BOSSIP Exclusive: Janet Jackson’s Tour DJ Aktive Dishes On Working For The Pop Icon
Celebrity DJ Aktive has toured with scores of major hip-hop acts over the years: Kanye West, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Nas – he’s DJ’d for them all. But Aktive, who is now opening Janet Jackson’s world tour, said his new boss has been the best of the bunch. “My favorite client to work with, I will say, is Janet Jackson,” the DJ told BOSSIP. “She’s just so consistent and so on it. Watching her is inspiring. Just to be around that greatness. I would say she’s the best artist I’ve ever worked for and I’ve ever looked up to.”
Aktive scored the gig of a lifetime over the summer after a colleague called him and asked him to fly out to audition for Jackson, who’d seen his work. He spun for her, and the rest is history.
“I kind of grew up on Janet Jackson,” he said. “She’s very nice. She’s very humble. I never thought I’d be DJing for her. To be on stage with her is such a blessing.” Concertgoers heading to Jackson’s world tour, which kicked off Aug. 31, are in for a real treat, according to Aktive, who promised Jackson would deliver. “It’s a lot of dancing,” Aktive said. “I will say this: she’s doing all her hits. Every hit she has, she’s doing it.”
Jackson’s show is the latest tour gig DJ Aktive has taken on since hitting the DJ circuit in his native Philadelphia back in the 1990s. But not the most bizarre – Aktive reserved that for the time he DJ’d during Musiq Soulchild’s performance with a booty-showing Jamie Foxx.
“A known artist (Foxx) came out and he had his butt cheeks out,” he said. “He had on jeans and had the butt cheeks cut out. He just came out and rocked with Musiq. It was just a weird time. I was so into mixing, I looked up and I’m like, ‘Woah!!’”
Live on REVOLT TV “Defining A DJ”
Theorematic: DJ Aktive
While visiting Los Angeles, I caught up to the astir DJ Aktive as he gears up for the Janet Jackson “Unbreakable” world tour. In this installment of Theorematic, Aktive breaks down the variables from the start of his career, his current state and his onward progression. The equations are infinite when it comes to this explosively talented DJ from Philly. Check out his interview on Theorematic.com.
DJ Aktive On Good Morning America
Philadelphia’s own DJ Aktive made a huge appearance just a couple of days ago with one of today’s most influential stars. Aktive put his DJ skills to work early morning on Good Morning America with Ms. Miley Cyrus and will.i.am who was scheduled for a special performance with of “We Can’t Stop.” Though Aktive probably spends more time in the sky than on the ground, Philadelphia is still the place that he calls home!
A native of West Philadelphia, Aktive got his start by spinning at basement parties and by entering DJ competitions. It was his unique ear for uncommon blends and his quick hands that quickly separated him from his peers. Once Aktive set out to tour with Musiq Soulchild it seems he’s been up in the air ever since.
He has shared the stage with many of the world’s biggest stars including Marsha Ambrosius, Kanye West, JoJo, TYGA, Melanie Fiona and most recently Miley Cyrus. In addition he has toured in his own right rocking parties across the nation and far beyond in places like Germany and the Middle East.
Continuing to pack out venues abroad and every time he comes back home, there is always a sense of pride when one of Philadelphia’s own makes it onto such a large platform like GMA. Make sure you are in the building next time Aktive makes his way home; it will be an experience you won’t want to miss.