DJ McShellen has made a name for herself in Minneapolis through her track selection and pure skill. As a DJ, she aims to connect the African diaspora through blending genres like hip-hop, amapiano, Jersey club, and more. Having spun at just about every reputable venue in the city, she knows how to rock a crowd and keep them engaged through making familiar tracks new by digging for creative mashups.

We chatted with DJ McShellen about her background and intentions for her mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

I actually started at the beginning of the pandemic, so that would be about four years.

I always was a person that had the aux and would like to play music or, like, discover new things. When my dad came here from Cameroon, he was the music guy. Not a lot of Africans  were coming into the U of M when he went to school. So he would throw house parties and play his records and things like that. So, I guess it runs in the family. 

My brother also produces beats and stuff like that. So it's kind of always just been a musical mind of trying to adjust to being bi-cultural. Growing up with a lot of makosa, West African music, and then getting into hip-hop and things like that, and trying to blend those types of sounds.

What do you try to give people with your sets? 

I think one of the biggest things is just trying to capture the whole diaspora in a set. It's harder when you have a lot of music, so just trying to make sure I filter and have a flow. I want to make sure people hear something familiar, but it kind of has a new twist to it. So I love edits, mashups,  and flips. Something that catches your ear, but you’re still able to groove and feel like you can enjoy what's going on. So it's not a surprise, but it's also not something you've heard before. That’s my biggest goal when I play, introducing people to new things.

I think it's gonna be something to where I’m speaking to the diaspora. Gonna do some amapiano, some Brazilian funk, some Jersey, Miami bass, bounce, and stay at a higher tempo. I had a crate that was kind of on the slower end, but I just want to continue to have myself grooving today. It's been a long week, so I'm trying to please to myself as well.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Julian Green built and manages the music library for Carbon Sound and oversees content creation.  


Julian Green

Creative mashups from one of Minneapolis’ brightest.


Creative mashups from one of Minneapolis' brightest.

DJ McShellen (11/20/24)

Hip-Hop, Mashups, and more from DJ McShellen | Carbon Sound

Each week, we add new music, older tracks, which are known as “Gold adds”, and tracks that might not fit our general format, but still deserve a place in rotation because they serve our mission of showing the depth, breadth, and influence of Black musical expression - These are known as “Variety adds.”

. If you make music and want it considered for rotation, 

 If you want to give feedback directly, reach out to me at jgreen@mpr.org.

Tune in to hear our host Sanni B. live on The Message from 10 AM to 1 PM Monday through Thursday!

Keep all these tracks in one place with the 

 Spotify playlist. This playlist is updated weekly with all the new adds. When that playlist is cycled with new tracks, the tracks live forever on the 

 playlist. That playlist contains all of the music that we've added since the week of July 11, 2022 in chronological order of when it was added. All of the tracks available on Spotify, at least.

All of the tracks added to rotation on Carbon Sound the week of Nov. 18, 2024.


Image for New on Carbon Sound Spotify playlist

Natalia Toledo

New on Carbon Sound

Old on Carbon Sound

New Music on Carbon Sound - Week of November 18, 2024

Scott Herold stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about all things HSRA: a school with a mission to provide youth the opportunity to achieve a high school diploma through the exploration and operation of the music business and other creative endeavors.


Scott Herold stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about all things HSRA: a school with a mission to provide youth the opportunity to achieve a high school diploma through the exploration and operation of the music business and other creative endeavors.

The Message - Scott Herold

scott herold posiing for a polaroid photo

John Kueppers

sanni brown and scott herold posing for a photo together

Scott Herold Interview: High School for Recording Arts, student focused learning, and more

Let Me Reintroduce the High School for Recording Arts Full Video

Essential Learning at Hip Hop High (Story of HSRA)

New Power Generation (Pt.II)

Interview: Scott Herold on The Message

Hey guys. This is Julian, AKA echo, AKA Carbon Sound’s Content Director. Today we were going to release DJ McShellen’s mix, but there are some spicy words in there that a certain government agency doesn’t like us airing. When that happens and we don’t have time to clean it up, it’s my job to suit up and try not to clang too hard.

I’ve been finding a lot of great house and UK garage tracks lately and wanted to use this mix to practice with them. This mix is lighter than my usual sound. There’s enough darkness out there.

We’ll be back to normal next week with McShellen’s mix as a YouTube exclusive. Stay tuned for that and enjoy this in the meantime.

Scheduling issues mean that echo is back in the booth; This time, bringing new disco and house finds.


echo (11/13/24)

House and Disco from echo | Carbon Sound

Feven Gerezgiher is a reporter and producer for MPR News Reverb, a team focused on reporting with and for young adults. In her interview with Carbon Sound, she talks about local elections and the impact that these can have on your community.


The Message - Feven Gerezgiher

Feven Gerezgiher Interview: MPR News Reverb, local elections, and more

Introducing Reverb, an MPR News initiative covering younger Minnesotans

Interview: Feven Gerezgiher on The Message

“Blackwater” (128 full strings instrumental)

All of the tracks added to rotation on Carbon Sound the week of Nov. 4, 2024.


New Music on Carbon Sound - Week of November 4, 2024

Every 1st of the month, we’re creating a roundup of our favorite tracks, projects, and music videos that were released by Minnesota artists from that previous month. 

