“I was in the ninth grade and I started off deejaying,” said Worm. “I’d seen DJ Scribble doing his thing on MTV and I said to myself that I want to do that. I started deejaying and I bought a keyboard and started making hot music.”

DJ Worm

For Worm (who got his handle from his fourth grade teacher and the name has since stuck), hip-hop is more that a passing fad or a trend.

“It’s a way of life and it’s how I live. Everything in the world has a beat and sound,” he said. “I was brought up listening to music and watching videos. I used to make beats by using sticks hitting my dresser.”

As Worm grew up, so did his involvement.

“I had a studio and hot beats and one day I said to myself, let me try this out. At first I was rapping about anything and then I started to focus and pay attention on what I was rapping about and it turned out nice,” he said. “I just linked up with GME (a production company) and we have a studio in Penn Hills we have been going hard on that.”

Like hip-hop, Worm has matured as did the local hip-hop scene, and because it is such an integral part of his life’s work he has a perspective to share.

“As far as artists in the ’Burgh, I think that they need to work a little bit harder and do more street work. You have to do street work, meaning pass out flyers, going to clubs, meeting people locally and in other states.”

Speaking of networking, Worm is on point on that tip. “I plan on collaborating with everyone. Right now we’ve got a joint called “Zuga-Zuga” and it’s me, Tank-E and Shady Pooh. I am linking up with J-Peg and Dre from GME as well.”

In the meantime, it’s all about the new project on his label, No Doubt Records.

“No Doubt Records name comes from me saying, “No doubt” after every statement someone else would say. If someone would ask me a question on a certain subject, I would always say, ‘no doubt.’ At the time, I was trying to find a name because it used to be Backdraft Records, but No Doubt stuck.”

“The track ‘Paper Boy’ is all (done by) me. I mainly produced most of the tracks and I wrote every song. I am expressing my street side, soft side to show everyone that I am versatile in my style.”