Behind the Turntables with DJ Qeys: A Journey Through Music, Marvel, and Middle-Child Mojo
Welcome back to another captivating installment of Happy Hour Holidaze! In this very special Season 2, Episode 27, your favorite co-hosts Manny Febre and Sean Febre welcome the dynamic DJ Qeys—a versatile turntablist, music producer, skateboard enthusiast, Marvel geek, and proud middle child. In this jam-packed episode, they peel back the layers on everything from classic hip hop and DJ culture to family influences, the Tampa music scene, social media pressures, and comedic tangents about sports, Marvel movies, and more.
Below is a deep dive into the conversation, the anecdotes, and the unforgettable insights that DJ Qeys shared with the Happy Hour Holidaze audience. Grab your favorite drink (or that St. Patrick’s Day beer, if you’re feeling festive), and let’s uncover the story behind the turntables.
Setting the Stage: Enter DJ Qeys
Right from the start, Manny and Sean set a lighthearted mood, teasing each other about who is (and isn’t) wearing green for their St. Patrick’s-themed recording. The playful vibe signals what’s to come: a laid-back but insightful interview. In the hot seat this episode: DJ Qeys.
Born Marquise (but shortened to “Qeys” by a college roommate who kept mispronouncing his full name), he has been immersed in music since early childhood. His father, known as DJ Smooth, was trained by none other than “Cool DJ AJ,” who learned his craft alongside pioneering hip hop icon Curtis Blow. Armed with this lineage, Qeys grew up around vinyl, mixing boards, and the budding culture of DJ battles.
Key highlight: He started spinning records at the astonishing age of four or five years old. Talk about early exposure! With that foundation, his progression into competitive DJing felt almost inevitable.
A DJ’s Roots: From Family Influence to Full-Time Work
Throughout the conversation, Qeys credits much of his passion to his dad, DJ Smooth. Watching him work the turntables, absorbing the fundamentals of beatmatching, and learning the basics of scratching in the living room set the stage for the rest of his career. By the time Qeys reached high school, he had already accumulated years of hands-on experience—though, at that point, he still viewed DJing more as fun rather than a viable career.
Growing Up on the East Coast
While he now calls Tampa home, Qeys reveals he was born in New York and spent time in Richmond, Virginia, as well as South Carolina and Atlanta. His mother eventually discovered an art college in Tampa—IADT—and convinced him to attend. He candidly shares how moving away from home allowed him to avoid potential pitfalls like “getting a girl pregnant” or “getting in trouble” too early. Tampa became his proving ground, opening doors to Florida’s lively music and nightlife scene.
The College Jump: From Mixtapes to Turntablism
Although IADT no longer exists, Qeys highlights that it was crucial for meeting like-minded creatives in music production, fashion design, and film. Networking with peers there led him to collaborations that blossomed over the years, including working with rappers like Prince Golden and engineering friends who would shape his sound.
Embracing DMC Battles
A turning point in his DJ journey came with DMC battles. For the uninitiated, the DMC (Disco Mix Club) World DJ Championships are where turntablists show off high-level scratching, body tricks, and beat juggling. Inspired by the documentary Scratch, Qeys went from wanting to spin at parties to prioritizing technical prowess. Suddenly, turntablism—juggling, scratching, complex transitions—became his obsession. He even recalls his head-to-head battles with an opponent known as DJ Slurp, illustrating how lively and niche the Tampa battle scene can be.
Local Impact: Crowbar, Old Dirty Sundays & Ybor City
If you’re from Tampa, you know that Ybor City is a cultural hotspot, especially for nightlife. Crowbar—a local venue—once hosted the iconic “Old Dirty Sundays,” a party that Qeys describes as paradise for DJs craving a knowledgeable, open-minded crowd. True hip hop heads, B-boys, and turntable junkies congregated to celebrate the art form. Booking legends like DJ Craze, DJ Red Alert, and even rap luminaries like Mos Def and Talib Kweli made it a hip hop mecca. Whenever Qeys played Old Dirty Sundays, it felt like being embraced by a community that truly “got” his style. Where else could you juggle beats, scratch to your heart’s content, and have a roomful of people cheering every “wicky-wicky” nuance?
Samurai Shotgun
But wait—DJing was just the tip of the iceberg. In college, Qeys teamed up with other creatives to form a band called Samurai Shotgun, an alternative hip hop collective that toured internationally. This blend of rap-rock vibes added another layer to his repertoire. He’s used to playing everything from sweaty, small-capacity bars to large festival stages, bringing a fresh perspective on how the industry can shift from rock to hip hop, or the many shades in between.
Nerd Culture, Skateboarding, and Middle-Child Identity
One of the most unexpected topics Qeys dives into is his Marvel fandom. From pointing out cameo slip-ups (like an Atlanta bus accidentally appearing in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is supposed to be set in New York) to praising Ragnarok, the conversation underscores his deep knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s even got Spider-Man inked on him—a tribute to the webslinger’s significance in his life.
Early on, Qeys found subculture communities like skateboarding that allowed him to stand out. He references big competitions like Tampa Pro and how the culture there intersects with music: “I’d spin sets during skate events.” It offered him a chance to be around people who loved the same raw energy, style, and rebellious streak that turntablism craves.
