Today, the boy who once learned the craft from a roadside sound system has gone on to perform as a DJ at major events and before large crowds. Among the most significant was the Ondo State off-cycle governorship election campaign held on November 19, 2016, at Democracy Park, Akure, which was attended by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
In 2011, Jimoh Adeola Tosin was living with his grandmother on Faire Street, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, while awaiting admission to the university after completing secondary school. To support himself during the waiting period, he took on menial jobs. His path, however, began to change when music from a nearby workshop caught his attention and sparked an enduring interest in disc jockeying (DJ).
The workshop belonged to an engineer named Esha who repaired musical instruments. While he worked, he would play music loudly. Tosin would hear it every time he passed on his way home.
“From that time, I developed a love for music and that inspired my interest to be a good DJ,” he told TheNiche in an interview.
That curiosity became a skill. He started stopping by to watch, asking questions about the instruments, the mixers, the speakers and practicing on his own. “I made some findings about what it takes to be a good DJ. I picked up some rule books to know more and eventually I started doing the DJ in my hometown,” he said.
By the time he gained admission to study Office Technology and Management (OTM) for his Higher National Diploma (HND) at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, DJing was no longer a hobby, it was a side hustle to survive school.
He took the stage name DJ Syco Entertainment and built a name for himself on campuses in Akungba and Akure.
Today, the boy who once learned the craft from a roadside sound system has gone on to perform as a DJ at major events and before large crowds. Among the most significant was the Ondo State off-cycle governorship election campaign held on November 19, 2016, at Democracy Park, Akure, which was attended by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Tosin also served as a resident DJ at the Ondo State NYSC Orientation Camp for four years, from 2015 to 2019, entertaining corps members and contributing to the camp’s social activities.
Starting up as DJ
When Tosin picked an interest in DJ work, he bought two solid speakers from Engineer Esha and started playing at carnivals, birthdays, and street parties within his environment.
In 2013, he gained admission to university and took the speakers with him. On campus, he met DJ PSquare — the DJ the school had been using before he arrived.
“We connected because we realised we needed each other,” Tosin said. “He had more experience on the decks, while I knew more about sound equipment because I had already learned from Engineer Esha.”
Tosin started working under his record label. After a few months, DJ Psquare traveled out of the country, leaving him as the only DJ in the school.
“So I was in charge,” Tosin said. “I balanced it with my academics, and used DJing to sustain myself in school. Anything that had to do with DJing on campus, it was me first. Even around Ondo State, Akungba, Akure, they would contact me. I got so known in school that they were calling me DJ Psycho even when I tell them that I am DJ Syco, they would say no. It was because of the way I play, I make them laugh, hype them etc.
“The business started paying so well that I was paying for my school fees and even giving money to students who needed help.
“While I was still in school, I started playing for the Ondo State NYSC camp. I was their DJ from 2015 to 2019, and I used the platform to train some corps members who are now doing well in Lagos.
“But when I realized I needed to step up, I stopped and aimed for something bigger. That was how I started getting bigger connections, including playing as DJ during an election campaign on November 19, 2016, at Democracy Park, Akure, which was attended by late former President Muhammadu Buhari, his vice and late Rotimi Akeredolu,” he added.
Capital
DJ Syco said capital was a challenge for him, but he used the money he made helping fellow students with assignments to buy equipment.
“In school, I was a course representative, and some students would ask me to help them with their assignments,” he said. “I would go on PDF, copy and paste, front and back, and submit for them. They would pay me like N2,000, N1,500.
“All that money really helped me buy my equipment at the start. Dollar was very cheap at that time. How much was the dollar then? The dollar was very, very cheap,” he explained.
“If I was purchasing a speaker for like N300,000 and I had only N70,000, I would pay that amount while my mother would stand as guarantor for me. Funny enough, my dad was a dealer. He sold cars, but he didn’t support me because he didn’t like the job I was doing,” he said.
Setting standards
DJ Syco said he set standards for himself by making the work professional.
“When I introduce myself as a DJ and people look at me like it’s a street job, I correct them immediately,” he said. “I tell them it’s not a street job. I do mine professionally. I deal with clients on contracts. I set standards. I do mine differently from others because I went to school. I also help club owners build their clubs with good equipment, using the knowledge I have.”
Penetrating the market
Tosin penetrated the market by setting standards. He made sure he arrived at a function before the time and stayed for an extra hour after the event.
“If you invite me for a program at 12pm, I will be there by 11am,” he said. “And if the event will end by 7pm, I will stay till 8pm. That gave me a niche over other DJs.
“You can’t call me for a function and experience bad speakers, sound issues, or a bad generator. I made sure that everything was good.
“I even went to play for free. If I heard that any of my clients were having a function, I would just go and play for them for free. That was how I gained trust. People started calling me for functions, and I started getting referrals,” he said.
Traumatic experience
DJ Syco narrated how he was once hired to play at an association his mother belonged to – and neither she nor other members knew it was him, because he was the only good DJ.
“The association hired a DJ and they didn’t know that it was me,” he said. “My mom belonged to the association and she too didn’t know.
“When I started playing, my mom was looking at me like I was disgracing her. It was embarrassing to her because she sent me to school to study, not to do DJ work.
“When I got home, the worst happened. My dad brought out my speakers to damage them because, to him, I couldn’t be playing DJ when I was supposed to focus on school.
“After that, he stopped paying my school fees. But I wasn’t discouraged. I used the money I made from my job to pay my school fees.
“And today, I have done so much with this business – much more than any paid job could do for me. I am married. I am living fine.
“Though my dad still doesn’t like this job, he knows that I am doing well for myself because I have won awards both nationally and internationally,” he said.
Breakthrough
Tosin said his breakthrough came when he bought sound systems for a lounge. A man at the lounge saw his setup and asked him to help install equipment in his house.
“Because he saw that the instruments I was using were good, I made good money from selling and installing those instruments,” he said.
Good feedback from clients also served as a breakthrough for Tosin.
“The vibes and joy that come from clients after a show make me feel satisfied,” he said. “Those good reports encouraged me to do more.”
Challenges
DJ Syco said prices of musical equipment are high.
“The amount you use to buy a speaker this year will not be the same next year,” he said. “Prices are not regulated by the government.”
Japa
Tosin sees nothing wrong with relocating abroad. To him, it would be an opportunity to explore more.
“If I have the opportunity to travel, I will continue my job in a different way,” he said. “It may not be as a DJ, but it will still be in the same line. I could host events, play as a DJ, etc. It would be an opportunity to take my skill to the next level.”
About Tosin
Tosin holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Office Technology and Management (OTM) from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State.
He is a music professional and disc jockey with the stage name DJ Syco Entertainment. He has won both national and international awards.
Through his skills, he has also trained people who are now doing well in the industry.
