The Mid-West grind is one that can’t be matched. For the past ten years, Mean Girlz Media has been a major staple in what is one of the strongest entertainment hot spots in the industry. At the head of that movement is Karyn Sharks, professionally known as DJ K Mean. Thissomebull.com sat and spoke with DJ K Mean about her position in the St. Louis music scene thus far.
TSB: Introduce yourself to our readers.
DJ K Mean: Hello, I am Karyn Shanks, public known as DJ K. Mean. I am owner of Mean Girlz Media, a marketing & brand development company. I also own subsidiaries Intangible Management & Intangible Publishing. All three usually work concurrently to provide artists with assistance in growing their music careers.
TSB: Tell us about growing up in St. Louis.
DJ K Mean: I have no complaints. The good outweighs the bad. And I wouldn’t change it for the world. I still get excited seeing the landmarks when I come back home from being out of town. Even if I was only gone a few hours. St. Louis made me who I am.
TSB: What attracted you to music?
DJ K Mean: I don’t know if there’s any specific thing. It just always made me feel. Songs and sounds always resonated with me for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t something I looked to do. It was something I had to do.
TSB: Tell us about your journey to becoming an actual DJ.
DJ K Mean: I started with mixtapes in 2011/2012. After years of putting off learning how to DJ. One day I just said it was time. I got online and ordered a cheap controller and started teaching myself how to use Virtual DJ. Then as I progress, I began getting better equipment and started doing events in addition to the mixtapes.
TSB: Talk to me about your company, Mean Girlz Media.
DJ K Mean: MeanGirlzMedia started as really a basic promotions company. We were two women who were good at doing street team promo and had dabbled in working with artists and decided to branch out on our own and make it a real company. Rashanda & I began taking artists campaigns and getting them exposure locally and then throughout the Midwest through our networks from there. Now it’s been 10 years and countless campaigns since.
TSB: You’re a part of a few DJ crews, tell us about all your affiliations.
DJ K Mean: I started off when I began to focus on DJing with Heat spinners which was based in Indianapolis and started by Lucky Smith & DJ J Torcher. They then merged with the X Squad DJs based in ATL & founded by Damel Taylor. I remain a member to this day. Along the line I joined a mixtape DJ crew with the mixtape site 24kMixtapes & the Carolinas based Empire DJs. Then most recently I became head of the St. Louis chapter of Coalition DJs.
TSB: What’s next for you?
DJ K Mean: My goal is now and has always been to do my part to help raise the status of the scene in St. Louis. I want our music and acts to be world renowned. I don’t need to be the face of it. I just want to help however I can get it there.
TSB: Contact information and links.
DJ K Mean: Ph: 314-375-6775
Email: MeanGirlzMedia@gmail.com
BeIntangible.com MeanGirlzMedia.com
@djkmean & @MeanGirlzMedia on any platform
Conversation Conducted By: S.L Jackson (www.Santoine@thissomebull.com www.1sljackson.com)
