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About
The Full Story
Spotlight Artist: DJ Hollywood Hot Rod
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, DJ Hollywood Hot Rod’s story is rooted in passion, persistence, and pure love for music. Inspired early on by his father, a member of the legendary Sounds of Blackness, and influenced heavily by his uncle, music was never just background noise in his life, it was destiny.
Long before he was old enough to even step foot inside some of the clubs, Hot Rod was already carrying crates of records, watching, learning, and absorbing the culture that would eventually shape him into one of the hottest DJs to come out of Minneapolis. During those early years, another life-changing opportunity presented itself when he became connected to the iconic artist Prince. Upstairs in the DJ booth of South Beach, Prince would personally hand Hollywood tracks to play just to watch and feel the crowd’s reaction. Those unforgettable moments turned into incredible opportunities working alongside Prince, from club appearances to legendary nights at Paisley Park. Experiences like those helped sharpen Hot Rod’s ear for music, crowd energy, and creativity in ways few DJs ever get to experience.
As a determined teenager with a dream bigger than his age, he spent countless hours inside Urban Lights Record Store, annoying, in his own words, the owner Tim Wilson, who still operates the iconic shop today. What started as persistence from a young kid hungry to learn eventually turned into mentorship. Tim opened doors, made connections, and helped guide a young DJ whose talent was impossible to ignore.
That hunger and grind led DJ Hollywood Hot Rod into opportunities many only dream about. From working alongside major music artists to collaborations connected with Def Jam and Universal Studios. He has opened for legendary acts like Naughty by Nature and played a role many times over in organizing one of the Midwest’s biggest music events, Soundset.
But for Hot Rod, the journey didn’t stop there. His love for music evolved into radio, where listeners across the city rode home in the evenings listening to his signature blends on B96 and GoRadio. Known by many as “The Blend Master,” his creativity never shuts off. His mind constantly moves, mixing sounds, eras, emotions, and cultures into experiences people feel long after the music stops.
Now based in San Antonio, DJ Hollywood Hot Rod continues doing what he has always done best, bringing people together through music. Whether it’s an upscale event, packed dance floor, or community gathering, his mission remains the same: create moments people will never forget.
His persistence, willingness to learn, and undeniable passion recently opened another door with 94.5 WPST. Be sure to tune in every Friday at 5PM Eastern Time to catch the latest mixes from a DJ who lives and breathes the culture.
DJ Hollywood Hot Rod is proof that sometimes the kid who refuses to stop showing up becomes the one everybody came to see.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.
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