Words and Photography by Zac Dubasik
Album Artwork by okpants.com
The season may not have turned out how Cavs fans were hoping, but it was at no fault of their official DJ, DJ Steph Floss, who helped keep the Quicken Loans Arena live all season. Sole Collector featured DJ Steph Floss in our latest issue. Here is an excerpt of the story, and pick up a copy of Issue 28, available now, for the full article.
Loving your job is a wonderful thing. It’s something I can relate to from personal experience. Waking up every day without a feeling of dread stemming from what you will spend the next who knows how many hours on is a great way to start your day. From the second I met DJ Steph Floss, it was immediately obvious that our love for sneakers wasn’t the only thing we had in common. And as the official DJ of the Cleveland Cavaliers, (not to mention DJing around Cleveland and the rest of the country up to six nights a week), it’s not hard to understand why he has a passion for his work. “Being the DJ of the Cavs is the best job in the world,” explains Steph. “I love the organization, the team and the game-time atmosphere. Being in front of over 20,000 screaming fans is unbelievable, and I like to think I play a huge role in the atmosphere.”
One of Steph’s latest mixtapes, created for LeBron for the ’09 Playoffs
Born and raised in Cleveland, Steph cites the diversity in his background as playing a key role in who he is today. Although he grew up in the inner city, he attended magnet grade schools, and later an all-male Catholic high school. But it was while attending Ohio State University on a full academic scholarship that he got his first taste of DJing. “I didn’t actually start until my sophomore year in college,” he explains. “In high school, my crew used to throw parties, so when I got to college I decided throwing parties would be my money maker. … I didn’t want to work a ‘real’ job, but wanted some extra money. I figured that I could throw parties, teach myself how to DJ, and save money by not having to hire a DJ. [laughs] And that I did.” While he may not have started DJing until college, Steph’s love for sneakers began far earlier.
“I’ve always been into sneakers. My older brother was always into kicks, so that love was handed down to me,” he says. “The difference between now and when I was a kid, though, is that I can buy more now. When sneakers began costing close to $200, parents didn’t seem to understand. [laughs] Now, I don’t have to tell my mom and dad what I buy. Well, not all the time. [laughs] … And I still make excuses. With the resurgence of retros, though, my love has gotten even larger. I love feeling like I’m back in the eighth grade.” His collection is as diverse as his background, too. From Nike, to Reebok, to adidas, to designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Steph is less discriminating with his brand affiliation than former Cav Shawn Kemp was with his women. “My crew, Eighty81, loves to try and set sneaker trends. I know I like to show people that if a sneaker is hot, it’s hot. You don’t have to only buy Dunks, or Blazers or just one specific sneaker. If you truly have a love for sneakers, all sneakers are fair game.”
June 8th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Sounds like DJ Floss might have to work with Nike to give his imput on the LeBron 7′s. Great article and a great guy!
Peace
June 8th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Go CAVS!!! Congrats Steph!!!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
dj steph floss is the coldest dj here in cleveland, shout out to eighty81.com!
June 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
SO TRUE: “If you truly have a love for sneakers, all sneakers are fair game.”
June 10th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Nice Kicks but thats where it ends!
Im not a hater at all! I stay in Cleveland I’ve been clubbin for years and he is the worst DJ’s I’ve ever heard. He thinks he is a New York DJ every 5 seconds he saying his name. Ex. Im am DJ Steph Floss and if you dont know know you know. Come on know we heard you last verse of the same song! And to think he does this 6 times a week that must be like 74 shout out to his self a night. And not to mention he plays the same song like 4 times in the same night. I was Hooping at Euclid Creek and they were talking about his style down there, I was over my boys house who stays in the flats he was talking about his style to.Coincidence I think not. lol
Dude get one of ya boys to handle the MC part of the gig you just spin the records.
Glad he cant talk at the Cavs game.
He talked to much at the Jay Z Obama concert.
Bring back Mick Boogie just for a change up of DJ’S
June 10th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Shout outs to yourself? i think of it as advertisement. just like ppl who are selling stuff over the radio they say that same damn number about 5 times in 10 sec. ex. 555 9885 thats 555 9885 dont forget to call in thats 555 9885 this is your last chance to buy 555 9885 right? maybe thats one reason why steph is doing so well. You can get his name out your head. lol
June 11th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Not doubting his success at all!
But
Liz if you can come to Cleveland and go to the Club Anatomy on Thursday night or the View on a Sunday night if you can to Witness his advertisement DJ style.
And by the end of the night that will be the most annoying advertisement ever.lol
June 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
It sounds like 216ant likes going to places where Stephfloss dj’s. If he didn’t like it, why did he continue to keep coming back.
I think he secretly wishes that he could be so confident in his own abilities.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
hey 216 ant
june 12, 2009 11:30 p.m.
you say your not a hater, can’t tell. That is one reason we as a people
don’t come together, because we don’t know how to lift each other up, sound
like you and your boys don’t have anything to do, but talk, having trouble
getting the girls to remember your name, say it more than once, and like Liz
said Steph is doing so well, he could be doing like you sitting around and
hating.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Floss glad you doing your thing. you right if the show is hot then its hot!
July 15th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Dj Steph Floss is my favorite DJ, Point Blank Period .. Congrats To All Your Accomplishments, your true inspiration and You Keep Cleveland ROCKING