WATCH: Kasi DJ shines on national stages
When he left the job as a cook, he began teaching children about hygiene - a job he held for four years
With unemployment figures rising, Tembisa youth needs to upskill and develop new talents that will enable them to put food on the table.
DJ Trey is an example of a young people who, against all odds, made a name for himself and who has gained respect amongst his peers.
His fans around Tembisa now call him a celebrity DJ as he has shared stages with big names like Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Big Star Johnson and Jimmy Wiz.
“The feeling is amazing. When I started to share the stage with these people, I was shocked and couldn’t believe that dreams actually do come true.
#DOLOLO live is the one tho
Thank you @Rouge_Rapper for the awesome performance#VSGamingFestival pic.twitter.com/N9rtGHWaW3
— DOPEY (@DopeyPro) May 6, 2018
“The lesson I took from it all is that people must not give up.
“The objective is music and it shouldn’t be about money and fame.
“We all need money but follow your dreams,” said Tshepo Mnisi who goes by the name of DJ Trey.
The former Masisebenze High School learner said his journey in the entertainment industry was never easy because he encountered many challenges.
He is a self-taught disc jockey who dropped out of an IT course because of financial constraints.
“After dropping out of tertiary, I became a cook for a company that was preparing food for various airlines.
“I worked there for some time and later realised that it was not something I wanted to do.
“Music was like a part of my life,” said Trey.
While he was working at the airport, he was doing music simultaneously. When he left the job as a cook, he began teaching children about hygiene – a job he held for four years.
After those four years, DJ Trey became a model and focused on that career from 2010 to 2014. After the challenging art of modelling, he came back to do music full-time.
“When I first left music to take up a job as a cook, I was a house music DJ but when I came back in 2014, I came back as a hip-hop DJ.
“I used to do what everyone was doing; I didn’t have my own artistic voice as a DJ.
“I always loved hip-hop but I got submerged in house music because it was trending at the time.
“When I came back, I wanted to do something that I am passionate about,” Trey explained.
Trey lost his parents at an early age and, therefore, he had no parental support but received encouragement from his older brother.
“We were six children at home.
“During my comeback, I did mixtapes and took them to popular clubs, radio stations and entered competitions but all with no luck.
“Radio stations never answered and only a few people would offer a positive remark on social networks.
“It killed my self-esteem and for a moment I thought maybe I am not as good as my friends have told me I am,” the 32-year-old DJ lamented.
He said in 2015 tables turned when he got an opportunity to work with big names in the entertainment industry.
“For some reason, people started noticing my work and paid attention to my skills as a DJ.
“My first big gig was in Maftown Heights. I was blown away and happy at the same time.
“After that, I started DJ’ing for Big Star Johnson, Jimmy Wiz and played with Shane Eagle.
“The highlights of my career include when I played at Channel-O events, Kwesta events and shared a stage with DJ Black Coffee. I have shared a stage with Rouge who is a female MC in South African Hip Hop scene. My career is going in the right direction and I am happy about it. Yes, challenges are there but my vision is to keep my dream alive and be the best hip-hop DJ.
“I kept going despite those challenges and my advice to young people is that KEEP doing what you believe in. Never let anyone tell that you are not worthy. Education is key and fame does not pay bills. Education and dedication will put you where you want to be in life,” he added
He said that music is a career and that he is willing to share his skills with people who don’t want to treat DJ as a hobby.
On his Facebook page he is Trey Trizzy Mnizzi. You can also follow him on twitter @DjTrey_live.
Watch DJ Trey in action on one’s and two’s with @Rouge_Rapper
