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For Dennis Howell, better known as The Real DJ Black, it all started at a house party in North Philadelphia. His oldest brother’s best friend was DJing, and the moment Dennis heard him scratching, he was hooked. A visit to see the equipment became his first lesson behind the turntables, where he learned beat matching and even calculated BPMs by wristwatch. Music had him.

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When Dennis joined the U.S. Air Force, DJing followed him. He purchased his first serious setup, two Audio-Technica turntables and a four-channel Gemini mixer, and in 1987, DJ Black was born. He began playing NCO clubs and parties for fellow service members before being stationed in Germany, where mixtapes, DJ battles, Technics 1210s, and countless hours behind the turntables sharpened his craft.

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Then his journey took an unexpected turn. Dennis found God and entered the church. His desire to DJ faded, but his love for music never did. He continued writing music and creating beats, only now his perspective and purpose had changed. Over time, discovering Christian artists and DJs creatively mixing Christian and Gospel music showed him that his faith and his love for DJing did not have to exist separately.

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The passion was still there.

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When the pandemic brought DJs from around the world online in 2020, Dennis found the push he needed to return to the craft. After years away from the turntables, The Real DJ Black was back. Today, his sound brings together the foundation of old-school DJing, decades of musical influence, faith, and modern DJ technology. Rooted in Christian Hip Hop, Hip Hop, R&B, and Urban music, he also moves comfortably through House and EDM.

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For The Real DJ Black, this is more than a return to something he once loved. It is the continuation of a journey that began in North Philadelphia, traveled around the world, went quiet for a season, and found its way back with renewed purpose.

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I am Dennis Howell. I am The Real DJ Black.

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