DJ Von: The Beat of Optimism
Story by Austin Thompson
Photos by Mirza Babic
"Wake up, Mr. West, Mr. West, Mr. Fresh, Mr. By Himself…" The synths swell, the drums kick in, and the world opens up. This is how DJ Von approaches life — like the start of a Kanye West track circa 2007, full of energy, anticipation, and limitless possibility. It’s not just music; it’s a mindset. For Von, every beat is a heartbeat, every transition a metaphor for life’s twists and turns. He doesn’t just play songs; he orchestrates emotions, crafting a sonic journey that leaves no soul untouched.
There are two types of people in this world — those who wait for life to happen and those who make life happen. Von Howard II, better known as DJ Von, is firmly in the second category. He doesn’t just spin records; he spins moments into memories, transforming every event he touches into an experience.
If you’ve ever been in a room where DJ Von is controlling the music, you know the feeling. It’s electric. It’s contagious. It’s the sound of someone who believes in the power of joy, who wakes up every morning determined to make the world just a little bit better, one song at a time. Watching him work is like witnessing a maestro in action. His hands glide across the mixer with precision, his eyes scanning the crowd, reading the room like a book. He knows when to drop a bass-heavy banger to get the energy up and when to slow it down with a soulful groove to let the crowd catch their breath. It’s not just about playing hits; it’s about creating a vibe, a shared experience that lingers long after the music stops.
Von’s journey started at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, but music has been in his blood from the beginning. Guitar, piano, drums — he played them all. But sheet music never spoke to him the way sound did. He was an ear-trained musician, feeling rhythm in a way that couldn't be confined to notes on a page. That instinct led him to DJing, first in his dorm room with just a computer, then to gigs across campus, and before he knew it, the bookings never stopped. "I played music growing up, but I could never read music," Von recalls. "I was always ear training. So when I started DJing in college, it just clicked. I was using nothing but a computer, and people were like, ‘Where’s your turntables?’ But it worked. Nothing was pre-recorded — it was all live, all feeling."
He hustled — 300+ gigs a year, a staggering 38 events in a single month. He broke barriers, becoming the first DJ in Jackson to meet the mayor, and to turn his craft into a recognized cultural force. And he did it with one goal in mind: to elevate. "I just believe in uplifting and meeting people where they are," Von says. "Even when I’m not DJing, it’s about being a good person." This philosophy shines through in his sets. Whether he’s spinning at a high-energy club night or a laid-back community event, Von has an uncanny ability to connect with his audience. He’s not just playing for them; he’s playing with them, creating a dialogue through music that feels personal and universal all at once.
Von’s love for music transcends genre. If he were stuck on an island with only one album? Graduation by Kanye West — an album that, like Von himself, embodies ambition, creativity, and pushing boundaries. "It was perfect," he says, recalling the fusion of Takashi Murakami’s artwork with West’s anthemic production. "’Stronger’? Come on. ‘Flashing Lights’? ‘Good Morning’? That’s a soundtrack for moving forward." But his tastes go far beyond hip-hop. "I love new wave and one-hit wonders," he admits with a grin. "I’m a history buff when it comes to music. Did you know the first rap song to make MTV was Blondie’s ‘Rapture’?" He breaks into song, his passion infectious.
And moving forward is exactly what Von does. He’s transitioned from a college DJ to a force in the industry, even earning the Memphis Hip Hop Awards’ DJ of the Year. But he’s not stopping there. "Short term, I want to be a name people associate with Jackson, Tennessee — a positive ambassador, a light wherever I go," he says. "Long term? Who says I can’t own a business? An entertainment company? A radio station?" His vision is as expansive as his playlists, and his relentless optimism fuels his ambition. He’s already taking steps toward his long-term vision, with an audition lined up at Hot 107 in Memphis. And through it all, he remains unapologetically himself — a historian of music who loves deep cuts and one-hit wonders as much as club anthems.
Ask him about the first rap song to make MTV, and he’ll light up. "Blondie’s ‘Rapture,’" he grins before breaking into song. It’s that genuine passion, that encyclopedic love for music, that sets him apart. It’s also what makes him a standout performer. When Von takes the stage, he’s not just playing music; he’s telling a story. He weaves together tracks from different eras and genres, creating a tapestry of sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. It’s a reminder that music is timeless, and so is the joy it brings.
If you ask Von where he’s headed next, the answer is simple: forward. Always forward. Whether it’s spinning for sold-out arenas or a neighborhood block party, he approaches every set with the same energy, the same passion, and the same unshakable belief that music — like optimism — has the power to change lives. And that’s the magic of DJ Von. He doesn’t just play music; he creates moments. Moments that inspire, that uplift, that remind us of the beauty in connection and the power of a shared beat.
So the next time you find yourself at an event where DJ Von is in control of the sound, take a moment to soak it in. That beat you feel? That’s hope. That’s joy. That’s the soundtrack of a man who refuses to let the world be anything less than extraordinary.