
T-Pain isn't the only local award-winning celebrity in Tallahassee doing big things in the entertainment industry. Celebrity events from the 11
th annual
Demp Week bombarded Tallahassee, Florida last week (January 7-13).
Demp Week is a week-long birthday celebration which was created in 1997 by Tallahassee native and celebrity tour DJ, DJ
Demp (or as I call him, Darnell ...cause that's what his mama named him and that's the only name I've known him as). "
Demp Week is a chance for everyone to get together and just relax and kick back and celebrate my birthday with me," said DJ
Demp.
During
Demp Week, parties were thrown Monday through Sunday, and each night held a new theme to celebrate DJ
Demp's birthday. Events included: Game Night at Pockets Sports Pub; a campus 'On
Da Set' invasion on
FAMU's campus (my fellow Rattlers--as well as others--old and new, know all about the 'Set'!); a 'Who's Who Party' at The Moon nightclub featuring celebrity guests Rick Ross,
Yung Joc,
I Love New York 2's Midget Mac and Trick Daddy; 'The Ultimate
Demp Week Fashion Show' hosted by rapper
Ja Rule and featuring
FAMU's Epicurean, Faces and Images modeling troupes followed by an after party at
Baja's Beach Club.
Demp Week wrapped with the
Demp Comedy Jam at The Moon featuring comedian/actor Alex Thomas, comedian Lil
Duval, and Miami DJ/comedian Benji Brown.
Below, you'll find pictures taken from several
Demp Week events such as the fashion show with
Ja Rule, the campus invasion on
FAMU's 'Set' featuring cast members from
BET's Colege Hill: Virgin Islands and
BET's College Interns reality shows and the 'Who's Who Party' at The Moon. And let me warn you
right now that you will come across several or more random pics of true and utter madness! Trust.
Before finishing high school, Demp began making a name after creating Demp Productions. Soon after, he began spinning records at house parties and producing mix cds. His popularity and dj'ing services went into overdrive once his mix tapes got into the hands of the college crowds (specifically black fraternities and sororities) at F.A.M.U. and F.S.U., garnering the pint-size dj an entire new fan base. In 1996, dude 'went Hollywood'(that's small town talk for making it big) once he began touring with the Ghost Town DJs to promote one of the biggest summertime record of '96, My Boo (peep the video below). While on the road fulfilling his duties as Uncle Luke's official dj, Demp made it his mission to network and maintain contacts with other celebs. And it eventually paid off. By the time 1997 rolled in, Demp decided celebrating his birthday (January 9) one day a year wasn't the business. Subsequently, he gathered his celebrity contacts and other resources and commenced to planning a week full of events to celebrate his bornday. And there you have it: Demp Week was born and in full effect. Celebrities such as LisaRaye, Juvenile, So So Def, Nappy Roots, Twista, Ja Rule, Rick Ross, Trina, the And1 Mixtape ballers, Crime Mob, Field Mob, Cash Money and more (I just don't feel like looking all that shit up at the moment) have all shown their support to the Talley Ho dj.
To this day, Demp (who was recently nominated as DJ of the Year by the Radio One Dirty Awards and honored with the prestigious TJ's DJ's Tastemakers Award) continues to tour and spin records at the hottest celeb parties throughout Florida and beyond. But don't get it twisted though, Demp's an equal opportunity celeb dj. He not only spins records for rap artists, he also tweak the turntables for pro ball celebrities such as Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders' player Randy Moss.
READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!