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DJ ENUFF KEEPS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PRODUCER-SON RIOT USA ON THE DOWN LOW

Elijah Mitchell


DJ Enuff knows his son, producer Riot USA, is talented—but he’d rather that fact stay under wraps. The Hot 97 host says he prefers keeping their family connection private so his 23-year-old son can shine on his own merit.


"My son is killing it,” Enuff said in a recent interview. "But sometimes what we forget is that our kids have to live in our shadows and we don’t want that for our kids. If you want true success for your child, you don’t want him living under [your] shadow in any way, shape, or form. I don’t want that.”


Discovering his son's talent

Enuff first realized Riot had a gift for music when his ex-wife called to tell him their 15-year-old son had booked his first show. “I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s 15 years old. He can’t even get inside the club—what are you talking about?’” Enuff recalled.


Knowing Ice Spice's talent

Enuff has also known about his son’s friend and collaborator, Ice Spice, for years. “All my friends are saying, ‘Yo, this Ice Spice.’ And I’m laughing ‘cause in my head I already know about Ice Spice,” he said. “I didn’t know she had the skills though."

While Enuff is proud of his son’s success and burgeoning career, he’s content to support from the sidelines. By keeping their connection low-key, Enuff is allowing Riot to step into his own spotlight and make a name for himself outside of his famous father’s shadow. For Enuff, that’s what real success looks like.




Enuff Discusses Wanting His Son to Make His Own Waves in Music



As a successful artist himself, Enuff knows all too well the challenges of forging your own path in the music industry. That’s why he’s intentionally kept his son’s identity under wraps. “I don’t want him living under [my] shadow in any way, shape, or form,” Enuff said. “I want him to get his own merits, his own flowers and everything based on him doing what he’s supposed to be doing. Not because I’m his dad.”


Discovering His Son's Musical Aspirations

Enuff first found out his son, now 23, was serious about music when Riot was just a teenager. “His mom called me one day and said, ‘Hey, your son got a show.’ I’m like, ‘Show where?’ ‘In Williamsburg, I’m picking him up now.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s 15 years old. He can’t even get inside the club—what are you talking about?’”


Knowing About Ice Spice Before She Blew Up

Enuff has actually known about Ice Spice, his son’s frequent collaborator, for some time. "All my friends are saying, ‘Yo, this Ice Spice.’ And I’m laughing ‘cause in my head I already know about Ice Spice,” Enuff said. “I didn’t know she had the skills though."


While Enuff is clearly proud of his son’s success, he’s determined to let Riot’s talent and hard work speak for itself. By choosing to remain behind the scenes, Enuff is giving his son the space to cultivate his own artistic identity and make waves in the music world on his own terms. For any aspiring artist, that kind of support and freedom is priceless.


How DJ Enuff Secretly Knew About His Son Working With Ice Spice Before Her Rise to Fame

Ice Spice's Hidden College Connection

Riot and Ice Spice actually went to college together, a fact Ice Spice herself has shared before. Even though Enuff didn’t realize Ice Spice had serious skills, he knew about her from what Riot told him during their college days.

“All my friends are saying, ‘Yo, this Ice Spice.’ And I’m laughing ‘cause in my head I already know about Ice Spice,” Enuff said. “I didn’t know she had the skills though."


Riot's Surprise Show at 15

Riot's been making his own waves in music since he was just a teen. Enuff found out his son had an actual show booked when Riot was only 15 after his ex-wife called him up.

“His mom called me one day and said, ‘Hey, your son got a show.’ I’m like, ‘Show where?’ ‘In Williamsburg, I’m picking him up now.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s 15 years old. He can’t even get inside the club—what are you talking about?’” Enuff said, still surprised years later.


Staying Out of the Spotlight

Enuff is proud of his son's success but wants Riot to build his own name without the pressure of his famous father's shadow. "My son is killing it," Enuff said. "Because sometimes what we forget is that our kids have to live in our shadows and we don’t want that for our kids. If you want true success for your child, you don’t want him living under [your] shadow in any way, shape, or form. I don’t want that."

By secretly supporting Riot's dreams and staying out of the public eye, DJ Enuff allowed his son the space to become a star in his own right. His hard work and talent ultimately led to connecting with Ice Spice, and now the two are making major waves.

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