The Hollywood Press Corps recently got a chance to interview DJ Flip from Mansfield, Ohio. Rhonda Sylvester, known as Mansfield’s DJ Flip, is a cancer survivor and spokesperson for breast cancer awareness. Her DJ equipment was recently stolen and her vehicle was vandalized with racists graffiti. The incident occurred on Hammond Avenue. The Mansfield Police Department are asking anyone with information to contact them at (419) 755-9724.
If you would like to donate money to DJ Flip, please reach through her Go Fund Me Project at https://www.gofundme.com/g6fwtays
Hollywood Press Corps(HPC):Could you take a minute and tell us your experience of living in Mansfield? Did you go to high school in Ohio?
DJ Flip: I am a resident of Mansfield Ohio I’ve lived here all my life. Mansfield, Ohio is very very small town. Thirty years ago this place was booming and DJs could find jobs. Well, anybody could back then, but it’s not that way now. DJs don’t support each other around here and there’s so much back biting that people don’t respect the DJ anymore. There’s a lot of price undercutting so we’re not able to get paid what we’re worth. I am the first female black DJ ever in the history of this city. You may consider me to be an icon or on the list of first black in this area.
I am a high school graduate of Mansfield Senior High which is located in Mansfield, Ohio.
HPC: What is your social circle like in Mansfield?
DJ Flip: I have a very small social circle. I sit on several boards in the Mansfield area. First of all, I am a breast cancer survivor and I sit on the board of directors of the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund, I am an active member of the Mend Mansfield Coalition, I currently run my own breast cancer awareness campaign called the Dj Flip Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, I am a motivational speaker at the Harmony House homeless shelter, and I guess you could say I am Mansfield community Dj.
HPC: What is your favorite kind of music?
DJ Flip: I don’t have any particular genre. I like them all. I can’t really pick one because my music library allows me to mix several genres in one DJ set. So if I had a wedding to do and they were several different walks of life in the room, I could play something that will please everyone. But if I had to pick one it would be R&B, soul and country.
HPC: How did you get into DJing?
DJ Flip: Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional dancer. So when I was old enough to go into the bar scene, I would always be the best dancer. Then I started asking the DJ to play certain songs for me, and sometimes they would play them and sometimes they would not. So the more I went, the more I got disgusted about the man who was playing the music. I felt that I could do a better job with a little practice. So I would stand behind the DJ as he was the director of the party. I liked the way the crowd responded to the music that he played. So I thought to myself, “Wow! I would sure like to be him! I bet you I can do this! I know I’d be really good at it.” And that’s how I became a disk jockey. I’ve been in the business for over 35 years.
HPC: Do you play parties and weddings?
DJ Flip:Yes I do play at parties, weddings, special events, fundraisers, children’s parties, clubs , anniversary parties and graduations. You name it, I’ll do it!!! All I need is a playlist and a few people that want to have a great time.
HPC: How can someone book you?
DJ Flip: For booking information you can contact me at rhondasylvester50@gmail.com. You can find me on Facebook under Rhonda Sylvester or your lady dj, or contact me by phone (419)543-9189.
HPC: Can you tell us about your favorite gig that you played?
DJ Flip: My all time favorite gig that I played was the “Each One Reach One” rally that took place on the square of my city. They gave away over 2000 pairs of shoes and 2000 book bags. It had a capacity crowd of over 700 people and we marched for the peace and the violence of our city.
HPC: How did you get the nickname DJ Flip?
DJ Flip: Flip was always my nickname since birth. So when I became a DJ, it was simple – DJ Flip.
HPC: Can you tell us what happened to you recently?
DJ Flip: What happened last week was life changing to me. Someone vandalized my car with racial slurs with spray paint and they also stole my DJ equipment. I was devastated. And since then, my car was involved in a hit and run accident. Now my car is totaled. It was a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. They found the woman, so now I have to wait for the insurance to come through. I’m still not going to have enough money to purchase the car that I had before because it’s out of my budget. I’m disabled as well. All I can really say at this point is, “Lord give me strength to accept the things I cannot change!”
HPC: How can someone donate money or equipment to DJ Flip?
DJ Flip: People can donate or send money to the https://www.gofundme.com/g6fwtays or you can contact me through my email if someone would like to ship me something. Anything will help at this point. I would greatly appreciate all the help I can get.
HPC: Is there something that would surprise people to know about you?
DJ Flip: Something that would surprise people to know about me is that I have not traveled anywhere in the United States besides to visit relatives. I haven’t seen any blue waters. I have not flown in an airplane. I’ve never been on vacation. I’ve never done anything besides go to Cedar Point once in my life. Cedar Point is an amusement park located an hour away from Mansfield in Sandusky, Ohio. But the way I play my music, it seems like I’ve been all around the world. So to travel and to DJ and to speak to people about breast cancer awareness would be my ultimate dream and one of the things I want to do on my bucket list.
HPC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
DJ Flip: I would like to take the time to thank the Hollywood Press Corps for giving me the opportunity to give this interview. I would like to thank Dustin Brown for reaching out to me on Facebook. I didn’t know how far my story had travel but apparently it has gone very, very far. I hope it will reach millions of other Americans and millions of other DJs and maybe someone will have some compassion for my situation. I know things happen to people every day. But I truly have a passion for making people happy, and it is truly an honor when people hire me so they can have memorable events.