we love to the masses, you've become almost like an ambassador for us.

DJ Civil Rightz: Yeah, I just think about when Jay-z would be like, "I do this for my culture, I do this for my hood. I'm not from the hood but a lot of kids I work with are and I motivate them 5 days a week to leave that life alone and help better your community instead of shooting it down because at the end of the day we are only hurting our community not the mainstream culture if you get my drift.

So you work in the hood now?
DJ Civil Rightz: Somewhat, I work at a boy's home helping and mentoring kids who may have made a few mistakes in life and are looking for a better outlet now and I am there to assist them on their journey to positvity.

That is why we look up to you as much as we do because you don't find too many successful DJ'S or just people in general helping our youth like you are.
How long have you've been working there?
DJ Civil RIghtz: 7 months now and I enjoy it with much passion.

So how do you juggle your other jobs, like radio, freelancing for ozone magazine, college, I-44 Records, Freeway Enterprise records and The mobile DJ Movement, and mixtapes?
DJ Civil Rightz: Let me tell you its not easy, but I love it so much. Not many young people are taking advantage of all of the many things they can accomplish so when they are ready to retire they can. I made it up in my mind that working for someone isn't going to cut it for me anymore. So I got out there and paved the way to do it myself. So now I am truly blessed with income from many different sources.

So are you going to give up some of the jobs in the future?
DJ Civil Rightz : More than likely. Only because I want to give 110 percent to one huge company. I try to practice balance and do what's most important and get to the rest later. But what's funny is everything that I am doing right now is important so its very challenging.

So recently, you were laid-off at 97.1FM The Tulsa sports animal.
So how did that make you feel after all of your hard work for that station and just like that bye bye?
DJ Civil Rightz: I'll be honest with you, I saw it coming two days in advance and when I got called in I wasn't surprise it was happening. It's kind of funny to me because I actually thought I was being asked to come in for a raise in pay or a promotion for all of my hard work but it just didn't pan out like that (laughing). But you know more doors have open since my releasement there and I wish them all well. But they will see me again as long as they keep cable in their homes they will see me again...(laughing).

So let's get into your mixtapes.
Are you working on any right now for your fanbase?
DJ Civil Rightz: Absolutely, Laylo Junior is a beast on the mic and his mixtape is going to be called, "Can't feel my face", my homie Specialtey and his brother Pat in Kentucky will be on the The future is present vol. 1 mixtape I'm hosting. A rapper in Atlanta by the name of CYCO sent me some tracks for a future mixtape. So as you can see I'm in the lab heavy knocking those out.

So when can we expect them to be released?
DJ Civil Rightz: Early May. Unless the process is pushed up. Everybody is so busy these day's that sure we would love to drop every week on the mixtape circuit but man its not enough time in the day sometimes.

We have been doing our research on you and heard you have an intern at your record label who flew all the way from Paris, France.
how did he find you and how did this take place?
DJ Civil Rightz; Yeah my intern is super cool. I can call him a friend now. He found me on myspace of course. He started messaging me and I told him about my record label in Tulsa and next thing I knew he was flying in from France into Oklahoma to help me out with everything. Its stuff like that makes me strive so hard to everything I can be because a lot fo people are counting on me out here and I beleive in my dream so strongly that its all coming to pass now. I'm still an intern myself.

What do you mean by that?
DJ Civil Rightz: I am willing to do whatever I have to around my companies to make it succeed. You know the intern sometimes has to get the boss coffee well I get my own coffee and get back to work (chuckling).

So tell us how did you create I-44 Records, who are your business partner's, and why did you decide to make a record label out of all things to start up?
DJ Civil Rightz: I created I-44 Records 4 months ago and it has been such a fun ride thus far and I have some very talented artist who are always in the studio in their city getting the right material for me to distribute all over to get it to that next level. My team at I-44 Records consist of: Vice-President of A&R Micco the A&R, Promotion and marketing is done by DJ Brian, and we can't leave out Boris the Intern. So a strong three right now. I decided to start an indie label because of the jobs I kept landing in Oklahoma. I have worked in top40, urban radio, djing hip hop events, writing for the ozone magazine which is a huge worldwide magazine for hip hop heads. I mean you put all of those ingredients together for your hip hop stew and it makes you wonder what else can you get into and thats when the record label started up.

