DJ Shiftee's reflection on his DJ Times cover
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 11:09AM 
When I was young whippersnapper, snapping whips and whipping snaps, the DJ version of the New York Times would arrive monthly in my mailbox. More than just a magazine, DJ Times was a symbol of my newfound passion. I was a DJ damn it! I read the things that DJs read! Today, in January of 2010, I am able to read myself.
How does it feel to be on the cover of this illustrious publication? Well, it’s pretty much like the first time you taste avocado on a turkey sandwich: surprising and very, very rewarding. I say surprising, because I simply wasn’t expecting it. This is the definition of the word surprising. However to elaborate, when I think of DJ Times, I think of names like Fedde Le Grand, Z-Trip, Q-Bert, Moby, The Chemical Brothers, etc. These people are super duper famous and influential. Unless you are my mother, a sandwich chef, or a salsa connoisseur, I am hardly on this level of notoriety. The last DMC guy to appear on the DJ Times cover was former USA Champion Enferno . . . after he became the DJ for MADONNA. The point is, all these DJs are proven commodities, and as far as I’m concerned, I still have a long way to go.
Therefore, beyond the sense of accomplishment and beyond the new Shiftee wallpaper adorning my apartment, I am looking at this achievement as a challenge. It’s a challenge to belong on that list, to have this be the first of many covers, and to make a lasting mark on my chosen profession beyond the realm of competition.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some whips to snap.
-DJ Shiftee