Andre “Milhouse” Johnson Speaks On How His Queens, NY Background Inspired His DJ Life.
Andre “Milhouse” Johnson Speaks On His Queens, NY Inspirations, How He Got Introduced to the World of DJing, Working with Bas And The FIENDS, The Current State of Sneaker Culture, and His Plans for 2021.
Andre “Milhouse” Johnson
As we continue on with Black History Month whilst still highlighting young, Black, and gifted creatives, I wanted to be able to connect with someone who knows a thing or two about music. Although the sounds and songs from our favorite artists continue to change our lives on a daily basis, over the last year music has been our soul soother amid the madness going on in the world. DJs have also been our saving grace throughout the last twelve months as some have gained a major following for themselves due to their contributions on social media.
Andre Johnson, also known as Milhouse, was already a top DJ from NY before COVID hit. The Queens native has been around the country and back due to his spin talents as well as his ties to Dreamville, Bas, and The FIENDS. In January 2020, a month and a half before COVID came and put us all into quarantine, Milhouse did a Grammy weekend run in L.A. with his Dreamville family where he DJ’d at about multiple parties. Since then, the FIENDS member has put together a slew of mixes for Soundcloud, Apple Music, and Tidal. He’s hosted some live events with Def Jam and Everyday People, and as a well-known sneaker lover, you may see him pop up a few times on the SNKRS app in some of the latest releases.
I had the pleasure of catching up with Milhouse to talk to him about his Queens, NY music inspirations, exploring the world of DJing, his affiliation with Dreamville and The FIENDS, the current state of sneaker culture, and some of his plans for 2021. Read the full interview below.
1 - Talk to me a little bit about your music inspirations early on growing up in Queens.
The first artist that actually got me into music was Dr. Dre. Seeing someone with the same first name as me making music caused me to automatically gravitate towards him. I’ll never forget hearing “Nuthin But A G Thang” and seeing the video. The G Funk sound was like nothing I had ever heard before. When that “1,2,3 and to the 4” hit, it was just different. I begged my parents for a White Sox hat right after because that’s what Dre had on in the video.
As far as Queens goes, my earliest influence was LL Cool J. LL had so many hits when I was growing up. “Loungin” is probably my favorite. I still play it at events to this day. I was definitely rocking one pants leg up thinking I was LL, lol.
Another of my biggest influences is 50 Cent/G-Unit. The way 50 came out and took over the industry with “How to Rob” followed by the mixtapes with Banks and Yayo was crazy. No Mercy No Fear, 50 Cent Is The Future, and God’s Plan, just to name a few, are all classics. “Banks Victory” might be the best freestyle ever. Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ is one of the best albums ever. The run 50 and The Unit had was undeniable.
Finally, my biggest influence would have to be Nas. The way he can tell a story on track makes you feel like you were right there when it happened. Top 5 dead or alive. Not up for debate.
Honorable mention: Lost Boyz, N.O.R.E. (CNN) and Mobb Deep (R.I.P. Prodigy)
2 - How did you get introduced to the world of DJing?
I always had a large collection of music. In high school, my Pops got me an external hard drive and that’s how my music collection started. From there my homie Chopp and I would make mixtapes and sell them to make money for kicks while we were in high school. After high school, I took my music with me to college where I would set up my laptop with a Bluetooth speaker and “DJ” parties in my apartment. I would play for hours without running out of music selections. People would always tell me I should be a DJ but I never really took it seriously until I heard DJ mOma kill a set one afternoon at an Everyday People event. The way he controlled the crowd and how they would react when certain records dropped blew my mind. The floor would literally shake from people jumping and dancing. I’m not sure how that floor never caved in. From there I linked with mOma, asked him to introduce me to DJing, and four years later here we are!
3 - At one point in your life did you realize that being a DJ could open a lot of doors for you?
The moment I DJ’d my first event which was for Jordan Brand. It was for an All-Star Game at their old gym, Terminal 23. I arrived and they had my sizes ready for me in the All-Star Game Jordan 1’s and an outfit. I was so confused. In my head I said to myself “Wait, I’m getting paid to DJ and they’re giving me sneakers?” Lol. It was a fun gig. I played music during stoppages, before and after the game. I was able to connect with some of the people who put on the event and also some of the people playing in the game. This was four years ago and I’m still in touch with a lot of those people I met that day.
4 - Although you’ve built a name for yourself in the world of DJing, you also have a background in real estate. How did you get into that?
Honestly, it was by accident. I graduated from Hampton University and wanted to leave Virginia to come back to NYC. A family friend had a job opening at a property management company and I took it just because it allowed me to move back. I started there doing Accounts Payable work and now I’m an Assistant Property Manager/Management Executive.
5 - How is it balancing two completely different lives in spaces that have no correlation with one another?
At first, it was difficult because the world of Property Management can be demanding. Resident problems don’t take nights and weekends off. In order to balance both and focus mainly on DJing, I took a lesser role in the Property Management field working part-time which allowed me to fully pursue DJing. That and time management. Time management is key for sure.
6 - You’ve been alongside Bas’ The FIENDS team for years now based off of that Queens connection. But, how did this particular journey begin for you, not just as a member of the team but also as a DJ for them?
