He’s called the "People’s DJ". And while the word is still out on whether the title was or was not originally self-appointed, in the short time that Nipsey has been working the 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. shift at WQXA (105.7 the X) he has more than lived up to his billing. Nipsey prides himself on being a little too loud, a little over the edge, a little too much fun — and the listeners seem to be loving it, calling in night after night to place their requests and talk about pretty much everything.

"I like talking to people every night, I love the people. I’m the ‘people’s DJ’ so I love answering the phones all night long and talking to all the people," he said. "I love being able to play what they want to hear and give them tickets to what they want to see…"

A Philadelphia native, Nipsey graduated from Millersville University, where he got his first start in the business. "One day down at the college radio station, I took a look at it and said, ‘this is for me!’ so that’s what I did … and I’ve never stopped since." After returning to his hometown, where he spent some five years in the industry, including a stint as the producer for an afternoon drive show and a midday show, Nipsey decided to look into job opportunities in the area — and the rest is history. "I’ve wanted to work here for a while," he said, speaking of the X, "and our paths crossed at the right time."

Absent of the deep throated voice often associated with most radio personalities, Nipsey’s sound is just as unique to him as is his on-air personae. "I’ve got a big mouth. I never worry about what I’m going to say … and I yell a lot," he said. "God didn’t give me the wonderful pipes — although people call and say my voice sounds sexy, which I think is the funniest thing."

An obvious fan of both people and music, by all accounts, Nipsey has the perfect job —the opportunity to speak his mind, a faithful audience, and the latest in musical releases at his fingertips — factors that he doesn’t take lightly. "I really, really like the job, but the music makes it what it is," he said, "I still get excited by the music. Still. Always."

Off the air, Nipsey is still, well, Nipsey. As a concert-goer he vows to have seen — and often met — most of the acts he’s wanted to, including his favorite, Motley Crüe. And while he treasures both that memory and the memory of being feet apart from one of his personal idols, David Letterman, during a Late Night Show performance, the experience that makes him most happy is the encounter he had with none other than Henry Winkler. "I’ve been trying to name a cat ‘Fonzie’ for years, because I love Henry Winkler. I met him, and he’s just the shit."

And what about the name? Well, no one’s telling where the moniker ‘Nipsey’ came from. But all agree that the title, "People’s DJ" suits him just fine.