DJ Just Dizle is a man on a mission.
The international DJ who is based in France spoke to ABC News from Cameroon, the country that bears his roots.
“I came to DJ in Cameroon,” Just Dizle said.
“I went to the capital Yaoundé.
“They heard about the stuff I do, so they reached out to me and they wanted me to bring a different flavour to this luxury, five star lounge and restaurant that caters to the upper echelon.
“So, they needed somebody to bring a different type of vibe, a sexy vibe for all these people that are used to travelling and expect a certain quality of music.”
Just Dizle isn’t just DJing for an exclusive crowd while he’s in the motherland.
“We are about to hit orphanages, homeless shelters and give them gifts and make them dance.
“Because it’s really bad. Out here, either you have it, or you don’t. There’s nothing in the middle.
“So, the only thing these kids have to feel good about themselves is a smile.”
Along with a friend, Just Dizle will meet with ministers in the Department of Culture and Health to show them how music can change lives.
He will also entertain 25 marginalised children.
“I’m going to DJ for them,” he said.
“They’re going to be dancing. They’re going to be singing, trying to let them know that the situation they are in right now is only temporary.
“They have a dress code. The dress code is superheroes. We want to make them feel strong. We are going to these places where people need a boost in their spirit to make them feel alive.”
First track since the pandemic
Feelin Alive is the name of the first single Just Dizle has produced in four years.
It features Oakland-based recording artists Jwalt and KRollin’. The track was mixed and mastered by Grammy award winning multi-platinum producer Vidal Davis.
The video was filmed on Lake Merritt in Oakland and at the Bay Area’s first black owned restaurant chain Everett and Jones.
“It’s playing on TV here [in Cameroon],” Just Dizle said.
“They’re the first ones to play it – on the main TV station – Canal 2.”
Just Dizle wants people to kick back when they listen to the song and forget about their worries.
He flew from his home base in Paris, where he made the beat for the song, to Oakland, California in the United States to record the music video.
He’s planning to remix the song with artists from across Africa.
Just Dizle said his end goal is always to give back to his community because they are the most abandoned people he’s come across.
He has a heart for those who are struggling because he knows the struggle himself.
“I don’t come from a rich family,” he said.
“So, my point is always ‘hey, look at me. I know what you’re going through. I can give you some tools. You’ve got to plant the seeds first for the tree to grow’.”
Although he lives internationally, Just Dizle wants people in the motherland to be self-sufficient and for his nation to thrive, so people don’t feel the need to migrate.
“The music industry in Cameroon is bad,” he said.
“They cannot even track the sales and they have the greatest musicians here.
“I’m based in Paris, but I’m originally from Cameroon, and my roots are present in everything I do and the people I collaborate with.
