Photo Credit: Camilo Rios White
Who doesn’t know the name DJ Ruckus? He’s been a power player on the scene since he was 16, headlining the biggest nightclubs in Miami. By 17, as a junior in high school, he was behind the turntables at Diddy’s lavish birthday bash in Morocco and performing his signature fusion of hip-hop, rock, electro, house, soul, funk, and reggae around the globe. Today, Ruckus plays upwards of 200 shows per year at venues like Hakkasan in Las Vegas, where he has been a resident since the club’s opening in 2013. His clientele includes a legion of loyal celebrity fans including his cousin Lenny Kravitz, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Kanye West and Shaquille O’Neal, all of whom hire Ruckus to spin at their private parties. A favorite of the fashion glitterati, Ruckus is a fixture at high-profile events for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang, and Gap. Marc Jacobs, too, handpicked Ruckus to be a face of his 2013 “Protect The Skin You’re In” campaign and appear on a t-shirt to raise money for skin cancer research. In addition to his Las Vegas residency, Ruckus is a regular at the world’s top nightclubs including LIV [Miami], MIXX [Atlantic City], Finale [New York], Supperclub [Los Angeles], Studio Paris [Chicago], and VIP Room [Paris, Cannes, St. Tropez]. In 2010, Ruckus and hip-hop pioneer Rev Run formed a DJ collective joining old school and new school music and hip-hop and electronic music. The pair continues to perform around the world headlining festivals including Dirty Dutch Blackout [Holland], Umagination [Croatia], Elevation [Bulgaria], Planetlove [Ireland], and One Love Peace Festival [England]. So without further ado, here are this high-profile DJ’s haute secrets to the City of Angels.
DJ RUCKUS’ INSIDER’S GUIDE TO LOS ANGELES
Where were you born: New York city, NY
How long in LA: 9 years collectively
Neighborhood: Mount Olympus
Occupation: DJ
Favorite Restaurant: Gjelina
Best Sushi: Sushi Park
Best Italian: Angelini Osteria
Best dessert: Butter Cake at Mastro’s
Best place for a romantic date: Petit Ermitage
Best Sunday brunch: Soho House
Best place for a power business meeting: Soho House
If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? Chateau Marmont
Favorite shopping venue/boutique: H. Lorenzo
Favorite place to buy jewelry/watches: Maxfield
Best Spa: Beverly Hot Springs
Favorite Charity Event: Tipping Point Community’s Annual Gala \Favorite Cultural Event: Cinco De Mayo
Favorite Cultural Institution: The Getty Museum
Best Steakhouse: Mastro’s
Best Pizza: Joe’s
Best Lunch: Escuela Taqueria
Best Gym/Athletic Facility: Fortune Boxing Gym/Muscle Mechanics on Beverly
Best Massage: Beverly Hot Springs
Best Limousine/Driving Service: Uber
Best Museum/Exhibit: Downtown Art Walk
Describe your city in three words: Fun, Hippie & Healthy
Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: Hearst Castle
All-around favorite spot in Los Angeles: Amoeba Music
Best Aspect of Los Angeles: The open air and views
