(By JAMES MARTINEZ)

Jason “DJ Protégé” Hernandez’s job is to make people move and he has been doing so for the past 20 years. From the beginning, he has set the standard for DJs all over the world, and although he has retired from actively performing, his production and his stake in a local barbecue chain are still a force to be reckoned with.

Being able to rock a crowd is not an easy task. What does that mean exactly? When the needles touch the record, the DJ can create the energy in the room, to the point where it becomes a science.

Hernandez, 41, of Austin, is a DJ and music producer who started rocking house parties in the early 90s and ended up being one of the top DJs in the Austin scene for several decades. From his original production to his one-of-a-kind sets, throughout the years he has packed venues all over the world.

As a professional DJ, Hernandez held several residencies in downtown Austin and would have yearly showcases and would DJ private events for South by Southwest. He also competed in the Red Bull 3Style World DJ Championship which only solidified his position as one of the most sought-after DJs in the world.

Since “retiring” from the DJ scene, people miss the DJ Protégé parties.

“It was also a lot of sleepless nights,” says Hernandez, as he admits his success didn’t happen overnight and adds he appreciates the lessons he learned along the way, which in turn made him a better person in the process.

“No one could rock a party like pro,” says Audrey Guzman, an avid club goer. I would hit every place he was at because I knew it would be jumping, and like many others I had a lot of great nights hearing him play.”

Hernandez now spends his time producing music and working with SLAB barbecue as part owner and head marketing director. Focusing on bringing that Hip Hop flavor to Texas barbecue, Hernandez still remains deeply involved with his love for music and now focuses his creative talents on a new venture.

In a recent interview with “On the Wax Podcast,” Hernandez admitted that there is a fine line between DJing as a professional in the past and now as a hobby. He remembers the first time he got paid to do a gig and said from that point on it was history.

“We are sitting here in my custom studio, from the ground up to do this interview, so it will always be somewhat of a hobby I guess.”