Last week, MILLE was in Libya to attend the inaugural edition of the Benghazi Summer Festival (BSF). When we received our invitation, we naturally couldn’t turn down the prospect of throwing up gun-fingers while watching some of our favorite names in Arabic hip-hop perform live. But little did we know that we’d walk away with a fresh list of new artists to listen-to once back home as well. Enter: DJBlackJack, who, in our humble opinion, was responsible for one of BSF’s standout acts over their two-week celebration of all things music and culture.
@milleworlddotcom @DjBlackjack MAKING AD-DHARRATH ARENA’S CROWD IN #BENGHAZI, #LIBYA GO WILD BY PLAYING @DJ Snake ♬ original sound – milleworlddotcom
Going into the second night of BSF at Ad-Darrath Arena, DJBlackJack was a name unfamiliar to us. However, after catching his high-energy set, we couldn’t resist but reach out to the experienced artist to not only congratulate him, but dive into a rapid-fire Q&A session. With time ticking—because, surprise, artists are busy and probably have better things to do than answer our questions— we sat down with the man who got Benghazi busting moves to all kinds of tracks from rock and rap to rai.
Could you quickly introduce yourself?
My name is DJBlackJack, from Tunisia. I’m a club DJ with over 20 years of experience in the game. I’m an old-school artist who used to work as the official DJ for Tunisian rapper Balti; we played together for six years and traveled the world together for quite a while. I’m now signed with a label in Germany called No Cuts No Glory— shout out to them. I’m currently working on touring on my own and getting my own productions out.
How was it to perform in Libya?
It was a pleasure playing in front of such an incredible and energetic crowd. I felt very comfortable—it was like playing at home. I love the atmosphere here. It’s actually my first time in Libya, and I hope it won’t be my last.
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How did you prepare for your gig, given that it was your first time performing in the country?
To be honest, I didn’t prepare anything, as I wasn’t familiar with the crowd or their musical tastes since the country has been closed off for some time. I went with the flow, reacting to the audience’s response to what I was mixing. I knew they enjoyed rap, including Tunisian rap, so I made sure to give them what they wanted.
What does performing at the Benghazi Summer Festival mean to you?
I believe that this is the beginning of a cultural revolution that will set the young people free. I’m so happy for them. Initiatives like these can only help push the country forward and open a new chapter in its history. It’s a chance to change stereotypes and I’m happy to see it and have been part of it.
Before you leave, if there’s one message you could send to young people in Benghazi, what would it be?
Keep pushing forward; your hearts are full of warmth. The time to embrace change is now.
