Darhyl “DJ” Camper (born May 25, 1990), also known by his stage name Hey DJ, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer.
Career
Camper was born May 25, 1990 in
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.
. At the age of six, he began playing the piano. Raised in the
Mays Landing
Mays Landing is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
section of
Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 26,503, reflecting an increase of 6,004 (+29.3%) from the 20,499 counted in the 2000 census. The T ...
, Camper graduated from
Oakcrest High School
Oakcrest High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The school is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which includes three ...
The Press of Atlantic City
''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...
'', March 3, 2019. Accessed July 22, 2020. "Darhyl 'DJ' Camper Jr., who has had multiple Grammy nominations over the years, has met many starry-eyed teenagers who want to have a career as a recording artist.... Camper, a former Mays Landing resident, decided to work with H.E.R. six years ago.... Camper, who moved last year to New Brunswick, Middlesex County, was back in Ventnor recently for the first time since winning his Grammy.... Camper, a 2008 Oakcrest High School graduate, chose to work with H.E.R. because their personalities meshed, and they caught a vibe when they decided to see how they would jell in the recording studio."
In 2011 Camper, co-produced the
Big Sean
Sean Michael Leonard Anderson (born March 25, 1988), known professionally as Big Sean, is an American rapper. Anderson began his music career in 2007 and gained popularity in 2010 with his third mixtape '' Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big''. He then s ...
single “
Marvin & Chardonnay
"Marvin & Chardonnay" is a song by American rapper Big Sean featuring fellow American rappers Kanye West and Roscoe Dash, released as the second single from the former's debut studio album, '' Finally Famous''. The song was written by the artists ...
" which reached number one on the US Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
. In 2012, he received a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
nomination for co-producing singer
Elle Varner
Gabrielle Serene Varner (born February 12, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Born into a musical family in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Los Angeles, Varner studied at New York University's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. In ...
’s “Refill." Subsequently, Camper worked with artists such as
Tamar Braxton
Tamar Estine Braxton (born March 17, 1977) is an American singer and television personality.
Braxton began her career in 1990 as a founding member of The Braxtons, an R&B singing group formed with her sisters. The Braxtons released their debut a ...
,
John Legend
John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and record producer. He began his musical career by working behind the scenes, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Ever ...
,
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...
, and
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
. In 2017, Camper collaborated with
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
on her single "
Thick of It
"Thick of It" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Darhyl Camper, Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., and Jazmine Sullivan for her thirteenth studio album ''Strength of a Woman (album), Strength of a Woman'' (2017), while prod ...
" which topped the US
Adult R&B Songs
The Adult R&B Songs chart (formerly called Adult R&B Airplay) is an airplay chart that is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on urban adult contemporary radio stations, whose playl ...
chart. The following year, he executive produced on English singer
Jessie J
Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical '' Whistle Down the Wind''. She studied ...
’s album ''
R.O.S.E.
''R.O.S.E.'' is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Jessie J. It was released by Republic Records in four parts, starting on 22 May 2018, and finishing on 25 May 2018, with a part being released on each day. The four parts rel ...
''. In 2019,
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
consulted Camper to executive produce her album '' B7''.
Camper has been a resident of