Celebrity DJs

Check out the stars moonlighting behind the wheels of steel.

Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys traded in her piano for a set of turntables in a surprise appearance at the Yotel Hotel in New York City on October 28, 2002. Joined by her hubby Swizz Beatz and friend, Busta Rhymes, Keys debuted her alter ego DJ AK-47. Now word is DJ AK-47 is prepping a new mixtape. (Photo: Ron at iAmBoiGenius.com)

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Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys traded in her piano for a set of turntables in a surprise appearance at the Yotel Hotel in New York City on October 28, 2002. Joined by her hubby Swizz Beatz and friend, Busta Rhymes, Keys debuted her alter ego DJ AK-47. Now word is DJ AK-47 is prepping a new mixtape. (Photo: Ron at iAmBoiGenius.com)

Nick Cannon - Since successfully testing out the waters in hip hop with the release of his debut self-titled rap album in 2003, which featured the hit, "Gigolo," comedian and established television and film star Nick Cannon has strayed from the mic but continues to dabble with music occasionally as a DJ. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

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Nick Cannon - Since successfully testing out the waters in hip hop with the release of his debut self-titled rap album in 2003, which featured the hit, "Gigolo," comedian and established television and film star Nick Cannon has strayed from the mic but continues to dabble with music occasionally as a DJ. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

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Erykah Badu - Shortly after the release of her fifth studio album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), in March 2010, Badu began moonlighting in Dallas-area nightclubs as her alter ego, DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown. Although she tends to mix in her own soulful hits, she actually specializes in spinning dance tracks.(Photo: Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup) 

Solange\r - After taking a stab at walking in her big sister's shoes as a singer, first in 2003 with Solo Star and again in 2008 with Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, Solange decided to express her artistically-different style by taking to the turntables in early 2010. \r \r(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

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Solange\r - After taking a stab at walking in her big sister's shoes as a singer, first in 2003 with Solo Star and again in 2008 with Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, Solange decided to express her artistically-different style by taking to the turntables in early 2010. \r \r(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Idris Elba\r - Although his character, Stringer Bell, on the hit HBO show The Wire has been deified in hip hop, it still seemed odd that seemingly straight-laced English actor Idris Elba, who voiced the intro for Jay-Z's 2007 American Gangster album, desired to join in. Under the alias DJ Big Driis or, sometimes, Big Driis The Londoner, Elba (who also raps) has picked up plenty of high-profile DJ gigs in the states beginning in 2007 at NBA All Star Weekend parties in Vegas.\r\r(Photo: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)

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Idris Elba\r - Although his character, Stringer Bell, on the hit HBO show The Wire has been deified in hip hop, it still seemed odd that seemingly straight-laced English actor Idris Elba, who voiced the intro for Jay-Z's 2007 American Gangster album, desired to join in. Under the alias DJ Big Driis or, sometimes, Big Driis The Londoner, Elba (who also raps) has picked up plenty of high-profile DJ gigs in the states beginning in 2007 at NBA All Star Weekend parties in Vegas.\r\r(Photo: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)

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My Name Is D-Nice\r - Takin out you suckas and we know exactly how he did it! The DJ kept the party rockin' for hours to the delight of the crowd.\r(Photo by Marc Andrew Deley/PictureGroup)

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D-Nice\r - Although he came onto the scene as a member of the hip hop group, Boogie Down Productions, in the mid-'80s, rapper D-Nice became the crews' DJ after the death of Scott La Rock in 1987. Following an unsuccessful attempt at a solo career after leaving the group in 1990, D retreated to a career of digging in the crates.\r\r(Photo: Marc Andrew Deley/PictureGroup)

18. "The Chase (Part 2)" - This album cut that concluded the Midnight Marauders album hides a lot of genius Tribe Called Quest qualities. From working Q-Tip's mumbling mistakes into the production to hearing Phife's natural Carribean accent come up at the end of his verse to being one of the best examples of hip hop sampling hip hop, "The Chase 2" is an often overlooked TCQ classic. (Photo: Scott Eells/Getty Images)

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Q-Tip\r - OPEN, the weekly residence of rapper and producer Q-Tip at New York City's popular dance club Santos Party House, was named the "Best DJ Night" by Paper Magazine in 2008. The Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist continues to pop up on the NYC scene for DJ sets, including a Friday Night Party at NYC's trendy Yotel. \r\r\r(Photo: Scott Eells/Getty Images)

Talib Kweli - With two parents and a little brother in working in academia, it's evident why Kweli has the inclination to teach every time he gets behind the mike. The Brooklyn rapper's music is reminiscent of the Golden Era of hip-hop- highly lyrical, insightful and politically charged. (Photo: Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup)

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Talib Kweli\r - Talib Kweli wed DJ Eque in Bel Air, California on May 9, 2009. Since the wedding, Kweli's thrown down the gauntlet and invited some friendly competition with his wifey by setting up shop as an occasional DJ at New York's hipster haven Brooklyn Bowl.\r(Photo: Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup)

Philly Stand Up\r - Questlove deejays at the event, DJ Questlove: A Celebration of Two Philadelphia Classics, at the Mitchell & Ness Flagship Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

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?uestlove\r - As the drummer for the Grammy Award-winning hip hop band The Roots and producer for Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, John Legend, Al Green and Amy Winehouse, ?uest has already proven himself as a talented musician and producer. His highly popular DJ sets are just for fun. \r\r(Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

Connor Cruise\r - Connor Cruise, the adopted son of film stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, made his silver screen debut alongside Will Smith in Seven Pounds. While acting is cool and all, the 16 year-old has taken a liking to the turntables, naming himself DJ C-Squared and earning pocket money in his first gigs during LA Fashion Week this past spring.\r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)\r 

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Connor Cruise\r - Connor Cruise, the adopted son of film stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, made his silver screen debut alongside Will Smith in Seven Pounds. While acting is cool and all, the 16 year-old has taken a liking to the turntables, naming himself DJ C-Squared and earning pocket money in his first gigs during LA Fashion Week this past spring.\r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)\r 

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Jermaine Dupri\r - In 2008 Jermaine Dupri took a page out of Nas' handbook and declared that one of the essential elements of hip hop, The DJ, was dead. The cure? Throwing in his own bid for master of the wheels of steel. \r\r(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)