Keep our favorite tracks in one place with “Carbon Sound’s 1st of the Month” Spotify playlist. Expect an updated 1st of the Month Playlist on……every 1st of the Month.  Mark your calendars accordingly.

Through Zora’s remarkable visual, production, and writing skills on “videogurl,” you truly believe her when she says “I’m the new sound and you’re just living in my world.” She is a prime example of what it looks like to craft and build an entire world through your music, all while creating suspense for what’s to come. “videogurl” is a single from Zora’s upcoming sophomore album, 

, set to release on January 17, 2025. - John Kueppers

Liberian-Minnesotan fusion artist Kokou Kah and Minneapolis-based artist/producer Lazerbeak team up with new release “Love Is Therapy”. With a light plucky percussion sample in the beginning of the track, the second you hear the beat come in, you’re instantly hooked. Kokou Kah’s smooth melodies guide you throughout the song and create a floaty yet bright atmosphere. Leaning heavily into his Liberian roots, the danceable rhythms and unique collaboration is what really shines out here. - Nikhil Kumaran

Minneapolis born and raised Tall Paul is an Anishinaabe and Oneida artist who has been performing nationally and internationally since 2013. Mostly known for being an MC, Tall Paul also facilitates creative writing workshops for Native youth. Just in time for Spooky SZN, he recently released the track “Zombies Ate My Natives”, displaying his lyrical talent while not letting us forget about important historical lessons. - Natalia Toledo

"Price Going Up" doesn't waste any time. The beat is urgent while Qmoe's delivery is confident and relaxed. It's an anthemic track, hard not to feel hyped listening to it. - Julian Green

Check out our interview with L.A. from last February 

MaLLy, Last Word - The Sweetest of It All 

EuphoriasRoom - Players Club (Official Music Video)

All Four Coaches INSTANTLY Turn for Cameron Wright's Magnetic Performance | The Voice | NBC

Viberate: Season I — Libations 4 Nipsey Cypher

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Author

Nikhil Kumaran

Highlighting Carbon Sound’s Favorite Minnesota made tracks, projects, and music videos released over the month of October, 2024.


best minnesota music from october graphic

Carbon Sound's 1st of the Month

NORFSIDE

I SHOULD CALL THEM

SETLIST EP

There It Goes

The Sweetest of It All

Paranoia

Mati - prey (Official Video)

Lerado Khalil - Playmaker

Bugz Lyfe

home series: dazzle

home series: kema

Puff - Artist Spotlight (Performance)

Minnesota Music Releases to check out from October 2024

Dammntc stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about the beginnings of his music career making “type beats,” how reaching out to producers led to collaborations G Herbo, Yeat, and other artists, and a whole lot more.


The Message - Dammntc

sanni brown and dammntc posing for a photo together

Dammntc Interview: From type beats to working with artists like Yeat, G Herbo, and more

Dammntc - Ley Go (feat. Yeat) (Extended Video)

"Miss My Dawgs" | FREE | NBA YoungBoy x Lil Boosie Type Beat | 2017 | [Prod. Too Cool Beats]

¡ <3 SACH!E

sach!e - not sorry (feat. xF3bruaryx) [Official Music Video]

Close Friends 4 Now

Live Fast (Speed Up Versions)

Interview: Dammntc on The Message

Luzia Fuchsia is a DJ, organizer, and graphic designer based in Minneapolis. Viewing DJing as a form of sonic collage, they manipulate genres to blend them into something new.

We chatted with Luzia Fuchsia about their background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

I started about two years ago. I was inspired by the community of queer and trans DJs throughout the world. I just got in touch with a lot of them online and they inspired me to get my own decks and start creating sounds. 

After I got my first set of decks, I started just hosting my own little things. After a couple years of doing that, I gained the confidence to throw myself into what I really dreamed of, which was doing cave raves and stuff. Then from there, people started asking me to do stuff.

How would you describe the music you play?

I love to think of DJing as like sonic collage or even like Sonic architecture. I love pulling from all different cultures, sounds, and ideas from around the world and combining them. I especially take influence from the UK Jungle scene and Arca.

What are we going to hear from you today?

I'm gonna play a wide variety of everything. I hope to get a little experimental with it and bring in what’s been playing in my head lately.

I would say all the work that I'm doing ties into the fight for liberation for oppressed people throughout the world and giving more people a voice. There are a lot of people who have really important voices that I want to share with the world and uplift.

A huge part of my DJing is about my transmasculine and non-binary identity and appreciating the fluidity of the world in my sounds, art, music and existence. I think that DJing and collage in general is one of my favorite medium  because it really reflects the fluidity that I see in the world. I see myself in it

Stories

DJ McShellen (11/20/24)

New Music on Carbon Sound - Week of November 18, 2024

Interview: Scott Herold on The Message

Get the Carbon Sound app

echo (11/13/24)

Interview: Feven Gerezgiher on The Message

New Music on Carbon Sound - Week of November 4, 2024

Minnesota Music Releases to check out from October 2024

Connect with Carbon Sound

Interview: Dammntc on The Message

Luzia Fuchsia (10/30/24)

Photos: Vince Staples gives a powerful performance in Minneapolis

See more stories →