Text/Photo-Art Jefferson

The city of Newark New Jersey has experienced that of turmoil yet togetherness, rebellion to revival. One of the early “Black Meccas” of the United States, there has always been a spirit of renaissance to coincide with the social ills of the city. This was the home to the 1967 Newark Riots that was sparked by police brutality inflicted on local cab driver John Smith. By the 1990’s, Newark was considered the car theft capital of the U.S. The “Brick City” gave birth to one of the greatest poets and playwrights of our time, Amiri Baraka as well as beat poet Allen Ginsberg. This is the city that DJ Realeyes calls home. If tradition is a continuation of cultural customs, then DJ Realeyes proudly follows the blueprint that was laid down by the elders.

Isaiah Grauer known to many as DJ Realeyes is one of the many offspring of the parents of the “Black Power” movement. The first thing one may notice in his music set is the immediate connection of the soul in the sounds of African people worldwide. From House to Soul, Jazz to Hip-Hop, DJ Realeyes has consistently been able to keep crowds dancing from NJ to NYC. “I’m a 70’s baby whose earliest gift was a fisher price turntable. Therefore the fascination began at an early age. I never had video games or liked sports. However, I have been the proud owner of Technics 1200s for over ten years.” The infatuation of records started at age nine for Realeyes and while many kids in the neighborhood played sports, he isolated himself inside to religiously practice deejaying. By the time he was ready to enter college, DJ Realeyes had already developed the reputation of moving the old school House fans of Jersey on the dance floor. This also enabled many friendships of veteran deejays throughout the city. Within a short time, word spread across the bridge and Realeyes began deejaying in New York as well.

Many of the revolutionary poets and playwrights of old have used the stage as a vehicle of getting their message across. Acting has been an equal form of expression for DJ Realeyes. Performing in many Indy films in New York City, he also judges youth drama tournaments yearly in Philadelphia and Princeton, New Jersey. While the next step is the big screen, actual screenplay writing is shortly to follow. Perhaps this is all just a part of plan of something bigger conjured up by DJ Realeyes.

The proverb, “Each One Teach One” has been a strong sentiment amongst African Americans in the United States for generations. Having worked with various grass roots organizations in the past which brought him to various urban cities throughout America such as Baltimore and more, DJ Realeyes still continues to teach in the Newark school system in order to help uplift and educate youth. He has set up movie nights, showing many educational documentaries and films, in Newark’s public libraries as another way of helping to bring awareness of various issues within the community.
Many artistic hats are worn by DJ Realeyes and it feels like there will be more fittings. “My last deejay residency was at the Coffee Cave in Newark, New Jersey where I started the Kulcha Carnival, which was a pulsating night of world dance music twice a month. Currently, I am rebuilding my studio and preparing for spring 2010.” While people from New Jersey and New York came down to experience a mash up of Soul, House, Afro-Beat, Soca and Calypso, Space Disco, Hip-Hop and even Punjabi sounds, at the “Kulcha Carnival”, DJ Realeyes was already planning his summer take-over of parties in Brooklyn and Manhattan. He is featured in the upcoming Michael Clinton book of photography titled “American Portraits” as well as the film “Intersections”. None the less, the “revolution” of DJ Realeyes if not televised, will surely be broadcasted by any means necessary.