So do you feel like having I-44 Records will open the doors for Oklahoma to be put on the map more?
DJ Civil Rightz: Absolutely. I mean come on lets be real everybody has an entertainment company or some kind of record label right? But everybody doesnt have the right connections within the industry. I do. I just don't let it be known to everyone around me because either they wont beleive me because they see me or they will hate or they will want a free hand out and I ran out of those. I have a lot of big things going on but I like to observe other's and see their angle then I make my move.

So do you have a studio where your artist can record?
DJ Civil Rightz: We did, but we are in the process of leasing a building on 61st and Lewis Ave. My business partner Micco is making plans for that to jump off in April for sure. I move to fast in this industry and I need to be able to open the doors to I-44 Records and do what I gotta do and keep it moving. I'm not into chasing after people because that puts my business on hold.

So for right now my artist are recording on their own and sending me tracks for review.

So why do you think your artist are sticking around your label than going to another label?
DJ Civil Rightz: Once again because of the connections. Look at it like this if they go to see I dont know john curtis studio up the street and record their album what just happen? they only recorded an album but what happens when they stay with the person with the connections to get them where they want to be then they get to record the album and guess what? their album gets in the right hands for more exposureor a better deal.

Not to tell all of your connections but how did you hook up with Steve Atkins over at Atlantic records?
DJ Civil Rightz: Before I answer that let me give a big shout out to Ozone Magazine for giving me a chance to write for their mag and fulfill a huge goal in my life. Well Steve saw me in the Ozone Magazine DJ issue and saw my email and reach out to me through that and we talked and I called a few times but that cat is super busy I mean he works for Atlantic records but anyway oneday out the blue he called me and ask me about helping him find talent in oklahoma to send demos to him or any bands I know that are worth signing hit him up and so long story short I have been on that search for 4 months now and still looking but I know they are out there so they need to come out so I can get paid (laughing).

Man, that is awesome.
So I guess I-44 Records is taking off and do you have any other news about the label?
DJ Civil Rightz: Yes. Micco and myself were in last months being January issue in the Tulsa Urban Weekly advertising our ads, we will be on the radio in two weeks from buying spots at Z104.5 the edge, and next will be CW12 tv time.

Is Z104.5 The Edge a hip hop station or Rock?
DJ Civil Rightz: Its an Alternative/rock station.

So you are are looking more for rock bands than Hip Hop artist?
DJ Civil Rightz: I'm actually looking for both, but my personal preference is rock bands. Check out some of them on my myspace page.
They Rock!
How's your DJ company doing?
DJ Civil Rightz: Very well. My wife is assisting me with my paperwork now. I have shows coming up. check my myspace calender on my page and you'll see.

How's marriage life with all of this success going on with you?
DJ Civil Rightz: Its great. its not easy all the time but she understands everything I'm doing and what we are accomplishing together to get to that next level out here in the corporate world.

Switching over for a second how did The Real Ricky Ross find you and allowed you to work for him and his company?
DJ Civil Rightz: Man that situation is crazy. I just want to say I thank God, him, mychosia, Lamar, SJ, Adrian, basically the whole camp. I thank them for allowing me to be an official part of the team. It feels great. It all goes back to what I said earlier its not what you know its who you know and a lot of cats dont have real conections, a lot of talent but no connections. But let me just say this. Ricky Ross emails me everyday and when he comes home this year the Game IS ON.

Are you working with any other artist or major people in Oklahoma?
DJ Civil Rightz: yea I work with a lot of different cats but for the most part I work with people for a while to see if they are meaningful in my life or not if not then I move away silently. before they know it they look up like man what happen to DJ CIVIL RIGHTZ. (laughing).

Well we at SPAZ Magazine know you are a very busy man and we wish you much success and we want to let you know we will always be here for you and share some of that money with us sometimes.
Anything else before we go?
DJ Civil Rightz: Yeah I would just like to say thank you to everyone whose ever supported me and my brand, shouts out to all the real cats out there making major moves, my family, freeway enterprise family, my wife, my companies, everybody. O and I cant forget spaz magazine for you guys flying out here to show me some love and conduct this interview with me. Thank you.


2/9/2009 Feb.
Issue of Spaz Magazine

to contact DJ Civil Rightz send him an email; djcivilrightz12@yahoo.com