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DJ Z Trip spins his magic at Poway High School

One of the most famous DJs in the world took his love for the turntables to the Titans at Poway High.

One of the most famous DJs in the world took his love for the turntables to the Titans at Poway High.  

"It's my job to pass the baton," said DJ Z Trip.

The three decade DJ was asked to speak at the high school's Sound Production and Engineering class. 

"It's pretty killer. I am not going to lie. Z Trip? One of the best DJs ever. A legend among legends alright," said Zach Brindle, a senior at Poway High.

The class and curriculum were created two years ago by a former arts teacher, Rob Kaechele.  

"This is art, this is art," said Kaechele, as he showed off the school's $250,000 recording studio.  

"This was my vision 15 years ago that this was going to happen," said Kaechele.

Since the launch, the studio has filled up with students and stars. Eight months ago, they recorded a song with the guitarist from Social Distortion and the drummer from Jane's Addiction.

Imagine rocking a party for living.  

"I had this sort of rock and hip hop upbringing so I am constantly seeing how two things speak to each other," said DJ Z Trip.  

His claim to fame was his innovation of the mash up.  

"A mash up is taking two things that do not go together and find that common thread like Black Sabbath and LL Cool J."

Few DJs have had as big an impact on music and culture as Z-Trip. He is an award-winning global DJ and Producer, and is often referred to as the pioneer of the mashup movement.  Z-Trip's roots are in Hip-Hop but there's no style of music he doesn't touch. 

This allows him to collaborate with just about anybody. 

The List of artists he's worked with reads like the best Spotify playlist ever: Linkin Park, Bassnectar, Nile Rodgers, Public Enemy, Lee Scratch Perry, Tom Morello, Nas, Galactic, Travis Barker, Shepard Fairey, Run The Jewels, Talib Kweli, Karl Denson, Busta Rhymes and many more. 

For almost a decade he's been performing alongside Hip-Hop legend LL Cool J. Their shows have been described as so exemplary that the "crowd can barely handle the greatness." 

The two have been continuing that momentum with the launch of LL Cool J's new channel on Sirius XM, "Rock The Bells Radio".

As a performer, Z-Trip not only plays traditional festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, but he's also a staple in the EDM world. 

His Electric Daisy Carnival, Holy Ship and Shambhala sets are always festival highlights.

Thirty years of gigs and the pay checks kept getting bigger and so did the crowds.

"450,000 people. It's like a small country," said DJ Z Trip speaking about a show with the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush and Justin Timberlake.

Dj Z Trip wants the students to know you don't have to be a famous rapper to make it big in music. 

"No one was there to teach me how to do this I had to sort of stumble around in the dark," said Dj Z Trip. 

He is living proof you can make a living with two turn tables and microphone.

"It's amazing. I get to work with music and share it with people and have them feel good. It's the best feeling ever."

If you'd like to hear DJ Z Trip in person, he has  a local show at the Belly Up in Solana Beach on Saturday, May 18th.  For information go to Belly Up website

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