DJ Ben Ha Meen: Of Third Ward & the World

In episode six, Nicole chops it up with DJ Ben Ha Meen. DJ Ben Ha Meen is a native of Third Ward, Texas. He is an alumnus of Howard University, where he studied film and television. Ben Ha Meen is the co-creator of the graphic novel Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (Penguin Randomhouse). and a self-published author of the children's book The World Is Yours. A world-renowned DJ and music producer, a WGA screenwriter (American Gods), and a pioneering podcaster (FORALLNERDSSHOW, The Combat Jack Show).

In this in-depth convo, DJ Ben Ha Meen shares his journey from growing up in Houston's Third Ward to becoming a successful DJ, filmmaker, and author. He reflects on the cultural influences of his upbringing, his passion for music and storytelling, and the challenges he faced in the creative industry. The discussion also delves into his collaboration on the graphic novel Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze with creative geniuses Mellow Brown and Tom Mandrake, and the importance of writing authentically. Throughout the conversation, DJ Ben Ha Meen emphasizes the power of creativity, resilience, and the impact of storytelling on culture and society.

Purchase Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze, written by DJ Ben Ha Meen and Mellow Brown and illustrated by Tom Mandrake.

Listen to the ForAllNerdsShow.

Oracle Card: "Escape" from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Imagination and Reality

01:37 Roots in Third Ward, Texas

03:00 The Influence of Literature on Perspective

04:10 The Journey into DJing

04:10 The Evolution of a DJ's Craft

07:54 Cultural Influences and Musical Diversity

09:43 Soulmate Stories and Past Lives

09:54 The Early Influences of Film and Writing

10:15 Intentionality in Education and Career Choices

12:36 Navigating Economic Realities and Artistic Aspirations

14:23 Building Connections and Crews at Howard University

15:44 The Evolution of DJing and Filmmaking Skills

18:28 From DJing to Writing for American Gods

21:35 Breaking into Hollywood: A Personal Journey

24:53 Facing Adversity: Personal Stories of Struggle

30:27 The Transformative Power of Writing

34:15 Collaboration in Creativity: The Making of Purple Haze

41:20 Astro Punk and Collaborative Creation

43:32 The Role of Black Music in Revolution

46:55 Genre Defiance and Creative Process

50:06 The Poetry of Jimi Hendrix

52:17 DJ Ben Ha Meen Answers the OM Closing Five

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create.

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Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.