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Ray Pinnock, better known as DJ Undaground, didn’t learn DJing in a classroom or a studio. It started in Hartford’s Charter Oak neighborhood, where block parties turned into lessons and the DJs running the turntables controlled the entire atmosphere. Watching that kind of command over a crowd stuck with him early.

Years later, that curiosity turned into a career built on repetition, mentorship, and long nights behind the decks. From learning under DJs like Mike O’Neil, Chris Carpenter, and Reggie Roman to refining his skills in San Diego with DJ Kool T, DJ Dizzy D, and DJ Fingaz, Undaground treated the craft like something that had to be earned.

Thirty years later, the résumé stretches far beyond those early block parties. Weddings, corporate galas, festivals, and mixtape culture have all become part of his lane, along with national recognition as a Rolling Stone America’s Top Hitmaker finalist and a performance during Super Bowl LVII. The settings may change, but the approach stays the same: control the room, respect the music, and never treat the job like background noise.

Straight Official caught up with DJ Undaground to talk about the early influences, the discipline behind the work, and what keeps him pushing forward after three decades in the game.

Beginnings and Early Influence

Who are you, and when did this become more than a hobby?
I’m Ray Pinnock, the world knows me as DJ Undaground. This didn’t start in a studio. It started in Hartford, in the Charter Oak neighborhood. Sneaking out to block parties and watching DJs control the whole neighborhood with two turntables and raw skill. That’s where I caught the bug. I learned from DJ Mike O’Neil early on. Later, we moved to Deltona, where I sharpened my skills under Chris Carpenter and Reggie Roman. Then San Diego changed everything. I leveled up learning from DJ Kool T, DJ Dizzy D, and DJ Fingaz. That’s where the craft became surgical: timing, blends, control, and presence. Those guys? I owe them. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a hobby. This was destiny.

What inspired you?
Hip-hop culture. Mixtapes. DJs who didn’t just play records, they broke records. The DJ is the backbone. Without the DJ, there is no culture.

Style and Energy

How would you describe your style?
Calculated chaos. I can rock a wedding ballroom, flip a corporate gala, then host a mixtape that feels like a street cypher. My sound is hip-hop at the core, but I move through R&B, Afrobeats, Latin, reggae, and open format without losing control of the room. I don’t press play. I command energy.

What separates you from other DJs?
Longevity. Discipline. Respect for the craft. Anybody can download a controller. Everybody can’t control a room for five hours straight and keep it packed. From 2011 to 2026, I’ve stayed recognized as one of Texas’ top wedding and events DJs. That’s not hype. That’s consistency in one of the toughest markets in the country.

Performance & Crowd Control

Are you more of a crowd reader or someone who plans sets?
Both. If it’s a wedding, structure is law. If it’s a mixtape or live set, I read the temperature and adjust like a surgeon.

What’s one record that always moves the crowd?
“Before I Let Go.” When that record drops, generations connect. No debate.

Have you ever had to recover from technical issues during a live set?
Of course. Laptops freeze. Power drops. Cables fail. That’s why professionals have backups for their backups. The crowd should never know that something went wrong.

Career Milestone and Industry Perspective

What has been your biggest milestone so far?
Being named a 2024/2025 America’s Top Hitmaker finalist through Rolling Stone put my production on a national stage. My YouTube productions have also surpassed 500,000 views, showing the sound travels. Performing during Super Bowl LVII stamped it. But honestly, surviving 30 years in this game with integrity is the real milestone.

How do you stay current with music and trends?
I don’t chase trends, I study them. Charts, underground records, producers, and DJs nationwide. I stay plugged in.

What advice would you give to new DJs entering the industry?
Respect the craft. Learn transitions, the business, the contracts, and the sound. Clout fades. Skill doesn’t.

How important is branding in today’s DJ culture?
If you don’t control your image, somebody else will define it for you. Branding matters, but it better matches your skill level.

Equipment and Production

Are you a controller DJ or a turntable purist? What’s your setup?
Turntables built the culture. Today I run a professional controller system with Serato, a backup laptop, wireless microphones, ceremony rigs, subwoofers, uplighting, cold sparks, low fog, full production. I don’t show up light.

What type of events do you specialize in?
Luxury weddings, corporate galas, festivals, mixtapes, and private events. I’ve also performed at the Marine Corps Ball for five consecutive years.I move where the energy is.

Legacy and What’s Next

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
That DJ Undaground never folded, elevated the wedding space, respected the culture, and helped other DJs level up without ego.

What’s next for you?
Continuing with the Fleet DJs, hosting the Tales From Da Undaground weekly mix show, expanding production collaborations, and growing the brand globally. The movement continues.

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