HBCU DJ Tells the Story We Have All Been Waiting For

Written by Mr. Legacy

When I met Dionne, it was at a party at Howard. I was amazed by her. Dionne Ledbetter is a Howard University graduating senior, music composition major, classical saxophone minor from Atlanta, Georgia. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Chapter;  the campus radio station WHBC 96.3Hd3, and also a member of the Undergraduate Student Assembly (UGSA).

It wasn’t her resume that amazed me. At this one party, the music was going "just" right. The energy was THERE. The people were going crazy. And Dionne Ledbetter, better known as DJ Magic, was in control of it all. Quiet when I met her, DJ Magic doesn’t need to say much to impress you. Her DJ style is unpredictable and capable of capturing any ear. Just like several other DJs I have met, she is one of the hardest working individuals I know. 

THE most essential part to ANY party. The DJ. What most people don’t understand is that DJing is more than just playing music. As a DJ  you are literally in control of everything. It is an art. It is a sport. It is a skill. It requires time, money, patience, and a special ear for music. DJing at Howard not only helped me expect the unexpected at parties, but it also helped me appreciate EVERYTHING that goes into being a true student of the craft myself.

While I know her for creating transitions and setting the vibes at events, she recently has done something that reflects her work ethic and passion for her art. DJ Magic directed and produced a documentary that tells the story of what it means to be a DJ while also including several Howard DJ legends. To be a part of a culture, is to respect it. The documentary highlights the history and influence of Howard DJs over the past 15 years. This isn’t a “Howard” documentary. It is bigger than that. DJing alone is the art that has changed hip hop, music, and certainly HBCU culture for years on end. And guess what’s the best part about it……. The Legacy continues.