DJ Supreme La Rock Talks Earshot Jazz Festival and His Longevity In The Game

Oct 24

Seattle music legend DJ Supreme La Rock joined hosts Besa Gordon and Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, on Almost The Weekend this week. The esteemed DJ has been setting vibes in the Emerald City for decades, and discussed his upcoming performance at the 2025 Earshot Jazz Festival tomorrow, his extensive vinyl collection, and the secret to his longevity in the music industry. (Read more here)

Supreme’s impressive and long-standing career kickstarted in the mid-80s where his passion for sampling and genre-blending took off. He shared a memorable moment from his career performing at the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory parade. "It was like half a million people... And I was on the roof at Westlake Center," he said with pride.

The DJ’s obsession with vinyl is unmatched, revealing that his collection has grown to over 100,000 records. "I got a turntable when I was four and I got records for Christmas, and I played them and I was looking at it spin in a circle,” he said. “It's kind of hypnotic... and there's sound coming out of plastic and I'm four years old, like, 'How is this happening?'"

DJ Supreme La Rock poses with his extensive vinyl collection. (Photo courtesy of Supreme La Rock)

When asked about the secret to his longevity in the music industry, Supreme La Rock offered a simple yet profound piece of advice. "My main secret, which I tell everyone, is don't quit. If you quit, you can't keep going. And you don't know how close you might be to making it when you quit," he said, emphasizing the importance of doing it "for the love" rather than for fame.

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, Supreme is opening for Mid Century Modern at the Earshot Jazz Festival at the Georgetown Steam Plant. While he is primarily known for his work in hip-hop, the DJ explained his deep connection with jazz. "As a youth, my pops listened to jazz... So I grew up [listening to it], it was already in my DNA," he said. When he started producing and making beats, Supreme sampled a lot of jazz records that defined his early sound. “It's second nature for me," he said about jazz.

Hosts Besa Gordon (left) and Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy (right), pose with DJ Supreme La Rock (middle) in the Black Media Matters Studio after the DJ’s interview on Almost The Weekend.

The DJ hopes that attendees of the Earshot Jazz Festival will be open-minded and that younger generations should attend to hear something that they might not normally hear. “I might change their perspective a little,” he said.

In a rapid-fire question round, Supreme chose vinyl over digital, named almost any Michael Jackson song as a crowd-mover, and expressed a desire to time travel to the "disco era" of the 70s. His pre-show ritual? "A disco nap," he said.

DJ Supreme La Rock interview was a fascinating glimpse into the life and philosophy of a true music veteran, offering insights into his journey and his unwavering passion for the craft. Catch him at Earshot Jazz Festival tomorrow, Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Georgetown Steam Plant, and get your tickets at earshot.org/festival-2025/