by Sydney Blaylock, Bean Soup Times Contributor

Meet DJ Mcafee, a 24 year old skater from University Park, IL who started skating at age 12. I belong to the Rich Boyz Skate Crew. My home rink is the Rich City Skating Rink in Richton Park IL. Watch this video below so you can understand why you want to know more about who his is!

What is a part of DJ Mcafee that you will never see on the skate floor?

Within the skating rink my passion for skating is very obvious but one thing that you may not see on the skate floor is the fact that I’m an emotional person.

Where is your favorite place to roller-skate and why?
Rich City Skate because that’s where I grew up skating and eventually I started to work there. I’ve been skating there since it was called Olympic Skate World in the early 2000’s.  After working with the staff, I have developed a lot of strong relationships.

You have been in a lot videos on youtube roller-skating. Which one would you say is your favorite?
There is one that I always refer people to look at when they ask what I do because a lot of times roller-skating is hard to explain. It is something that you must see to understand so that video would be the video titled “I’m a Rich Boy (DJ).”

Some people have roller-skate names, and you are called “The Assassin”. Where exactly did that name come from?
I did not make the name. I was skating around one day and one of my friends named Patrick called me “The Silent Assassin”. He says it’s because I was pretty quiet back then and I just let the skating do the talking for me. So that’s how I became DJ “The Assassin”.

What does it mean to be a Chicago JB roller-skater for you?
It means being able to pay homage to the generation before me, which I would call the old school and then making sure the new school skaters can carry on the tradition. It also means being original and able to express yourself. The reason that I skate is because I have more to say that can’t be said with words.

Would you consider yourself a new school skater or an old school skater? Or is there even a difference?
Unfortunately, there is a difference. I consider myself to be neutral but according to the newer the generation I may be old school. In reference to youtube, I’m one the first representation of JB skating that the world has ever seen. At the same time, I know whom I’ve learned from and old school skaters have given me the tools to create my own thing or something new. Technically speaking, I'm one of the leaders of the new school.

If someone is considering roller-skating as a hobby, what advise would you have for him or her?
Well, first off, falling comes with skating. My advice is to not be fearful, have fun, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s supposed to be something that you challenge yourself with and when you leave the skating rink it's back to your normal life. When your inside the skating rink enjoy it while you can.

Did roller-skating influence your music producing? If so, how?
Roller-skating was a direct influence to me wanting to pursue music. I’ve always wanted to do music but it wasn’t really a reality until I started skating. I figured that I had some good ideas and they couldn’t be that hard to express so I started producing music for skating. I’ve made three albums for roller-skaters and branched out to other avenues of producing. If I wasn’t roller-skating then I probably would of never had the courage to pursue music.

If you could choose one song off of your albums that is great to skate to what would it be?
The song is called “I Dream” and it’s actually on two of my albums. I sampled a friend of mine name Vaughn Dabney. Some of the lyrics were “ when I dream you’re all I dream about.” I’m creating a movement called Dream Rite Music, so I thought it would be perfect. Its one of my favorite songs and it gets the most of recognition.

DJ Mcafee (Interviewee) and Syd the Kid (Interviewer)

BONUS VIDEO!!