Beyond The Beats: How DJ Chose Turned His Prairie View A&M HBCU Hustle Into Endless Opportunities 

DJ Chose’s journey to becoming a charting artist and in-demand DJ wasn’t paved with luck—but with a harsh dose of reality that shaped everything he is today. As a young hopeful in Houston, he persistently tried to pass his music to renowned DJ Mr. Rogers. But instead of an open door, he was met with a simple, blunt truth:

“He would tell me that my music needed to be better,” Chose told OffTheYard.

That honesty became the catalyst. It forced Chose to hone his craft, let go of being just an artist, and learn the discipline of DJing. That moment—and the humility it brought—became his real entry point. And his true proving ground? Prairie View A&M University.

Hustle 101: Music Meets Marketing

A business major at PVAMU, Chose flipped every lecture on marketing into a blueprint for his music grind. He wore his self-proclaimed title proudly:

“I was probably one of the most annoying musicians,” he laughed, remembering the era where he would drop a new mixtape almost every month—sometimes 20 within two years.

Each tape was strategic. Alongside popular tracks, he’d sprinkle in his own music—betting that curiosity would turn into recognition.

“I knew that if I can make you click on the CD… you gonna eventually hear me.”

Chose leaned into the ecosystem of Prairie View. He and his friends once got a song trending on Twitter—from the campus library. But the real litmus test wasn’t the algorithm; it was Hump Day, the university’s legendary campus tradition. That’s where a song either soared or got skipped. Chose would drop a record, and weeks later, the crowd knew every word. That mattered more than any chart.

“If it’s really lit on the yard, then it’s real.”

Fast forward, and Chose would experience that same grassroots spark on a global level with viral hits like the “Thick” remix featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

Lessons Beyond the Booth

Prairie View didn’t just sharpen his marketing instincts—it gave him clarity on self-discipline. He failed calculus four times. But instead of giving up, he got rid of all his studio equipment and went all in on the subject.

“Literally every day I would come home and do calculus work… I was just applying myself.”

Eventually, he passed with an A. That moment shifted his perspective—not just on school, but on life.

“I actually learned in college that I was probably smarter than I ever knew I was.”

Manifestation, Grief, and a New Sound

That grind still powers him today, paired with a more evolved take on manifestation. For Chose, success isn’t a wish—it’s earned.

“The things that are worth keeping are always the hardest. The universe is trying to teach you that you must value it when you get it.”

That mindset guided him through another transformation: the birth of Norman Payne, his new musical alter ego. Rooted in country music and born after the passing of his mother, this lane became a form of healing.

“I record that music for me,” he shared. “I just think a lot of people are really seeking healing.”

It’s a surprising pivot, but one that reflects his depth and evolution. He’s not chasing trends—he’s creating spaces for truth.

From a “relentless” college kid flooding the yard with mixtapes to a multidimensional artist redefining the boundaries of genre and grief, DJ Chose is proof that the HBCU experience is more than a launchpad—it’s a legacy-maker.