This past Sunday at the Started From Scratch event, hosted by DJ LV and his krew, was one of those nights that just hit. One of those “yeah… that was special” type nights. The event came correct: free DJ classes, open tables with Joseph Future, an open scratch session, and then capped it off with a full one-hour set from the Mixtape King himself, DJ Neil Armstrong. Classic mixtape joints, original, bittersweet , warmfuzzy, etc.
DJ Neil Armstrong founder of the legendary 5th Platoon, DJ at Obama’s inauguration, and Jay-Z’s tour DJ. I can go on.. but The resume already told the story. This is someone I grew up listening to. Shout out to my homegirl who put me onto his mix tapes. I probably wouldn’t be this deep into music without that.
Watching him spin live was different. Real DJ shit. Vinyl only. At one point he’s pulling 45s out of a lunch cooler like it’s a treasure chest, and the whole room locked in. You could feel the next record coming, tension building… then BOOM transition hits and everybody reacts. Smiles everywhere. Heads nodding, hands up, clapping, people singing, making those “ouuuu… damn!” faces all at once.
Kids, adults, everybody in that small space vibing together. That’s when it clicked why music is everything. why people fall in love with music. It ain’t just beats and lyrics it’s how it makes you feel alive, how it brings memories back, how it flips your mood instantly. I think that’s why people become DJs to pass that feeling on, to connect the room through sound. Music reminds us who we are, where we’ve been, and how good it feels to let go and feel the rhythm.
Perfect way to end a Sunday and close out the final weekend of 2025.
Good times. Good laughs. Good music.
Nothing but good vibes.
Big mahalos to DJ LV, Joseph Future, DJ Neil Armstrong and everyone involved.
hauʻoli makahiki hou!!!!
@dj.lv.ra @djneilarmstrong @joseph_future @deejayflip @djinspekt @djkriskee @lillipop.dj @hiambitions808 @janine.hilario 
