The Lecrae x Beyoncé Mashup That Launched My DJ Career
Sometimes the biggest shifts in life don’t happen under spotlights. They happen on the road, in between shows, when you least expect it. For me, one of those turning points came in 2012, during a trip to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.
From Filmmaker to Music Storyteller
At that time, I wasn’t a DJ. I was a filmmaker, traveling with Thi’sl and GRAMMY Award–winning producer Courtney Orlando. Thi’sl had been utilizing my filmmaking services for years — including his Motivation music video (his most popular video to date). SXSW was another chance to capture content, connect with artists, and tell stories through the lens.
That trip was packed with moments:
I helped film parts of Andy Mineo & KB’s video “Young”, which I’m also featured in alongside Lecrae, Ruslan KD, and others.
I filmed interactions between Lecrae and Kendrick Lamar, two giants from very different worlds crossing paths, which was included in Lecrae’s Church Clothes promo (check out some of those clips in this YouTube video).
I captured raw moments of community that showed me the power of Christian Hip-Hop beyond just music.
The DJ Battle That Sparked It All
One night, I filmed a DJ Battle featuring Beleaf (of TheBreax, now known for Beleaf in Fatherhood) squaring off against DJ Aslan. Watching them manipulate records, transition between tracks, and command the crowd was mesmerizing.
Something about the way they controlled the atmosphere struck me. I wasn’t just recording a moment, but I was witnessing a craft that combined rhythm, creativity, and connection.
That was the spark.
Downloading the App That Changed My Life
Inspired by what I’d seen, I downloaded the djay app on my iPod Touch for the ride home. Hours of experimenting later, I was layering Lecrae acapellas over a live arrangement version of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” syncing beats, and recording rough mashups.
I had no idea that small experiment would become the catalyst for my DJ career — or that years later, I’d be named an official Ambassador for the very same app.
The First Mashup That Got Radio Play
On the ride home from SXSW, after getting the hang of my first mashup, I plugged in the AUX cord and played the Lecrae/Beyoncé blend for Thi’sl and Courtney Orlando. The car came alive.
Thi’sl turned to me and said, “You should send this to DJ Wade-O.”
At the time, Wade-O hosted the most popular Christian Hip-Hop show in the world, The Wade-O Radio Show. I didn’t think much of my chances, but eventually I created some artwork, titled the track “High Like Crazy,” and reluctantly emailed it over.
A couple of months later, on June 11, 2012, I got a notification on Twitter that stopped me cold. A listener tweeted:
“Somebody call @djwadeo and tell him that this ‘High Like Crazy’ mash-up is bananas!!!”
To my shock, Wade-O replied:
“yo that’s actually @ChozynBoy’s. That joint is a monster.”
He had played my mashup on his radio show! 🤯
I couldn’t believe it. Not only had one of the most respected DJs in Christian Hip-Hop co-signed my creation, but people I’d never met were talking about it online. That was the moment I thought: “I might be onto something here.”
From Radio to Showcase DJ
That single radio spin, followed by the mashup being also supported by popular radio host Bonnerfide’s Morning Show set the wheels in motion. I upgraded to ACTUAL DJ equipment (because remember, I was only using an iPod to make that mashup), began watching DJ tutorials online, uploaded more mashups, then submitted to DJ at SXSW the following year — for the very same showcase I had filmed the year before. To my surprise, I was accepted.
And it was on that stage, as I stepped into a new season, that I crossed paths with FLAME, who was stunned to see me DJing. That encounter would eventually lead to me becoming his official DJ — but that’s a story for the next chapter.
Why That Road Trip Mattered
Looking back, that trip wasn’t just about filming. It was about God planting seeds in unexpected soil:
A filmmaker’s eye seeing a DJ’s potential.
A road trip turning into a career path.
An app experiment becoming an international opportunity.
That ride back from Austin didn’t just change my direction — it revealed a calling I’m still walking in today.
👉 This blog is part of The Andre Arkade Story series. Next up: How I Became FLAME’s Official DJ
