OpM
Name: F. Christopher King
Age: 37
Genres: House, Disco, Ghettotech, Hip-Hop
Currently playing at: The RockBox, Chicago, IL
Current mix: DJ OpM: Snapped!
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Q: So how did it all begin?
A: In the late ’80′s my cousin got married. I had seen DJs before but never up close. She got married in her living room and he set up right after. Since it was mostly family, I asked if I could try to do what he was doing. He let me have a go and I’ve had the bug ever since.
Q: Where did the name come from?
A: People use to get my name wrong all the time because for some reason when I would say “King” they would say “Kane.” I guess I just had a southern drawl to my speech for some reason even though I was born in Chicago. So my first public DJ name was DJ Kane. I would explain to people that it was short for KoKane because my music bumped at a frenetic pace. Anything over 125 bpm back then was considered fast as hell and I usually played at like 130-135 bpm. I took a hiatus for a few years and decided to get back into it but I found my musical tastes had changed to more vocal/soulful house. It was more like what I had seen concerning the effects of opiates on the human body; smooth mellow high with an easy let down but always leaves you jonesing for more. I was at one point DJ OpIUm but someone else already had that name, so out of respect for that cat, I changed to OpM. It’s still pronounced like opium.
Q: What was the first event you ever played at or put on?A: The first one I ever played at was a teen club event at St. Dorothy’s School. That eventually moved into other school gigs and when I went to college I parlayed it into a radio show.
Q: What’s the best event you’ve played at or put on?
A: The best even I have ever played at was the Soap Bubble at Anime Central in Rosemont, IL. Imagine a room full of ravers and DMX lights (at least 1500 people) all jumping up and down to your sound and screaming when you play that club hit they all love. That was AMAZING!!! I am looking for that experience again.
Q: What’s you favorite tune of all time?
A: L’il Louis – “Why’d U Fall”
Q: What advice would you give to up and coming DJs/Promoters?
A: Be flexible. You may not want to play requests or that top 40′s hit, but until people get to know you as an artist, you have to play to the crowd. I think that DJs egos get in the way of their success.
Q: When you play do you pre-plan your sets?
A: I usually have a few tracks that I have prepped before hand that I call my resurrection tracks. Those are just in case I start to lose a crowd. Most of the time I do pretty well though.
Q: If you could stage a rave anywhere, where would you choose?
A: Grant Park, downtown Chicago, flash mob style. Just me, my crew, a generator, turntables, speakers, and 5000 people jammin to my groove.Q: Who taught you to spin?
A: I took lessons from my best friend, Kenny Hennings Jr. The only kid that I know of who, in high school, owned his own Technics 1200′s and the other necessary equipment to rock a school gym.
Q: How long have you been DJing for?
A: 24 years.
Q: Are you a fan of white gloves and glow sticks?
A: Not really.
Q: What would be your ideal or dream gig?
A: Amnesia @ Ibiza or The Ministry of Sound in London.
Q: We know how you spend your evenings — so what do you do on a weekday?
A: IT Support.
Q: Is there any type of music you won’t use?
A: No country/western for me, and no slides unless I am getting paid VERY well.
Q: How do you decide what you’re going to play every night?A: I have to find out what type of crowd it is. I hate playing cold. I will usually tailor my genre to cater to that crowd.
Q: How did you turn into the person that is DJ OpM today?
A: Believing in the music more than I believe in myself.
Q: Sounds like you need a vacation. Where would you go if you could?
A: Japan. I wanna see what they party like over there.
Q: What’s your next stop for your music and your career? Do you have next big gig lined up?
A: Rock Box May 21st 2010
Appearances
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Blogtalkradio.com – Chicago Beatz Show
ChitownRecordBangers.com – Wednesday night mix show and CRB Box Social
WHPK Radio, Chicago
WBML Radio, Chicago
District Bar, Chicago
Tizi Melloul, Chicago
Vain Nightclub, Chicago
The Aloft Hotel, Rosemont, IL
Anime Central, Rosemont, IL
Ohayocon, Columbus, OH
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Music Releases
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Albums
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Get Lifted – EP Release
Singles
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Utopia
Discover the Wonder
6 Minutes
Thym for Purple Pills (Eminem vs. Keri Chandler)
Song of Storms (Hurricane Rx)
Black White Unity (with DJ Beryl Turner)
Mixtapes
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DJ Kane is Dead (Classic)
A Tribute to WBMX (Classic)
Relax My Mind (Vocal / Funky)
Buck Nekkid (Vocal / Soulful)
Snapped!: DJ OpM (Electro)
