Youth Focus - Kareem Jennings: a techie and a DJ

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

His knack for business and music drives his passion to become a successful entrepreneur, but 22-year-old Kareem Jennings, known to many in Montego Bay as DJ Kingpin, is taking it one step at a time.

"Without a doubt, being an entrepreneur is the way to go. I think I was born with this trait. It's not something you can just go to school and adopt. Being an entrepreneur comes from within," said Jennings.

The holder of a bachelor's degree in information technology from the University of Technology, Jennings works as a disc jockey, party promoter, Web and software developer, and owns Elite Conceptz & Solutionz (ECS), a company focused on printing flyers, Web and software development, and event promotions.

Keeping grounded

"I use all my resources around me, capitalise on them, and then achieve. You must know what failure is and get up again then conquer. There is a very thin line between success and failure these days. The aim of an entrepreneur is to make it a very thick line for himself orherself," Jennings confessed as his secret for keeping grounded and focused on his goals.

His skills as a music selector have wooed hundreds of fans and have gained him some popularity, something which has humbled him.

"I am known to many as DJ Kingpin, but I am a humble and determined individual, also a promotional genius. I love to bring people to their feet and provide them with an unforgettable experience through music," he said.

As to how he became involved in music, Jennings revealed that as a promoter, who is affiliated with Antidote Entertainment, he wanted to explore other aspects of entertainment, and it was through listening to other disc jockeys play that he thought about getting hands-on with the craft.

"I started to get familiar with juggling, and from there, everything happened like clockwork. I developed my skills and studied the art of crowd control and musical selection. It came natural, still, being the type of person I am."

He confessed that being a DJ has opened other gates for him as well. "Popularity increased, and it helps to build my network, and gives me an opportunity to travel outside of Montego Bay regularly. And it definitely works hand in hand with my company, ECS and Antidote Entertainment."