Local DJ spotlight: Martin (DJ Graffiti) Smith

January 31, 2003

Who he is: DJ Graffiti is Martin Smith, a hip-hop DJ who calls himself the "the underground mix tape king of Michigan," a claim partially backed up by a nomination he received at the Detroit Rap Awards, held earlier this month at the former Motor club in Hamtramck. His latest mix CD, "In Due Time" hits the shelves in March. His local gigs include last year's Molson Canadian Snow Jam, a residency at Motor's hip-hop night, "Mic Check," and regular bookings in the Midwest.

Home: Smith grew up in Oak Park and West Bloomfield. He graduated from West Bloomfield High School in 1996. He studied percussion for six years and played in a jazz band, performing at the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival in 1992.

Age: 24.

On hip-hop: As a teenager, he experimented with vocals as an MC before finding the turntables. His DJ name is based on lyrics he wrote: "I spray mentals like lyrical graffiti." Smith says he is not a graffiti artist, but he does all the original graphic design for his releases.

In school: Smith attended the business school at the University of Michigan. "I started DJing my first year in college. You didn't have events going on in West Bloomfield," Smith says. "As soon as I got turntables I was off and running." He spun at house parties and campus fraternity events. This led to guest spots on "734 Live," a hip-hop show on the campus radio station, WCBN-FM (88.3).

On his DJing style: "I'm pretty versatile. I can do everything from top 40 club to underground hip-hop. I enjoy all music. I try to stay away from too much negative." His mix CDs feature tracks from local groups like Slum Village and voice-overs from hip-hop personalities he runs into.

"I enjoy mix tapes and I do a lot of different things. My passion (is) the DJing, that's my love."

Little-known fact: Smith is finishing his last semester at U-M Law School. "At this point I'm linking (the degrees) together in a law marketing business." He plans on specializing in intellectual property. "I am trying to stay here in the Detroit area. There are a lot of corporations that want to associate themselves with hip-hop. It can end up being a negative influence. I feel like I'm a good medium to be strictly positive for the community."

Upcoming gigs: Tonight at the Blind Pig, 208 S. First, Ann Arbor, 734-996-8555 (With Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck, One Man Army and Switch Stance.) He will appear at the Blind Pig again on Feb. 14 with Black Bottom Collective and at the Hamtramck Blowout in March.

His CDs are available at Record Time, Street Corner Music, Hot Hits, Spectacles and his Web site, http://www.djgraffiti.com/. His radio show, "Underground Reciprocals," with cohosts DJ Magnetics and DJ Potatoehead, airs midnight-3 a.m. Saturdays on WCBN.

By Tamara Warren, Free Press special writer