DJ Miss H.E.R.

For Hampton, VA-native Ebony Dixon, it was continually re-connecting with her love of old school rap in brand new ways that finally pushed her over the edge in deciding to become a disc jockey. Insofar as considering her future as DJ Miss H.E.R., it’s her love of that same music and it’s perpetually dancefloor-friendly vibe that will likely allow her to sustain an already growing level of success.

Finding DJ Miss H.E.R. is usually as simple as heading down to H Street N.E.’s hot-spot the Lodge at Red Rocks for happy hour or their popular weekend dance parties. For Dixon, her spot in the booth that overlooks the dancefloor below usually becomes a dancing space all her own. “I love to dance, and when playing these records that I love so much, I can’t just stand there and spin records all night long. I’m definitely going to get caught up [in the groove].”

Miss H.E.R.’s name comes from Common’s groundbreaking 1994 single “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” which is an ode to rap music possibly losing it’s core principles in the midst of the genre’s first major commercial boom. That being said, if you’re looking for a night of partying that’s going to feature a ton of songs that are popular on mainstream radio, it’s not exactly her forte. “I’m not a fan of the radio, the ratchet songs, whatever people call them these days. I grew up around my brothers, listening to A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Biggie (aka The Notorious B.I.G.), those are the songs that inspired me to want to be a DJ.” Thus, the groove Miss H.E.R. locks into in her set is derived from a blend of disco, funk, classic hip-hop and more old school breakbeat-friendly modern dance tracks.

Though constantly coming back to her DJ desires over the last two decades, it was seeing and hearing renowned producer and DJ 9th Wonder spin at the space now soon-to-be occupied by Mythology Chophouse and Lore Lounge on H Street (then known as Fever) that truly cemented her desires to make her dreams a reality. “He had the room in the palm of his hands. It was like, every song he played was my favorite song, and he didn’t select anything that people were like...okay...that was cool, we don’t know that one, but we’ll still keep dancing.” The Jamla Records founder’s skills as a selector so impressed Dixon that at the end of the set she met him, and while having her picture taken with him, she told him that she was going to become a DJ.

Miss H.E.R.’s path took her to Bethesda’s Beat Refinery DJ school, where more seasoned professionals like globally-respected underground producer and DJ Obeyah taught her the ropes. One year after taking lessons and honing her craft in the privacy of her own home, she began to privately release mixes to her friends, family and DJs she respected. As her skills began to rapidly grow, she found herself behind the tables at her first official gig in March, 2014 at Lodge at Red Rocks, a happy hour post that grew into a summer residency.

Within one year of kicking off a DJ career that has been nearly two decades in the making, Miss H.E.R. has already travelled extensively, plus spun at DC spots including the aforementioned Lodge at Red Rocks, as well as Brixton, Tap and Parlour and Marvin (among many). Is it possible to one day expect that she’s going to explode and become classic rap’s next top female spinner? Already discussing branding and taking the business of her craft more seriously has happened, so it’s entirely possible. “I love music,” Dixon says succinctly. When love blends with talent, success is the only expectation.
To find out more about DJ Miss H.E.R visit www.missher.net. Also find her on Facebook and Twitter @iammissher - Marcus Dowling