Toward the latter half, Manny and Sean prod him about “middle-child syndrome.” Qeys admits being the “forgotten child” motivated him to carve his own identity. While older siblings or younger ones might attract more parental attention, he found solace in unique interests that neither sibling shared—Deftones, Nirvana, classic hip hop, and yes, those epic turntable sessions. For anyone who feels like they aren’t seen enough, this segment is both hilarious and oddly reassuring.
The Sports Tangent: Football, Baker Mayfield, and Vintage Madden
In typical Happy Hour Holidaze fashion, the episode meanders into NFL talk, showcasing Manny and Sean’s passion for stats. They look at Baker Mayfield’s performance, the Giants’ Super Bowl triumphs, and even references to older Madden tournaments. Meanwhile, Qeys chimes in about not being a major gambler and how he focuses more on 2K (basketball gaming) than on competitive Call of Duty. Yet the sidebars never stray too long before the conversation loops back to the heart of DJ culture.
Fun note: Manny reveals a period he was knee-deep in MLG (Major League Gaming) for Call of Duty, while Qeys nods to his own gaming history. The merging of sports fandom, hip hop, and gaming perfectly mirrors the multi-dimensional energy of Happy Hour Holidaze.
Music, Motivation, and Authenticity
As the episode draws to a close, Sean and Manny always like to offer a “final words” segment, letting guests share a piece of wisdom. For Qeys, that wisdom revolves around originality and staying true to oneself. He observes that too many people get sucked into imitation, especially with social media rewarding trends. His advice is refreshingly simple:
“Be inspired by others, but make what you’re inspired by your own.”
That encapsulates the DJ’s ethos—why sound like every other DJ when you can harness your influences, from Nineties hip hop to alternative rock, and blend them into something distinctly “you”?
Social Media vs. Real Vibes
Anyone who’s scrolled Instagram sees how easy it is to chase clout by copying successful formulas. But Qeys’ entire upbringing—watching a father carefully hone a craft, competing in DMC battles that value one-of-a-kind skill—reflects a deeper principle: the best DJs have a signature you can’t fake. He carried that authenticity to Ybor City’s Crowbar and Old Dirty Sundays, to global tours, and beyond.Why This Episode Hits All the Right Notes
- Nostalgia and History: Listeners get an inside look at Tampa’s music scene, from the days of wild Gasparilla parties to revered local spots like The Bricks and Crowbar.
- DJ Culture Education: For aspiring turntablists, the details on DMC battles, influences like the documentary Scratch, and bridging party-rocking with technical craft is a gold mine.
- Personal Stories: Learning about Qeys’ father, DJ Smooth, and the comedic behind-the-scenes escapades (like hooking up behind the DJ booth mid-set) humanize the craft in a relatable, entertaining way.
- Wider Pop Culture Tie-Ins: Marvel references, skateboarding, middle-child psyche, and sports talk are sprinkled throughout, proving that a DJ’s life is more than just beats and vinyl.
- Authenticity Reminder: Qeys underscores the importance of not blindly following social media trends. You can love T-Pain, rock, Deftones, and still carve out your unique lane in a crowded field.
Memorable Quotes
- On Early Influences: “My dad was DJ Smooth; he learned from Curtis Blow’s DJ. Then I learned from him when I was four or five years old.”
- On Turntablism: “I saw the documentary Scratch, and it changed everything for me. I went from wanting to DJ for a group to wanting to scratch all day.”
- On Ybor City: “The scene at Crowbar and Old Dirty Sundays is just a different vibe; they appreciate the real technical side of DJing.”
- On Being a Middle Child: “I was the forgotten child, so I had to forge my own identity. That’s how I ended up as the black sheep who loved skateboarding, Marvel, and turntablism.”
- On Originality: “Be inspired by others, but make what you’re inspired by your own.”
How to Connect with DJ Qeys
Want to keep up with all things Qeys? Follow him at @DJQeys on Instagram. That’s “Q-E-Y-S,” reflecting his nickname from college. Check out his live performances in the Tampa area (and beyond), whether he’s scratching at a brunch set, hosting an evening show, or joining forces with local musicians.
Final Toast: Raise Your Glass to the Journey
In typical Happy Hour Holidaze spirit, Manny, Sean, and DJ Qeys keep the hour lively—spanning an incredible range of topics that demonstrate how the best creativity often emerges from cross-pollinating interests. Hip hop meets Marvel, meets skateboarding, meets entrepreneurial hustle. If there’s one takeaway from this episode, it’s that passion thrives where individuality and community overlap.
Whether you’re an aspiring DJ, a devout Marvel maniac, a middle child seeking your lane, or simply a fan of good conversation, Episode 27 offers something for everyone. As always, Happy Hour Holidaze masterfully balances humor, deep-dive questions, and the kind of camaraderie that makes you feel part of the family.
Thank you for tuning into Season 2, Episode 27 of Happy Hour Holidaze. Be sure to follow the show across social platforms to catch all new episodes. When it comes to forging your path—whether spinning records at 2 a.m. or brainstorming your next big idea—just remember: be original, be fearless, and never be afraid to let your passion shine through.
Cheers to a fun, memorable, and enlightening sit-down with the incomparable DJ Qeys!
Missed this episode or want to relive the conversation? Check out the full show on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to hit that subscribe button to stay in the loop on Manny Febre and Sean Febre’s latest guests, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes exclusives. Happy listening—and don’t forget to toast to your own creative journey!
