“DJ Michelle, you are amazing, mama … Keep rockin’!” —Alicia Keys
I Am DJ Michelle
How a Nine-Year-Old DJ Became a Global Phenomenon
By Michelle Rasul and Saida Rasulova, with Rabiah York
Foreword by Wyclef Jean
Release
10-10-22
Abridgement
Unabridged
Genre
Nonfiction/Biography & Autobiography
Overview
When Dubai wunderkind Michelle Rasul placed fourteenth out of eighty-five in the 2021 DMC Global DJing Championship, she turned overnight from local UAE sensation to international celebrity. Her inspiring autobiography is a testament to passion, talent, family, love, and perseverance—and above all, a celebration of Girl Power with some scratching and a beat.
Award-winning children’s author Rabiah York Lumbard, herself a former resident of the UAE, takes the reader through DJ Michelle’s extraordinary life in a rollicking, intimate Q&A—joined by the star’s mother, Saida Rasul. (Or “Momager,” as the family prefers.) In conversation, mother and daughter open up not only about the magic of music in their lives, but about the discipline it takes to journey from precocious toddler to professional scratch DJ. For all of Michelle’s positivity, she is unflinchingly honest about the obstacles she has had overcome to achieve such astonishing success at such a young age.
The print edition is enhanced by colorful photographs and other fun multimedia inserts—including (but not limited to) crucial bits of DJ history; text messages from friends, fans, and celebrities; even a school assignment. The audio edition is enhanced by the author’s own mashups and scratching demonstrations.
Editorial Reviews
“DJ Michelle really knows how to ‘show up’ and keeps me forever young!” —Wyclef Jean
“Michelle is a born entertainer and skilled musician with the gifts that keep giving! It is a pleasure to watch this turntable angel grow and continually bless all our souls!” —DJ Q*bert
“She has that fire that will make her one of the greats. The future of turntablism is in good hands with Michelle! Mad love and respect.” —DJ Craze
“When people see Michelle play, they smile, they get in a good mood, they feel something contagious. Yes she also works hard and yes she has quickly mastered a lot of technique, but what I love the most is the way she makes people feel!” —A-Trak
Author Biography
Michelle Rasul—better known as DJ Michelle—is recognized as one of the world’s top professional scratch DJs. A child celebrity and social media phenomenon, she is one of the youngest turntablists ever to enter the DMC World Championship and the youngest finalist of the Goldie Awards 2021. Her message is always the same: It’s never too early and never too late to start following your dreams! Her goal is spreading the good vibes and making people happy. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, her home is now in the skyscraper-filled city of Dubai. Find her on social media @iamdjmichelle.
Author Biography
Saida Rasulova is DJ Michelle’s mom and now a debut author. Former violinist and senior brand manager for perfumery brands, Saida is a huge fan of music and inspiring books, a content creator, and the person behind the camera who helps to spread awareness of Michelle’s talents and skills. In Michelle’s words, she is “a momager and a best friend.” But Saida calls herself just an ordinary mother, who—together with her husband, DJ Shock—takes care of ordinary parenting tasks and does her best to support, encourage, and help their child to succeed and follow her passion.