I Am DJ Michelle: How a Nine-Year-Old DJ Became a Global Phenomenon
About this ebook
Dubai wunderkind Michelle Rasul was only a toddler when she first got behind the turntables. By the time she entered the 2021 DMC Global DJing Championship, she was on her way to becoming an 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 takes the reader through DJ Michelle’s extraordinary life in a rollicking, intimate narrative driven by Michelle’s own words—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 youngster to professional scratch DJ. For all of Michelle’s positivity, she is unflinchingly honest about the obstacles she has had to 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.
About the author
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.
Saida Rasul 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.
Rabiah York Lumbard is an award-winning author of the picture book, The Conference of the Birds. After embracing Islam at the age of eighteen, she earned a BA in Religious Studies from George Washington University and is currently completing her MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. No True Believers is Rabiah’s deeply-personal debut novel which draws on her own experience as an America Muslim at home and abroad. She lives in Doha with her husband and their three daughters. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her at rabiahyorklumbard.com.
Wyclef Jean is a multiplatinum Haitian musician and former member of the hip-hop trio the Fugees, as well as an actor and producer. Throughout his career, as a member of the Fugees, a collaborator with other musicians, and a solo artist, he has sold more than fifty million albums. He has worked with such artists as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, T. I., Mary J. Blige, and Destiny’s Child.
