Yung Genna DJ also known as Selector Sparta, first showed up on our radar in 2015.
Back then he was reputed to be one of the brightest future musical stars to keep an eye on.
Fast forward to 2022, not only has the upstart Yung Genna DJ, lived up to the hype he brought to Guyana’s music landscape. He continues to lyrically inspire fear and angst in many of the most popular Guyanese artists.
He currently attracts some of the biggest targets one could ever imagine, an artist could attract and clinically defends his name and quashes deejays, left, right, and center.
|#HOOKEDTOTHE592: We wanted to learn about what makes the Yung Genna DJ who he is. And, who were some of the people who have influenced him throughout his years in music and deejaying careers?
Gtmemoirs: You are among the hottest talent out of Guyana. What was it like growing up in Guyana for you?
Yung Genna DJ: Growing up in Guyana for me was splendid in many ways as a youth, given the fact that my 2 siblings, my peers, and family members always motivated me to do the right thing while living life cautiously & prayerfully and that i did. now here i am.
Gtmemoirs: When and how did you get your start in music, and who are some of the people who have been supporting you from day one?
Yung Genna DJ: Oh that’s easy and unforgettable! Because it still seems like it was just yesterday (Carlvin Burnett) who so happens to be (1) of my first cousins on my Mother’s side, decided that it was my time to grace the big stages alongside him and his peers/friends in music.
It was then I had the utmost privilege of working with some of the biggest names known to our music industry, namely: Kwasi Ace, Jumo Primo, Jackie Jaxx, As Well As Granny Ivy, just to name a few.
To add to those names I’d Like to mention some great friends, family, as well as Schoolmates & and the list entails Wayne, Onasio, Dunwell, Telvin, Darkmane, Yung Fayme, Dawn Hall, Ryan, Shortboss, Devon, Troy, Twyla & Last But Not Least Smiley T.C.E.
Gtmemoirs: Besides lyrically, how do you differentiate yourself from other Guyanese artists?
Yung Genna DJ: It’s simple actually. Once your channel is on my frequency, you would realise that I’m not just your average Dancehall type Artist. I am also very versatile in various fields such as Hip Hop, Soca, Reggae, as well as Creole-type music.
Gtmemoirs: What is the funniest experience you have had in your music career so far?
Yung Genna DJ: I can recall travelling out of town with Kwasi Ace and Carlvin Burnett to do a show, and while we were travelling we decided that we were gonna crack a few jokes among ourselves and it led to speaking on each other’s plans… Well, let’s just say that the plan which Kwasi Ace had left us both in a hilariously uncontrollable state which I cannot forget to this date!
Gtmemoirs: Of all of the Guyanese artists, you have worked with, who is your favourite and why?
Yung Genna DJ: I would go with Kwasi Ace on this again. The reason being, we were usually out and about very often and as a result of that, I got to experience first-hand some of the best foods our country has to offer and interact closely with people that I never thought I would have ever met at such a tender stage in my now budding career.
Gtmemoirs: Talk to us about your Deejaying career, who did that start, and are you still actively deejaying?
Yung Genna DJ: My deejaying career kick started professionally back in 2014 thanks to
Kross Kolor Studio’s Burchmoore Simon, he recognised the undeniable talent and passion i possessed for music.
I was allowed to be a part of a program called Riddim 360 on NCN’s (98.1 Hot FM radio station.
There I was placed alongside some of the biggest and best deejays and selectors in the business to date…
Names like Selector Andre, HJ 94.1s Selector Biggz, Notorious Sound’s Selector Timothy, and
3 Time Clash Champion Selector Purple who resides in St. Kitts currently.
The host of that show was none other than our very own 7 time Road March Queen, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts.
Having that level of exposure at that time was immense!
And such a great accomplishment for me moving forward in music.
As it opened one door into another, and before I knew it. I had a program of my own alongside NCN’s Olivia Rose and DJ Avalanche. It lasted one year plus.
Shortly after, I was called by one of our musical pioneers. He is the nephew of the late great, Walter Rodney.
His name? None Other than, Dj Malachi, of course.
He then gave me my 1st opportunity to be apart of NCN’s 100.1 Fresh Team, now renowned as Vybz Radio.
We had a program titled “Strickly Guyanese Music” which had a 2 and a half years run.
After the curtains came down on that program, it helped pave the way for a new and more banging 1 alongside Our Soca Queen, Michelle “Big Red” King, on 98.1 Hot FM.
By that time I was already somewhat of a household name, given that I was working along with what I like to call, “The Big Guns”!
That’s when a lot of my music gigs started to reel in on a bigger scale also.
That program was aired for about 3 years and it helped me to generate a larger fan base.
With that, came another program with 1 of the biggest comedians known to us, Chow Pow.
We had a really great run for about 1 year plus, until it was time for me to leave Guyana’s shore and expand my talent on one of the biggest radio stations in New York, Caribbean Power Jam Radio.
Thanks to them, I was now able to solidify and further cement my name in the music industry as one of the fastest rising Selector/DJ hailing from a small place, covering 83,000 Square Miles, known as Guyana.
After gaining that level of recognition & being at the top tier level in that aspect of music. I decided that it was time to make a much anticipated transition to singing.
Even though i’m not active currently as a Selector/Deejay, I can still perform at my highest octane, once Challenged.
Gtmemoirs: What are your favourite Guyanese Dishes?
Yung Genna DJ: I don’t have a special dish per say, given the fact that I’m always up to trying new foods from various cultural backgrounds. But if i were to choose as though my life depended on it I’d go with cook-up for sure.
Gtmemoirs: Of all of your songs, which do you enjoy listening to the most?
Yung Genna DJ: This is somewhat of a trick question for me to be frank with you because each one of my songs holds something special to me, so i really cannot place one above the other.
But again, if I’m to choose as my life depended on it, then I’d go with the song that i first created and that is “saucy saucy” since that was the song that paved the way for all my other tracks to finesse on.
Gtmemoirs: What advice would you give to artists who are now starting in music?
Yung Genna DJ: Be Humble. Be Patient. Dedicate yourself to your craft, support those that support you, and pray for those that don’t. And, last but not least, always keep a positive mindset even when things aren’t going the way you expected them to go, because giving up is never an option.
Gtmemoirs: What’s next for you musically and personally?
Yung Genna DJ: In this sense, I’d Usually Rather my Work Speak For Itself and Allow my actions to support it. In other words, I rather not disclose anything prematurely. But, expect great things and content continuously.
Gtmemoirs: What are your views on clash culture and should Guyanese be clashing with each other?
Yung Genna DJ: I strongly believe that we as a unit, aren’t ready for that level of exposure mainly because, I’ve seen the mayhem and destructive properties it ‘CLASH‘ holds and since we are now budding as entertainers coming from Guyana who share the same passion for the music, I believe we should work collectively and objectively.
Gtmemoirs: Considering that they are 12 months in the year, and we know that you have tons of unreleased music. If challenged, how many albums can you release now?
Yung Genna DJ: Yes I do have tons of unreleased music thanks for the acknowledgment. With that being said, I am confident that i can surpass a total of (10) albums at a maximum with a minimum number of (20) Songs Per Album.
