MySpace a place for friends

The dictionary states that the definition of the word “Fate” is: “that which is inevitably pre-determined; Destiny.” Although many meet their true fate later in life, few are blessed to have it staring back at them in the form of a record. And less than few are quite as rare as Dee Jay HYPHY CRUNK aka Mark Rodriguez, who at the ripe age of 12 had his fate laying right on the tips of his fingers.

Mark comes from an era where the disk jockey lugged equipment and several crates to every gig with them. They flourished in a time where the music led people and told stories of life on the streets . He was 12 when his parents told his older brother Frank that he couldn’t attend a party in a small Los Angeles city called Lynwood, unless Mark Rodriguez (later known as “Hyphy Crunk”) went with him. After arriving at the party, the owner of the house revealed that the DJ hired to scratch at the party was in a car accident on his way back to the party, but had left his records and his equipment.

After brainstorming with the home owner, and without thought, Mark suddenly said, “I know how to DJ. I can do it.” Frank and the promoter immediately shot down the idea, but quickly changed their minds after watching him walk over to the equipment and strangely, begin to play music. A nervous, 12 year old Mark worked the crowd (as much as a novice could) for the next six hours without any break. As he left, he got a handful of cash and an enthusiastic, “We’ll call you for the next party.”

Mark made $500 that evening, and it wasn’t more than an hour before he stood before his father and asked him to invest in a new business idea with 6 simple words: “I want to be a DJ.” It was all up-hill from there. His father helped him purchase his first Gemini Belt Drive Turntables and a 6 channel Pioneer Mixer. It was cheap, but it worked and it worked for Mark six hours a day for seven days a week for the next couple of years.

By the age of 14, Mark’s older brother Frank had become a party promoter and begun to book Mark for nearly every party he hosted. Mark began to strive for more and began to DJ and host underground warehouse parties, nightclubs, and raves. He started off his career with the name “DJ Pac Man” and was big in the House and Trance scene, and even opened for a couple well named acts and performers. When Mark began to attend high school, things changed. School required much more focus, and everything changed when he was told he was only allowed to spin on the weekends. “DJ Pac Man” slowly disappeared from the Dee Jay underground party scene, along with the crowd that once followed every speaker thump he created.

Although he had obstacles, Mark never ceased to strive for every big dream. When he turned 17, he created a mobile DJ company called “After Midnight Productions,” with his best friend Erick AKA “DJ Erick Neutron” who had learned the skills of spinning, lighting, and sounds. A.M.P. supplied their talents to nightclubs, school dances, and house parties. Still, school came before his craft and once again, Mark was forced to consider whether or not DJ’ing was what he was meant to do. He wanted to explore every dream he had, so he left his equipment with Erick from A.M.P. and took two years off. Erick learned all he needed from Mark and kept on going with A.M.P. and became a well respected DJ, and still is keeping up with the game till this day.

During this time Mark explored computer graphics and clothing design. At 18, he started “Truth = Lies,” a clothing line which he promoted through parties and band sponsorships. Two years later on his 20th birthday, Mark had already been living on his own for a year in Long Beach and was opening his own clothing store to sell his clothing line and other independent clothing brands.

Fate waved goodbye at Mark, and with a gust of wind, his business was gone. Mark was injured in a street bike accident prior to his store opening and was badly injured. Instead of focusing his time and money on his new store, Mark was forced to instead focus on his medical bills. Mark agrees that things happen for a reason, and just as he was meant to begin his journey with music, he was also led to exploring his passion for clothing design. And ultimately, fate led him back to his first love; being a DJ.

Mark quickly stumbled upon a nightclub just minutes away from his apartment, “Mensa Lounge”. He attended the club with the intention of having another night out, but once he stepped in the door he felt inspired. The club was empty and its patrons were few. Mark met with the owners of the nightclub and convinced them into letting him host a night of his own and volunteered the idea of beginning a weekly night at the venue. He was successful in his endeavors and quickly began his first Friday night spot, “Stellar Nights,” with good friend DJ Erick Neutron.

Mark was quickly branching out with his new clothing line (Milk Money), print shop company, and now with “Stellar Nights.” And although everything was quickly coming together for him, he still felt as though something was missing. He decided to begin another night at Mensa Lounge, but was looking for something new. A new scene with a new kind of people. So Mark explored clubs in Hollywood. Inspiration wasn’t far behind, and before he knew it Mark opened his Thursday nights with The Heist (formally the “Music Box”).

With the help of his good friend DJ Score and some friends along the way, Mark ventured into the Electro and Indie Rock scene. He was enthralled with the vibes at these type of clubs and the way the kids in the scene danced to it. Most of all, he was hooked on the way Electro and Crunk came together in a way that fused every good element about the music. He quickly left his Hip Hop and Top 40’s night to DJ Erick Neutron and focused solely on his Thursday nights.

Mark’s “The Heist” Thursday’s, has since moved to The World Famous “Florentine Gardens” in Hollywood, and has brought in names like DJ AM, Steve Aoki, Crystal Castles, Kid Cudi, Miles Dyson, DJ Klever, Lazaro Casanova, The Black Ghosts, Riot In Belgium, Le Castle Vania, DJ Them Jeans, DJ Joaquin, DJ Paparazzi, LA Riots (DJ Daniel Le Disko, Jo’b), Guns and Bombs and many more. They have continued to grow in following and with it Mark has begun to expand in his craft. And his new love for this genre of music in his life re-inspired Mark to return to the DJ booth. He wanted to start mixing for this crowd of people, with this style of music, and produce something that was worthwhile. But he needed a change, and he started with his name.

While joking with friends about how “Crunk” he gets at clubs and how Hyphy he gets on stage, he created his new name, “HYPHY CRUNK”. “HYPHY CRUNK” has been spinning at various nightclubs and has been hosting his own nights. “I am back where I started, but this time, I’m not stopping,” he says. He has since shared the stage with the likes of Crystal Casltes, The Toxic Avenger, Kid Cudi, DJ AM, Steve Aoki, The Black Ghosts, Riot In Belgium, Busy P, Feadz, Blake Miller (Moving Units), LA Riots, Squeak E. Clean, Infected Mushrooms, Flosstradamus, DJ Dan, Tommy Lee, DJ Aero, Richard Vision, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, Mos Def, DJ Fashen, amongst many others (the list goes on)!

HYPHY CRUNK’s fate has been and always will be to bring more to the masses. And if this fate was “predetermined” for him, well, its safe to say that its not a question of whether or not he wants to stop…but maybe whether or not he can be.