DJ Keezy

Akeena Bronson, known professionally as DJ Keezy, is a DJ from Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]

Background

DJ Keezy was born and raised in North Minneapolis.[2][1] She and started DJ-ing in 2013 after encouragement from Minneapolis artists DJ Snuggles and BdotCroc.[3] Keezy speaks on the energy of working with other women such as BdotCroc, and has advocated for all-women line-ups in musical sets.[3]

Career

DJ Keezy is most known for spinning throwback music such as 90's hip-hop and R&B, Motown, and Funk. She credits Prince as an inspiration and has a tattoo of his purple love symbol on her arm.[3] She has been the opener for acts such as Kehlani, Big Freedia, The Internet, Cupcakke and Trina & Da Brat.[4][5]

Noticing the lack of events featuring all-female performers, DJ Keezy threw her first all-women event in 2015 in First Avenue's Record Room under the name Fixx.[1] In 2016, Keezy spun records on Minnesota Public Radio's The Current as a part of their Pride Anthems show curated by DJ Shannon Blowtorch.[3] In 2017, she played a 10-day run at South by Southwest with frequent collaborator BdotCroc.[1] She played sets at Soundset Festival in 2017 and 2019.[6][7] Keezy toured nationally with Rhymesayers acts Atmosphere, The Lioness, and Nikki Jean in early 2020.[8][9][10]

In July of 2020, DJ Keezy, alongside Lady Midnight and Sophia Eris to launch a fundraiser with the goal of the opening of a music venue called Auntie's. Auntie's would be the only music venue in Minnesota to be owned by womxn of color. The artists pledged to bring in workers in mental health and sexual violence advocacy fields as well as community members in order to create a business model that reflects their goals and mission.[11][12]

The Klituation

DJ Keezy is one of the founders of the Klituation, a dance party created by and for women-identifying, gender non-conforming, and queer womxn held annually in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.[2][3][13] Maria Isa is credited with realizing the name "Klituation" as a nod to the consistent all-female line-ups promoted at the annual dance party.[3] Keezy curates other dance nights throughout the Twin Cities and aims to show the collective power of creative womxn. The fourth Klituation dance party was held at First Avenue's Mainroom in 2016 and featured Sophia Eris, Shannon Blowtorch, Sarah White, Maria Isa, The Lioness, Manchita, K.Raydio, and Lady Midnight.[14][3]

Awards

Twin Cities Best Club DJ - City Pages, 2017.[15]

References
  1. "DJ Keezy heads up an all-woman hip-hop party Saturday night at First Ave". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  2. "DJ Keezy Presents The Klituation 2 Year Anniversary Party". Radio K. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  3. Johnson, Cecilia. "You Need To Know: DJ Keezy, who brings 'female energy' to center stage". Local Current Blog | The Current from Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  4. "DJ KEEZY". first-avenue.com. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  5. "DJ Keezy presents THE KLITUATION". first-avenue.com. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  6. "Twin Cities' largest music festival, Soundset, announces 2017 lineup with Travis Scott, Lauryn Hill, T.I." Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  7. Harris, Keith. "Soundset 2019 lineup + set times announced: Lil Wayne, SZA, G-Eazy, Run the Jewels". City Pages. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  8. "Slug says surprise Atmosphere album 'might seem like old guys yelling at clouds'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  9. Jordan, Jerilyn. "Veteran hip-hop duo Atmosphere will go wherever — including Detroit's Saint Andrew's Hall". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  10. Parker, Chris. "Seasonal Atmosphere Disorder". Idaho Press. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  11. Diamond, Peter (2020-07-01). "Twin Cities Artists Launch Fundraiser for Auntie's Music Venue". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  12. BringMeTheNews. "Women artists of color launch fundraiser for new Minneapolis music venue". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  13. Gee, Amy. "Street Style: The Klituation at the Varsity Theater". City Pages. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  14. "DJ KEEZY presents THE KLiT•UATION Dance Party". first-avenue.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  15. "Best Club DJ | DJ Keezy | Music | Best of the Twin Cities® 2017". City Pages. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
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