How DJ Yella got into the porn industry: “Eazy-E didn’t go for it”
DJ Yella cut his teeth on the rap scene through his position as the DJ and producer for NWA, helping shape and define the group’s raw and minimalist West Coast sound in the late 1980s. Working alongside Dr Dre, he helped craft the stripped-down beats of Compton-affiliated gangster rap, handling the production and turntables while Dre focused more on the mixing and arranging.
He had appeared on all of NWA’s major releases – yes, including Straight Outta Compton – and continued to work with Dre outside of NWA projects. This includes helping produce Eazy-E’s debut album Eazy-Duz-It, co-producing JJ Fad’s debut Super Sonic, and contributing to The DOC’s No One Can Do It Better.
His partnership with Dre was so known within the industry that Jerry Heller, manager of NWA and Eazy-E, commented on the “almost eerie understanding” shared between the two in his 2006 memoir. But while Dre – famously – has stayed within the music industry, DJ Yell expanded to pastures fresh and new. And, actually, porny. Is porn pastures a term?
In an interview with the West Coast News Network, the DJ and producer explained the exact details of his pivot from music to adult filmmaking. “Can you tell us how you got into the porn business?” the interviewer asked.
“Actually a buddy of mine name Big Man, a partner of mine, he [brought] me the idea,” DJ Yella said. “He actually brought Eazy E the idea first but Eazy didn’t go for it but once the idea was brought to me I jumped right on it. Went out bought cameras and stuff just started.”
“Where can people order your adult movies?” the interviewer continued. “At the website DJYELLA.NET. or in the stores, well not out here yet but it will be, yeah, online,” the producer replied.
And as for what else was keeping him busy, the interviewer asked, “what projects have you been working on lately? Is it just movies?”
“Yea, just movies I shot over 250 movies,” DJ Yella replied. “Nut my name is not on all of them. I just started putting my name on them for the last year and a half. I like it, it is like starting over in the music business when NWA first started when it was fun. No headaches no nuttin’, that’s how this business is. Not just from lookin’ at the girls but the business side.”
He eventually founded his own company, Street Lightz, which soon became celebrated in the industry for its polished and tight visuals, and – unsurprisingly – its strong usage of music. And as for his purpose for getting into the adult film industry, he has said in other interviews, this is a man who, if he’s going to do something, will do it with his chest! – has said the move over wasn’t about accessing personal media attention through shock value, but actually a matter of entrepreneurship. He simply used his former production skills to build a profitable and independent operation. What is there to say apart from the old age adage: sex sells, baby!