The Sound of Harlem” DJ Gates Talks DJ Jay Bee, Fleet DJs, the Mixtape Era & the Culture That Shaped Him
DJ Gates Talks DJ Jay Bee, Fleet DJs, the Mixtape Era & Keeping the Culture Alive
From the streets of Harlem to the heart of DJ culture, DJ Gates represents a generation that understood the power of the turntables, the mixtape, and the connection between a DJ and the people. His journey is rooted in an era when DJs were more than music selectors—they were tastemakers, promoters, storytellers, and voices of the culture. In this interview of The Sound Room, DJ Gates takes us back to the days that helped shape him, reflecting on DJ Jay Bee, the Fleet DJs, the legendary mixtape era, and the energy that made Harlem's music scene so influential. He also opens up about his personal journey, the lessons he's learned along the way, and what it means to keep the culture alive for the next generation. This is more than a conversation about music. It's a look inside the sound, the memories, and the culture that helped shape a DJ.
THE HARLEM ROOTS
You’re known as “Harlem Young Gun DJ Gates,” and you come from East Harlem. What did growing up in Harlem teach you about music, culture, and the importance of the DJ?
DJ Gates: Growing up in Harlem taught me that listening to all types of music makes a great DJ. You can't just stay in one box. Listening to different types of music throughout the community helped develop my craft. As for the culture, I lived in West Harlem before moving to East Harlem, so I got to experience something different from what I was used to seeing and hearing.
MUSIC STARTED AT HOME
You’ve said your parents had record collections and that music was always playing in your home. How did that early exposure to artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown influence the DJ you would eventually become?
DJ Gates: It influenced the DJ I would eventually become because people were always happy, singing, and dancing whenever music was playing. Especially when the family got together, it was the music that put everyone in a good mood. The DJ was the person who set the tone.
DJ JAYBEE & THE FIRST SPARK
You’ve credited your neighbor DJ Jaybee of E.Bros with giving you that first real look at what it meant to DJ with two turntables. What was it about watching him that made you say, “This is what I want to do”?
DJ Gates: He always looked like he was having a good time while playing the music. You couldn't tell if he was having a bad day. That stood out to me. He looked like he genuinely enjoyed what he was doing, and that made an impression on me.
“For today's DJs, learn what music to play and have fun while doing it.” — DJ Gates
FROM RECORDS TO THE FORMULA
Your first mixtape was Harlem Fever, but The Formula series became a major part of your identity as a DJ. What did The Formula represent for you at that point in your career, and why do you think people connected with it?
DJ Gates: It was all about putting great music together and being able to share new talent. It gave independent artists who were looking for an outlet an opportunity to be heard.
THE MIXTAPE ERA
There was a time when a DJ's mixtape could introduce an artist, break a record, and give the streets something they couldn't get anywhere else. What do you think today's music industry has lost with the decline of that traditional mixtape culture?
DJ Gates: Today's music industry has lost its originality and variety. It also took away the DJ. Record companies made it hard for DJs to get the music they needed. In a lot of ways, they sabotaged the mixtape DJ.
PRESERVING HARLEM'S SOUND
When you look at Harlem's DJ history—from the legendary DJs who influenced you to the artists who came out of Harlem—what part of that musical legacy do you feel responsible for keeping alive?
DJ Gates: The DJs who influenced me were Jay Bee, Showtime, Double RR, and Gbo the Pro.
The artists who influenced me were Doug E. Fresh, Teddy Riley, Rob Base, and Keith Sweat.
The part of the legacy I feel I keep alive is the fun you have when listening to music. Music should make people feel good, bring people together, and allow them to enjoy the moment.
THE DJ BEHIND THE CROWD
Your flyer describes you as “The Crowd Motivator.” What does that mean to DJ Gates? When you step behind the turntables, what are you looking for from the crowd—and what do you want them to feel when you leave the booth?
DJ Gates: I'm looking to feed off their energy. If they're dancing and laughing, I know I'm doing my job. I also want people to forget whatever they have going on for that moment. When they come out, I want them to have a good time, enjoy themselves, and leave with a positive feeling.
“The DJ was the person who set the tone.” — DJ Gates
FLEET DJs & THE NEXT LEVEL
You've been connected with the Fleet DJs and have continued to represent Harlem through that platform. What has being part of Fleet DJs meant to your career, and what opportunities has that network created for you?
DJ Gates: I made good connections with other DJs and built friendships.
THEN VS. NOW
You've experienced DJ culture when DJs were building their names through records, mixtapes, and radio, and you've also adapted to the digital era. What has changed for the better, and what do you think today's DJs need to understand about the craft that can't be learned from software alone?
DJ Gates: What has changed for the better is that I can carry a laptop full of music instead of carrying ten crates of records. For today's DJs, it's important to learn what music to play and, most importantly, to have fun while doing it.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR DJ GATES?
You've built a career representing Harlem through clubs, mixtapes, radio, and DJ organizations. At this stage of your journey, what is the next chapter for DJ Gates—and what do you still want your name to mean when people talk about Harlem DJs?
DJ Gates: What's next for me is putting out my own mixtape album and working on movies.
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