Today we’d like to introduce you to Opotija Williams.
Opotija, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
**Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.**
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and attended NYC Public Schools before graduating from high school. I went to college but didn’t finish the first time around. Looking back, I realize that some of my most valuable education came through music, real-life experiences, and the opportunities I created for myself.
I’ve been around music and DJing since I was a child. My uncle was a DJ, and both of my parents were huge music lovers. My mother introduced me to Disco and House music, while my father listened to artists like Rick James and Jimi Hendrix. Growing up around such a wide range of music gave me a strong appreciation for different sounds and genres.
I actually did my first family party when I was just five years old, using my uncle’s DJ equipment. Even before I had turntables, I was already buying records. I knew at a very young age that music was something I wanted to be involved with.
As I got older, I started DJing local parties throughout New York City and eventually in neighboring states. I began working with different groups and local record labels, which gave me valuable experience and helped me build relationships within the music industry. One of the highlights was getting the opportunity to work with a group that was known in the UK. That experience helped introduce my name and my work to an international audience.
My journey eventually led me to an internship at Def Jam Recordings, where I gained an inside look at the music business. I later worked with Bloodline Records doing promotional work. That experience taught me a lot about marketing, promotion, and how to get music and artists in front of people.
I took everything I learned and applied it to my own career. I began doing promotions, creating mixtapes, DJing clubs, and performing at private events. I realized that I wasn’t just passionate about DJing—I was also passionate about the business behind it.
What started as a childhood dream eventually became a business. Today, I continue to build on that dream by providing professional DJ, sound, lighting, karaoke, screens, and projection services for events. For me, it’s more than just playing music. It’s about creating experiences, building relationships, and making memories for the people I serve.
Then COVID-19 changed the event industry and brought a completely different challenge. With live events being limited, I had to find another way to stay creative and continue building something. During the pandemic, I started my own clothing line that combined two things I love—music and fashion.
That eventually led me to create a clothing line representing my neighborhood in Brooklyn, Crown Heights. It gave me another way to express my creativity and connect with my roots while continuing to build something of my own.
When I look back at my journey, I see a lot of different chapters, but they all connect. From playing on my uncle’s equipment at five years old, to working in the music industry, to building my own DJ business and creating a clothing line, I’ve always found a way to turn my passion into something productive.
I took a childhood dream and turned it into a business—and I’m still building on that dream today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was trying to make a name for myself in an industry where there were so many talented DJs, especially in New York City. There were a lot of DJs coming up at the same time, so standing out and getting people to recognize my name was not easy.
This was also before social media, so you couldn’t simply post your music or promote yourself online and reach thousands of people. I had to do things the old-fashioned way. I would go into record stores and ask them if they would sell my CDs so I could get my music and my name out to the public.
I remember even getting a corporate job and using the company’s mailroom and stamps to send my promotional material out to people. I was constantly looking for ways to promote myself and create opportunities.
There were definitely times when it was frustrating, but I never let that stop me. I understood that if I wanted people to know who I was, I had to put in the work and find creative ways to get my name out there.
Looking back, those struggles taught me some of the most important lessons about persistence, marketing, and believing in yourself. I learned that sometimes you have to create your own opportunities instead of waiting for someone to give them to you.
That mindset has stayed with me throughout my journey and continues to influence how I approach my business today.
As you know, we’re big fans of IAMDJPOT. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My professional life has always been connected to music. What started as a childhood passion eventually became a career and a business.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to DJ clubs, private parties, family events, and different types of community and corporate events. I’ve also worked with music groups and record labels, done promotional work, created mixtapes, and gained valuable experience through an internship with Def Jam Recordings.
Those experiences taught me that being a DJ is about much more than just playing music. You have to understand your audience, know how to promote yourself, build relationships, provide great customer service, and constantly adapt to changes in the industry.
Today, I operate as a professional DJ, sound, and lighting company. I’ve expanded beyond just DJing and can provide services such as karaoke, screens, and projection for events, giving clients more of a complete entertainment experience.
The business has continued to evolve, but the foundation has never changed. I still have the same love for music that I had as a child. The difference is that now I’ve been able to turn that love into something I can build, grow, and share with other people.
For me, that is one of the most rewarding parts of my career—taking something that began as a childhood dream and turning it into a real business and a lifelong journey.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost, I have to give credit to God. I believe He has guided me throughout my journey and has given me the strength, opportunities, and determination to keep moving forward.
After that, my family deserves a tremendous amount of credit. They supported my passion for music from the very beginning and helped me turn something I loved into something real.
My father played a big role by buying me my first turntable and mixer. My mother supported my love of music by giving me her records, which helped me build my collection and exposed me to different styles of music. My aunts also played an important role. They would help me buy records so I could continue building my collection.
Once I had built up my equipment and record collection, my family became some of my first promoters. My aunts would tell people that I was a DJ and let them know I was available for parties and events. In many ways, they helped me get some of my first bookings and introduced me to people who might not have known about me otherwise.
Before social media, word of mouth was everything. My family was essentially my first marketing team.
Looking back, I realize how important that support was. They didn’t just encourage me—they invested in me, believed in my talent, and helped create opportunities for me when I was just getting started. I’m grateful for that because their support helped turn a childhood interest into a lifelong career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://WWW.IAMDJPOT.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IAMDJPOT
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMDJPOT
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAMDJPOT
