Ugandan DJ and music curator Selecta Jeff has urged young DJs to stop forcing themselves to play old school music simply to win approval from veteran DJs.
Sharing his thoughts on X, Jeff said many upcoming DJs drift away from the genres they enjoy because they feel pressured to prove themselves to more experienced colleagues.
Instead of chasing validation, he encouraged them to embrace the music that best matches their strengths.
Young DJs, please stop forcing yourselves to play OldSkool to impress fellow DJs (Especially Veteran DJs).. if it ain’t your thing, don’t sweat it.
Jeff said there is nothing wrong with sticking to genres such as afrobeats, new school r&b, hip-hop, amapiano, and dancehall if that is where a DJ feels most confident.
He also pointed out that some genres demand a different level of technical ability.
For him, old school hip-hop is one of them because it calls for more than simply selecting the right songs.
There are some genres that come with a little bit extra skill set.
Jeff added that scratching remains an important part of performing old school hip-hop, and he expects DJs who choose that lane to demonstrate those skills behind the decks.
Personally, I don’t rate a DJ that plays OldSkool HipHop & Can’t perform a few scratch patterns.. I mean, this ain’t Amapiano Bro.. Put your fingers to work..
While encouraging young DJs to keep developing their craft, Selecta Jeff maintained that authenticity matters more than trying to impress fellow DJs by playing music that does not suit them.
Young DJs, please stop forcing yourselves to play OldSkool to impress fellow DJs (Especially Veteran DJs).. if it ain’t your thing, don’t sweat it,
Play your Afrobeats, New Skool RnB, HipHop, Amapiano, Dancehall..
There are some genres that come with a little bit extra skill set.…— SELECTA JEFF (@selectajeff) July 30, 2026