I met Bas back in my freshman year at Hampton University. My boy Matty, who is now the Director of Brand Marketing & Head Of Promotions for Dreamville, introduced us to each other and from there we all became really good friends. It had to be 2010 when Bas was sending me drafts of songs he recorded. They were rough but right then and there you could hear he was going to be good. His ear for a good beat and his natural talent combined with his life experiences all together on a track was a recipe for success. Bas is a really intelligent dude; one of the smartest people I know.
As far as DJing for the team, there are few people that are responsible for that. There were some instances where DJ Nitrane, Bas’ DJ, was double booked and I was called to step in for him. Nitrane would always make the recommendation for me to fill in for him and he would always make sure I was fully prepared. You might think DJing to open a tour show or to DJ for an artist’s performance is easy but trust me, once you get up there and see that crowd for the first time it will shock you.
My boy Derick, Head of Marketing for Dreamville and Manager for Bas, would make sure I got on the DJ lineup for any events that were thrown like the legendary FIENDShops events where new FIENDS merch was released before it eventually turned into a party, and tour show after parties. Last but not least, Matty and MK, who work in Operations at Dreamville, had enough faith in me to give me a chance to DJ for Ari Lennox’s Shea Butter Baby album release party. That was a big moment and really opened a lot of doors. Not just within the team but also outside of the team. I’m thankful for all of the opportunities and I just want to say thank you to my FIENDS and Dreamville family.
7 - You’ve DJ’d for so many parties over the last few years and have done mixes for TIDAL, Apple Music, Soundcloud, etc. What’s been your favorite part of DJing so far? Outside of COVID, what’s been the biggest challenge for you?
My favorite part of DJing is playing music for a crowd. The feeling of dropping a record and the crowd going up is a feeling like no other. You have to remember someone in that crowd was having a shitty day and chose to come to your event as an outlet. To be able to make people forget everything else that’s going on in their life for a moment is a great feeling.
COVID aside, I would say the biggest challenge for me is keeping up with the music. The amount of music that drops weekly can be a lot. There are so many artists and outlets for music to drop that it’s pretty much impossible to keep up with it all. With the help of my friends posting new music in their IG stories, playlists, group chat discussions, Youtube rabbit holes, my youngest brother sending me songs periodically, and of course my record pools, I’m able to keep up.
8 - What are some things that you do to help keep your DJ skills sharp amidst COVID-19 and quarantine?
Practice, practice, practice. I can’t stress it enough. I’ve had a few outdoor and private gigs during COVID but of course, it hasn’t been nearly as consistent as before COVID. Linking with other DJs (safely) for sessions is a good way to keep sharp too. It gives you an honest ear and feedback.
9 - Outside of DJing and real estate, you’re also a well-documented sneakerhead. What are your thoughts on the sneaker culture right now? What’s your favorite sneaker currently?
I feel like this sneaker culture changed a lot. Back in the day, it used to be for the love. Now, it’s more of a business. Resell is bringing in so much money for certain sneakers. I remember lining up outside of the sneakers stores with my friends for hours. We were outside the mall or whatever store had the newest release. We would count people’s feet and guess their sizes and hope when we got to the front of the line they had our size left. It used to be different. Now, there’s the SNKRS app, Stock X, reselling etc. Back then it was way different. My boy Matty and I missed a calculus exam in college waiting outside a store to get the Easter AF1’s for retail, lol. But that’s a conversation for another day. I’ll just say this...buy what you like!
My favorite sneakers right now are my Noir Jordan Union 4’s. Great sneaker and you can wear them every day. Union killed that collab as usual! I need another pair so if you have one size 7.5 for a good price let me know!
10 - If you had one piece of advice to give to the aspiring DJ, what would it be?
Don’t kill me but I have three:
Invest in yourself! I know things are tough right now, but it’s very important. Buy your own equipment so you can practice at home whenever you feel like it and so that you can get hired for gigs that require you to bring a controller and/or speakers. You won’t have to rent equipment or depend on someone else.
Build relationships! Something else that is very important! Relationships are key! When you’re in a room introduce yourself to someone you don’t know and meet new people. You never know who you might meet. Also, your following as a DJ has to grow beyond your circle of friends if you want it to work.
Don’t quit your job immediately! This is one of the first things I was told by mOma when I started. Having a steady source of income will allow you to buy things you may need, like equipment, and also will allow you to not be forced to take gigs just for money. As a DJ you’re a brand and you can’t attach yourself to just anything that comes your way. Look at your job as a means to an end.
11 - What’s your true definition of success?
I haven’t figured it out yet, but I know it involves my mother not working anymore and being able to enjoy her life after everything she’s done for me. I’ve always been a Momma’s Boy but especially since my Pops passed away in November 2019, she’s been my rock. I want to give her the world.
12 - What can we expect from Andre “Milhouse” Johnson for 2021?
I don’t even know what to expect from 2021 at this point, lol, but we’ll see. We’re living in a crazy and unpredictable time right now. I have a few things in the works but it’s too early to speak on them. You can expect more DJ gigs and sneakers for sure though! Maybe some new merch! (Hint) #EverythingsComingUp
Follow Milhouse on Instagram here to stay updated on his DJ journey and check out his sneaker collection.
