Yung Creatives • DJ Oreo
Photo by Bryan Lamb
Yung Creatives is a monthly panel curated and hosted by These Days' Jake Krez at Soho House Chicago. To provide added insight on the talented young people taking the stage during the next discussion, we've decided to pair the event with a series of digital features. Over the upcoming weeks, we'll turn the spotlight on each member of the forthcoming panel one at a time.
Chicago’s music scene is filled with interesting and unique people, including a growing number whose names are known on a national level. However very few of them bring the type of energy to a room that DJ Oreo does - whether he’s on the clock or simply making an appearance.
Anyone who has seen Oreo in front of a crowd can attest, the 25-year-old is a natural born entertainer. His earlier years saw him as a member of the Jesse White Tumblers - in case you were wondering where those moves he displayed on Late Night with Stephen Colbert during Chance The Rapper’s “Angels” performance came from. His eventual entry into the footwork world segued into his career as a DJ as he began to put his own spin on the records he and those around him were dancing to.
As a DJ, Oreo understands his responsibility to make sure everyone in attendance is having a good time, and he takes his job seriously. Pairing his contagious charisma with a carefully curated collection of super hot records, he’s gained a reputation for being a sure shot to get a crowd hyped up and ready to go. It was that ability that earned him his position as touring DJ for Chance in 2013 and Vic Mensa in 2014 as their careers accelerated to the next level. Providing him with the invaluable experience of rocking hundreds of shows for tens of thousands of fans in a short time.
While his on stage abilities are what set DJ Oreo apart professionally, it’s his positive perspective and undeniable work ethic (shout out West Side) that has gained him the respect and admiration of his peers on a personal level. No place is that more evident than at Oreo Fest. A party disguised as a concert manifested by the man himself where the city’s music scene shows out like nowhere else. The first fest took place in March at Reggies and included performances from Z Money, Lil Herb, Katie Got Bandz, Leather Corduroys and many more. The follow up in September at Thalia Hall was even more epic as King Louie, Savemoney, Hurt Everybody, Logan and more served up sets. Guest appearances from the likes of Vic Mensa, Towkio, Lucki Eck$ and Chance The Rapper only added to the excitement. While fans are treated to one-of-a-kind show on stage, artists from all corners of the city are brought together backstage in a way that wouldn’t happen otherwise.
Looking ahead, the 3rd installment of Oreo Fest is all set take place on December 27th at Portage Theatre. For this edition we're seeing it branded as a DJ Oreo vs. Metro Boomin. Metro is having a crazy year highlighted by his role in Drake & Future's What A Time To Be Alive album and is fresh off of the Family Matters tour with Chance, D.R.A.M. & Towkio. We expect both of these guys to bring out quite the list of special guests to close out the year appropriately. See why we're making a big deal about this man and catch Oreo Fest for yourself live.