# Talent Tuesday’s – DJ Mars

- Link: https://exclusiveaccess.net/talent-tuesdays-dj-mars/
- Published: 2011-07-26T11:49:46-04:00
- Author: EAN

Acclaimed sound spinner [DJ Mars](http://counterkicks.com/tag/dj-mars/) recently
teamed with [New Balance](http://counterkicks.com/tag/new-balance/) to launch the
brand’s 574-centric [“Where Are You Running To Next?”](http://counterkicks.com/2011/07/20/new-balance-dj-mars-launch-where-are-you-running-to-next-microsite/)
campaign. The project gathers artists and allows them to tell their stories through
the filter of the 574 and the NB stable. DJM held a Q&A with New Balance to discuss
his role in the campaign, his first NB’s, what NB means to hip hop culture, and
more.

_n his video’s opening statement, DJ Mars sums it all up: “I’m not an athlete, but
I feel like I’ve been running my entire life.” That idea kicked off the “[Where Are You Running To?](http://www.newbalance.com/lifestyle/where-are-you-running-to-next/)”
collaboration between Mars and New Balance, a collection of testimony and short 
films documenting how NB plays an important part in the lives of not just athletes,
but all those who are constantly running._

** NewBalance.com: What does “Where Are You Running To?” mean to you? What were 
some of your goals for this series as a whole?**

_DJ Mars: “Where are you running to?” is a phrase that describes my lifestyle. The
term isn’t specific to me, it could be applied to anyone who has a busy schedule.
For example, the single mother who has to take her children to school and then rush
to work. The businessman who travels overseas for a company meeting. Or in my case,
the DJ who lives in hotels more often than his own house. All of these people come
from different walks of life, but share one common thing – they’re all extremely
busy!_

The goal was to offer the brand and its consumers a new way of looking at each other.
Often thought of as just a running brand, New Balance has a place in all of our 
lives.

**NewBalance.com: What was your first pair of NBs? What about your most memorable
pair?**

_DJ Mars: My first pair of New Balances were probably a pair of 576s. I don’t remember
the model number but I do remember the color was navy and grey._

_My uncle bought them for me in 1985. I remember him buying them in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
They were the most expensive shoes that I owned at the time._

_ As far as my most memorable pair, ironically, I would have to say my black 710s.
There’s a back story to that shoe for me. Back in high school, my friends and I 
all worked at McDonald’s, and we used to save our money to go shopping in New York.
Well, one Christmas we all went to NY and we found them at a store in Flatbush, 
Brooklyn. Sometime after that, a rapper named Kool G. Rap had on a pair on either
his album or video, and we were super excited that we had the shoes before he did.
Back then, most kids got their sense of style from the rappers. We were ahead of
the curve._

**NewBalance.com: What does New Balance as a brand mean to you, and what do you 
think it means to Hip Hop culture as a whole?**

_ DJ Mars: In the late 80’s and early 90’s New Balance was one of the shoes of choice
in the Hip Hop community. Especially when the rappers were dressing preppy. That
was the shoe that set them apart from the Run DMC era._

_ To me New Balance means classic, iconic, simple style. Nothing too over the top
or corny. They are who they are, and that’s it. Either you like it or you don’t,
and that’s kind of how Hip Hop is. Both of them have an “I’m here to stay” vibe 
to them._

**Original ‘Where Are You Running To’ Concept Video**

**NewBalance.com: What young artists do you see as the future of Hip Hop?**

_ DJ Mars: As far as the future of Hip Hop, there are a lot of very exciting groups
out there. Some of my favorite new ones are Jay Electronica, Killa Mike, Foreign
Exchange, The Hall of Justice Crew, Pac Div, and The New Boyz. Those are some of
my favorite new MC’s. On any given day you could find me listening to them._

_ NewBalance.com: How do you handle an unresponsive or negative crowd? Was there
ever a time when you temporarily lost an audience, and then switched things up and
won them back?_

_ DJ Mars: Sometimes crowds can be very unpredictable. You can walk into a room 
and have no idea as to what the crowd is into that particular night. There have 
been times where I decided to go left and the crowd was like, “na brother you better
stay right!” Good DJs are ones who can bounce back from that moment. It happens 
to every single one of us. If a DJ says otherwise, either he doesn’t play out too
often or he’s lying._

