International DJ Bigg V
You can catch him smashing the drive time every afternoon from 3 until 7 pm on Greenville, Miss.’s blazing 97.9 The Beat radio station. Or download the app and join listeners from as close as the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia to as far away as Switzerland and Germany. For the best in live celebrity interviews, breaking information and the hottest, new music to hit the airwaves and cyberspace, The Bigg V Radio Show is more than entertainment.
“The Bigg V brings something different from other radio shows because I touch the heartbeat of the city,” explains the man behind the mic. “I deal with issues that affect our community. I’m not on a soapbox, but I like to discuss topics like finance, employment, offering alternatives to street violence. It’s a full package.
He continues, “Today, you may hear me talk to a lawyer about legal advice and tomorrow, it may be a fitness professional giving advice on how to stay in shape. The following day, the show may feature people in the community that got jobs available. It’s more than just your everyday typical radio show. That’s just my job.”
But his job doesn’t stop there. A man of many hats, Bigg V is also executive director of Cool Running DJs and Team Bigga Rankin Music, vice-president of USA DJs/Texas All Stars DJ and a member of the heralded Hittmenn DJs, the world’s biggest record-breaking coalition.
Without question, Bigg V is one of the premier DJs in the country. Using his music industry expertise, influence and connections, he has been currently using his years of experience to assist the careers of aspiring artists by participating in listening sessions.
“I’m great at breaking new music and connecting them to other DJs,” says Bigg V. “I keep my ear to the ground and close to the streets, so I’ll know who’s going to be next.”
And he knows exactly what he is talking about. He has been credited with introducing some of the biggest hit singles from Rick Ross, Yo Gotti, Future, 2 Chains and Big KRIT, among many others. Between breaking the hottest new hip hop and R&B records, promoting the liveliest concerts and keeping clubs bouncing all through the night with his maniacal music mixes, Bigg V has been holding down both sides of the Mississippi River for more 15 than years.
Born Vince Roberts and raised in the sleepy Mississippi Delta town of Leland, Bigg V knew at a young age that music would play a vital role of his life. At a very young age, he was torn between the soul-stirring testaments of gospel music pulling him into the pulpit and the hard-knock sound of hip hop drawing him behind the turntables.
“There were two things that I always wanted to be in life,” V admits. “I always wanted to be a DJ or a preacher.”
Answering both callings, he spent every Sunday morning in church, but during the week, he washed cars, raked yards and did odd jobs to finance his very first set of turntables at 14 years old. In his early teens, V became one of the youngest party promoters in the Mississippi Delta. And while still in high school, he landed an intern position at WBAD (94.3) and WESY, respectively.
Soon after graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked as a military aircraft electrician, repairing everything from airplanes to helicopters to nautical power plants. It was during this time that he revisited his religious background and started studying Christian theology and various other religions. Over time, he once again altered his plans.
“Saying that you have mastered God scared me,” he laughs. “And then, my love for hip hop and music were fighting with that…Music is kind of like a religion as well, so I guess that’s why it was such an easy transition.”
After sailing the world, Bigg V was discharged from the Navy and returned home to pursue a career in the music business. In no time at all, he landed a sales position at the local radio station while DJing at various clubs throughout the Mississippi Delta. Over the years, he perfected his craft and V’s popularity grew around the local club scene.
He became so popular that he became assistant director of corporate sales and promotions director at four different Radio Cleveland, Inc. stations and mixshow director for Jammin’ 104 and Power 106.5. He was eventually promoted to oversee the daily operations of Mississippi radio stations WDTL, WDSK, WZYQ, KZYQ, WOHT, WROX and even earned a gig as the youngest black general manager at MRS Ventures.
After spreading his name through the Magnolia State, V set his sights on the national level and built his brand as a premier DJ. As a result, he has been featured is such hip hop/rap publications as Ozone, New Power, Block2Block and the S.E.A. magazines. Additionally, he earned multiple nominations at the Southern Entertainment Awards.
More than just a crowd-pleasing record spinner, however, Bigg V is a marketing guru, radio personality and talk show host. “I am a full-fledged marketing firm that entertains and educates the community,” Bigg V explains. “It’s my responsibility to give a positive influence.”