Head Spins: DJ Lennox

With DJs the world over claiming to be "open format," it's refreshing to stumble upon a spinner who actually claims a specific genre. In DJ Lennox's case, it's hip-hop, he says: "That's my foundation."

Still, Lennox is no fool about the vagaries of the marketplace, and he's not about to lose a gig because some wannabe club king has something vague in his skull. "With all this talk about open format," Lennox says, "I don't want to be labeled. I can play anything." And he's right; he can kick it in any school. But when you hear the cat dropping the top in hip-hop, of both then and now, you kind of hope he never lets go of that game.

Born in Brooklyn, the birth borough of heavyweights such as GZA, Jay-Z, and Biggie (whom Lennox still spins to infinity), the head spinner hit South Florida 15 years ago. The first stop was Fort Lauderdale, where he spent a decade in residence at Voodoo Lounge, and then there was Palm Beach County, where he has held court in any joint with two turntables and a crowd.

Along the way, there have been spins in Paris, Vegas, L.A., New York, and the ATL, in addition to a full-blown North American tour with Mims. Now this skills-soaked head spinner resides at Legacy in West Palm Beach on Thursdays and at 90° in Miami on Saturdays. And he's also a full-time mixer on X 102.3 (WMBX), a CBS affiliate out of West Palm. Still, he also often finds time to hit Lauderdale's Living Room, just so the folks in Broward County don't feel left out.

Citing legendary DJs Tony Touch, Spinbad, Doo-Wop, and the Green Lantern among his many influences, and steeped in the tradition of the streets, DJ Lennox might have an open mind, but his heart belongs strictly to hip-hop. Hit it.

DJ Lennox's current top five:

1. "Day N Night," Kid Cudi

2. "I'm the Shit," DJ Class feat.Lil Jon

3. "No Games," Serani

4. "Jumpin' out the Window," Ron Browz

5. "Diva," Beyoncé