** NewBalance.com: Has Max the dog ever chewed up a pair of your NBs?**

_ DJ Mars: Thank God I had Max go through obedience training before I brought him
home. With that being said, he has not sunk his teeth into a pair of New Balance’s.
That’s a funny thing, because most dogs tear their owners’ shoes up. Max on the 
other hand opts for his beef bone._

**NewBalance.com: What are your other passions outside of DJing? If for some reason
you had to give up DJing, what else would you be doing?**

_DJ Mars: Outside of DJing, I would definitely say I have a passion for brand development
and marketing. In college I always felt as though marketing should have been my 
major. DJs far and wide are responsible for finding the new cool. Be it records,
fashion, club venues, products, or artists, we are a part of the cycle that makes
things hot._

_ I want to approach marketing and brand development the same way I would a new 
record. By that, I mean find a product that has potential and magnify it for my 
world to see._

**NewBalance.com: You’ve done a lot in your career – toured with Outkast and Usher,
founded the World Famous Super Friends, and became a star in the DJ scene. What 
are some goals you’re still running to?**

_DJ Mars: I’ve done a lot, but I would definitely say there are a few more things
I’d like to scratch off my list. I’m just starting to get into production, I believe
that’s the next step for me. I want to tour the world on accord, meaning go because
DJ Mars is being booked – not the artist that I work for. And most importantly,
have my company be viewed as a resource to reach untapped markets. I appreciate 
New Balance for having that initial faith in me._

_DJ Mars is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, a founder of the World Famous
Super Friends, and was a contender on last year’s Smirnoff: Master of the Mix. Be
sure to check back here for more on the “Where Are You Running To?” project, and
for new videos every week. For more information on DJ Mars, visit his blog at [historyofmixtapes.com](http://www.historyofmixtapes.com/)._

_11 things you might not know about DJ MARS:_

As the president and founding member of the World Famous Superfriends crew, DJ Mars
single handedly changed the DJ scene in Atlanta. Upon his arrival to the ATL in 
August of 1991, DJ Mars has had one wish and that was to be a household name in 
the national DJ scene. While attending Clark Atlanta University DJ Mars started 
his career DJ’ing in the cafeteria during dinner. From that point on DJ Mars’ career
sky rocketed. He went from being Outkast’s original DJ to touring with Usher on 
his first album. Having toured with everyone from Ciara, Usher, Monica, Kelis, Ne-
Yo and Keri Hilson, DJ Mars is no stranger to rocking in front of crowds. As you
can see the president is busy doing what he does best, and thats keeping the floors
packed and keeping the people dancing. But one thing this man wasn’t too busy to
do was let us in on a few things we don’t know about him.
 **11 things you don’t
know about DJ Mars:**

1. Shanti Das (former Laface records exec) told DJ Mars to start to use his voice
while DJ’ing. He considers that his number one asset as a DJ.

2. His first constant DJ gig in Atlanta was for $75, split between 3 people (they
were rich!).

3. The first record he ever bought was Planet Rock by the Soulsonic Force (he bought
his first pair of turntables in 1988).

4.  He’s originally from Springfield, Massachussetts (he claims he went to high
school with Bart Simpson…we need proof).

5.  While touring with Kelis he realized that dance music was the number one sound
on the planet.

6.   In high school, out of the DJ’s in his crew, he was the worst one (but I 
bet he’s the most successful now!).

7.  He learned how to DJ from watching the older guys from his projects (Dj Milez
Z Milez and Dj Sky G).

8.  He was raised in an Islamic household (and has a twin sister).

9. DJ Sol Messiah, from the Zulu Nation, taught him about swag as a DJ. Most specifically,
he said “a DJ should dress as fresh as the artist he works for.”

10. It wasn’t until college that he realized that someone could make a living from
DJ’ing (but his freshman year his mother wouldn’t even let him bring his turntables
to school).

11. In 2011 he started his own branding agency, Marshall Branding Agency (New Balance
is his first client).