New York DJ Blu Jemz dies

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  • Friends and collaborators share tributes to the well-loved local nightlife fixture who ran Night People with Eli Escobar.
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  • Blue Jemz, a New York-based DJ, died this week. The well-loved hip-hop and house DJ, real name James Sheffield-Dewees, was a fixture in local nightlife and ran the label Night People with Eli Escobar. The pair put on regular nights at popular New York venues Output and Le Bain and often appeared together on radio stations, including The Lot Radio. Sheffield-Dewees remixed tracks and contributed to compilations as Blue Jemz as well as his given name. He was also a member of Pocket Checkers with Ter Kahn and previously worked at Turntable Lab. Friends and collaborators of Sheffield-Dewees have been sharing tributes on social media. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Talib Kweli wrote: "What I loved about Jemz was his honesty and sharp wit... He was his own man and he carved an awesome life out of the carcass of old New York. I'm going to miss this wonderful, brilliant man. I would probably not have a career without him." Classixx, Tim Sweeney, LuckyMe, NTS DJ Martelo and Ghostly are also among those sharing their thoughts about the late DJ and producer. Listen to a recent mix.
    Photo credit: DJ Gravy
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