BlaQuest

Marc Burrell aka DJ BlaQwest (pronounced Black Quest) grew up listening and playing music. He remembers watching his parents dancing to the music of Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and Minnie Ripperton to name a few. When his parents weren’t home he would play their records on the record player that he was not supposed to touch.

In fourth grade he took up playing the trumpet and baritone. He played in concert, marching and jazz bands for 9 years throughout school.

In high school, BlaQwest was really in to Hip-Hop and Modern Rock (New Order is his favorite band of all time). The Hip-Hop side of him always wanted to be a b-boy after watching friends breakdance to “Clear” by Cybotron, (one of his favorite songs), and although he couldn’t breakdance, he really wanted to be part of the crew so he became the “DJ”.

At that time he didn’t have any money to get turntables so he started collecting records. After high school he joined the United States Air Force and while in the military over in Japan he picked up some turntables and really began DJing and has been doing it now for 23 years. After the military, BlaQwest opened a record store named “WaxWorx” back in his home town with two of his DJ partners. The store lasted for a few years until he moved to San Francisco to continue his DJ career.

BlaQwest prides himself on his versatility to play everything from Hip Hop to House, 80’s to Electro and everything in between. Over the years he has warmed up crowds for such artists as Mos Def, KRS One, Souls of Mischief, The Boot Camp Clik and many more. He has also DJ’d with DJs Donald Glaude, Bad Boy Bill, Kelevra, Shortkut and Rob Swift.

BlaQwest always wanted to start producing music instead of just playing it. Luckily, through a promoter, BlaQwest was introduced to Booker at a gig at Suite 181 in San Francisco. The two hit it off right away and started playing out together as the B&B DJs. Booker then introduced BlaQwest to Jazz-e. The two had worked together earlier as Chubby Fingers producing tracks. With his various musical tastes and experience, BlaQwest was a natural fit for the Chubby Fingers Crew and was welcomed in by Booker and Jazz-e.

He has been part of various crews including WaxWorx, B&B DJs and FFL DJs. Currently he is part of the crew NodPhonix that throws parties around the Bay Area.

Be on the lookout for BlaQwest solo or with his crews.