BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Tashene Eubanks goes by “TJ” around the Queen City.
But elsewhere in the country — scratch that — world, he’s better known as DJ T-Jizzle.
The 26-year-old stopped by the 7 Eyewitness News studios just days after getting back in town from his latest tour with Canadian rapper Nav.
He says this is his 14th year in the game…he started at just 12 when his dad called him from work with an idea.
“It was like 10, 11 o’clock on a Tuesday,” Eubanks remembers.
“He just called me one day and was like ‘Hey, it would be pretty cool if you tried this out.” And I was like, ‘yeah, okay, cool.’”
It was just two years later Eubanks was booked for his first big “gig” at the Town Ballroom on Main Street. He was 14.
“There was nothing that warranted me being on that stage yet, and I knew that, that’s why I took it so seriously.”
He must’ve made some kind of impression because just years later he would be touring with some of the biggest artists in the world: Future, Drake, Bruno Mars, and Nav.
Eubanks has relocated to L.A. to continue pursuing his goals, but says he never leaves Buffalo behind.
“There’s a lot of times I miss the food…like, I just miss a good single order of wings.”
Eubanks refused to go on record to declare his favorite Queen City wing joint, we questioned his roots, but the Buffalo Academy of Science graduate says he won’t be boxed in.
But what he will be is a gateway for other artists.
Eubanks says he and other buffalo-born artists like Beyonce’s drummer Joy the Drummer, and Grammy-award winning producer Jay “Keyz” Foye are working to open the doors for other artist in the music scene.
“What’s happening now is the footsteps are being taken, the doors that we weren’t in…we’re now in.”
He hopes that in the next generation, Buffalo will be a source for talent.
“There are the ones that are getting there, putting their feet down (in the music industry), and solidifying it by doing big things. It just motivates people that are here now to say, ‘Okay, it’s my turn.’”
