friend of Sudderth and a member of
the Board of Directors here at Simply
Elevate, personally speaks to this
loyalty and persistence within DJ
E Sudd to follow his dreams, “It’s
scary to try something you may or
may not succeed at. Something that
may require you to go outside of your
comfort zone. We can all learn a lot
from him. I’ve have watched Erik
go from that 4-year old little brother
always getting in the way and being
pushed aside to a young man who takes
no shorts in pursuing his dreams. I can
see his focus and determination. He
wants better himself and those around
him. I am extremely proud of him.”
Sudderth followed his heart to
Atlanta every week, performing at open
mics at clubs. He quickly developed
credibility in the clubs of Atlanta,
known as “North Carolina.” “Before
you take it to the radio or the label, you
got to have that street buzz behind it. I
was bringing tracks to North Carolina
at the same time they were bubbling in
Atlanta. I wasn’t scared to step outside
of the box and mixing tracks that other
DJs weren’t touching. Once other DJs
saw how I was moving the crowd, they
started to give me a little bit of respect.
Songs I was talking about a few months
ago are now the number one songs
on the radio stations. I was trying to
connect the dots between the streets of
North Carolina, the streets of Atlanta,
and the streets of Virginia to the radio.”
It was in Atlanta that he
met Travis Porter and began to travel
from state to state with him and other
DJs, as part of the Street Executives
Management Company. “As time
passed we became more of a DJ
Coalition than just a group of folks
putting out mix tapes and doing events.
We did a 50/50 with Porter House
Label, becoming Street Execs Porter
House. That really gave us a name
within the industry, more than just
in the streets.” Another member of
Street Execs, DJ Technique reached out
to 2 Chainz with an offer to manage
him. Sudderth continued to highlight
his talents and showcase what he was
capable of. “I stayed consistent, kept
good relationships, and further worked
on my craft. It sounds easy, but at
the end of the day its work. It’s a
24/7 thing.” His time to shine soon
arrived. “You have to put yourself in
the position you want to be in. Every
day I knew there was going to be an
opportunity for me to be on the road,
but there was no telling when that
time would come. It didn’t always
make sense to pay a DJ when they
are doing shows. I was just waiting
for my time. That time came when
DJ Technique said I want to put you
on the road with 2 Chainz.” And DJ
E Sudd’s life hasn’t slowed down
from there. “We are on the road
every week for the past four years.”
During his busy schedule,
DJ E Sudd always finds time to
continue developing his own brand.
He releases numerous mix tapes, the
No Stress series having particular
influence on him. His fans responded
to the smooth mix of rap and R&B.
“People would approach me and tell
me how much it influenced them.
After so much positive feedback
I thought, ‘I should do a shirt that
actually says it.’” And the No Stress
Gear clothing line was born. “Our
line includes anything that can help
promote that healthy lifestyle and
way of living.” Fans of DJ E Sudd
quickly showed their enthusiasm
for No Stress Gear. “When people
started coming to us saying, ‘I need
that shirt or that hoodie where can
I get one?’ that’s how we knew we
were on to something. Just like I did
with DJing, I’m doing the same thing
with clothes. I’m taking my time
and learning it step by step, learning
from my own mistakes, and figuring
out what I have to do to take it to
the next level and make it something
large. Larger than what it is now.”
Does this incredibly driven
and successful man have any New
Year’s resolutions to guide him
through an exciting year ahead?
“I’m just trying to stay focused
and consistent. We have a big tour
coming up in February, 2 Chainz is
headlining his own tour along with
Pusha T. That is my main focus
gearing up for that. No Stress Gear
will be available and will be on sale at
every tour spot in every city we stop in.
Staying focused is my main resolution.”
We know DJ E Sudd is a name
we will be hearing a lot of.
Follow him on Twitter @djesudd and
on Facebook as “The Golden Child”
DJ E Sudd. No Stress Gear is available
today at nostressgear.com.
About the Author:
Lydia Dodson
is a freelance
writer. Originally
a California girl,
she found her way
to Virginia and
graduated from
the College of
William and Mary
with a degree in English. When she is
not writing, you can find her beebopping the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, playing board games, practicing
her jump shot, or being an Aunt to
her two beautiful nieces and amazing
nephew.
www.simplyelevate.com
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