Ready for a masterclass on reinvention, resilience, and extraordinary hustle? In this episode, Asia Shabazz shares her game-changing journey from childhood dancer in Los Angeles, to struggling artist, to commanding the decks as one of the most intentional and authentic DJs around.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• Reinvention Is a Superpower: Asia reveals how she went from tap, ballet, and jazz classes at age four to commercial hip-hop, girl groups, singing, and finally, DJing, proving that every creative leap came with skeptics and gatekeepers, but never stopped her.
• Surviving the Industry’s Brutal Pressures: Get the inside story on intense image standards (“I had to lose 20 pounds and I was already 120!”) and why she boldly walked away from traditional artist paths to define success on her own terms.
• “I Was Broke; It Was Only God”: Hear the candid truth about what it’s like to struggle financially as an artist and how faith, grit, and family support pulled her through the hardest moments.
• Why Nightlife Is “the Devil’s Playground”: Asia lifts the veil on the realities of nightlife culture: temptations, burnout, and the importance of boundaries, mental health, and self-care.
• Owning Your Brand As a Creative: Discover Asia’s secrets to building a powerful, authentic personal brand, from visual identity and intentional curation to the real meaning of showing up for yourself and your community.
• Financial Literacy for Creatives: For the first time, Asia shares her vision for a financial literacy series specifically for artists and creatives, exposing the gaps in how we talk about money and success in the arts.

Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or anyone considering a big life pivot, Asia’s revelations about climbing back from rock bottom, the discipline behind her success, and the courage to “pivot to score” will motivate you to find your own beat, whatever your field.

🎧 New episodes drop weekly
✅ Subscribe for bonus content and updates: SoundcheckWithBA.Substack.com
📩 Contact us: SoundcheckWithBA@gmail.com
📸 Follow on IG: @SoundcheckPod
👑 Hosted by: @MrBrandonAnthony
🎛️ Produced by: @NowInfluencing

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Step into the heart of LA’s house music scene with this week’s special guest: DJ Sidney Perry. In this inspiring episode, Sidney takes us behind the decks and into the city’s most iconic clubs (including Catch One, The Horizon, Circus, Arena and The Abbey) and pays homage to the DJs and spaces that built a movement.

Sidney shines a light on his roots with The Baka Boyz and shares incredible stories, including LA legends like Billy Long, Michael Yarn, Bobby Martin, and Frank Del Rio and their impact on house music’s West Coast legacy. From humble beginnings at school dances in Bakersfield to pioneering soulful sounds at legendary venues, Sidney Perry has shaped LA’s dancefloors and created space for the city’s House scene and for the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Discover how gospel, disco, and house music became inseparable influences in his sets. Sidney offers an exclusive look at what “gospel house” means, why the genre matters, and how it continues to uplift club culture today.

Inside the episode:
- The origins of LA house and legendary venues like Catch One, The Horizon, The Abbey, The Caper Room, and Foster’s Penthouse
- How DJ Sidney Perry blends gospel, disco, and house into an unforgettable sound
- Shoutouts to DJ icons including Billy Long, Michael Yarn, Bobby Martin, Frank Del Rio, and The Baka Boyz
- Building community and legacy as a founder of Qubonix label and a true West Coast architect
- Stories of hope, reinvention, and the resilience it takes to thrive behind the booth
- Why gospel house is a movement, not just a genre

PLUS: Don’t miss the exclusive DJ set at the end of the episode, featuring new, unreleased Sidney Perry tracks that bring soulful energy straight to your speakers.

Whether you’re a dedicated house head, a dance-floor regular, or just discovering the roots of LA nightlife, this conversation will open your ears (and your heart) to a new side of club culture.

🎧 New episodes drop weekly
✅ Subscribe for bonus content and updates: SoundcheckWithBA.Substack.com
📩 Contact us: SoundcheckWithBA@gmail.com
📸 Follow on IG: @SoundcheckPod
👑 Hosted by: @MrBrandonAnthony
🎛️ Produced by: @NowInfluencing

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

In Episode 5, Brandon Anthony sits down with powerhouse DJ, creative, and unapologetic trailblazer DJ Ivy. Get ready for a deep dive into music, culture, and the wild ride of building an authentic DJ career.

From Cleveland’s rave roots to LA nightclub residencies and festival stages with legends like Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake, DJ Ivy has done it all. In this unfiltered conversation, she opens up about:

• How she broke barriers and made a name for herself in a male-dominated industry
• Defining moments behind the decks, from playing after-hours parties to controlling crowds of thousands
• Her journey from roller skating and voguing to headlining in the hip hop & dancehall scenes
• Balancing dual passions as a DJ, fashion designer, and even her time as a dancer
• The real challenges women DJs face (and what most people still get wrong about the craft)
• Her approach to reading a room, blending genres, and those controversial song requests
• Lightning-round: Should DJs play tracks twice? What about full glam in the booth? And more!

Plus, don’t miss DJ Ivy’s exclusive live set at the end. This one’s got bounce, nostalgia, and fresh energy from start to finish.

🎧 New episodes drop weekly
✅ Subscribe for bonus content and updates: SoundcheckWithBA.Substack.com
📩 Contact us: SoundcheckWithBA@gmail.com
📸 Follow on IG: @SoundcheckPod
👑 Hosted by: @MrBrandonAnthony
🎛️ Produced by: @NowInfluencing

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!