DJ AG, whose real name is Ashley Gordon, went viral for DJing in the middle of London streets and has performed with a host of stars – but it hasn’t all been plain sailing
If you’ve walked through the streets of Brixton or taken a train from King’s Cross in London, chances are you may have come across DJ AG. The TikTok star – also known as Ashley Gordon – can often be heard before he is seen, playing music from his decks in the middle of the street.
This unconventional set up has landed Gordon more than half a million followers on TikTok and the honour of being named Time Out’s Londoner of the Year. He invites people off the street to perform with him and has even handed the microphone to stars like Idris Elba, Skepta, Jorja Smith and JME.
But things weren’t so easy when he first started. “I had eggs thrown at me, water thrown at me, I was heckled, it was tough. But I think that’s because people didn’t understand what I was doing, they thought it was a joke,” he told The Mirror at TikTok Live Fest.
This didn’t stop Gordon, however. He added: “I’m quite fearless and I think a lot of that comes from working in sales which is quite a tough environment and coming from Tottenham which is tough as well, so how bad could it be being outside.”
Fearless is a great way to describe the DJ, who left his corporate job at a FTSE 250 company to DJ full time on TikTok. He added: “I was doing really well, but I had become a bit disgruntled with my job.”
It was Gordon’s children who suggested he try out TikTok in 2022, but the now-39-year-old said it was an app for kids and “they don’t want to listen to what I’ve got to say”. He continued: “But I tried it one day and realised there were people my age on TikTok and the rest is history”. He was particularly inspired by DJ SUAT, the roaming YouTube performer.
For three months, he would wake up before work and DJ on TikTok Live for hours before heading to his job. In the evening, he would set up his camera again and return to the decks. Then he did the number crunching and realised he could survive on TikTok alone. “I thought I can afford to survive, I’m getting older so rather than live with regret, why not just try something. If it fails I can go back to work,” he said.
Fortunately, Gordon hasn’t had to go back to a traditional job and has now performed with a range of stars on the street. Idris Elba, he said, was an “amazing man”. He added: “For someone that has achieved so much in his life and given so much to still be so humble, so down to earth, having that willingness to help. It’s great to meet people that are like that.”
Elba even gave Gordon some advice, telling him to “just keep going”. “He’s a big fan of what I do and what I stand for and my message, we’re very aligned with our message,” the DJ said.
Gordon’s love of music comes from his childhood and his family. But they didn’t always understand what he was doing with TikTok. He explained: “When I told my mum I was leaving my job, she nearly had a nervous breakdown. My mum took it badly. She was like, you got a mortgage, you’ve got kids, what are you going to do? It was hard on her but she’s happy now.”
Despite having 3.6 million likes on TikTok, not everyone is a fan of DJ AG. In January 2023, he was given an ASBO in Shoreditch. He sadi: “I go where I want, you risk it for a biscuit. There’s challenges with things like permits, I don’t believe in permits and will never, ever in my life pay for a permit, not for going out and giving people joy. If I get moved on I get moved on.”
Gordon is passionate about giving back and volunteers at care homes, DJing for the residents. He said: “My gran had dementia and I thought once I got to a point where I was financially able to volunteer that it made sense to do so. Many people don’t visit care homes, some care home residents don’t get any visitors.”
His care home raves are successful both on TikTok and with the residents. “With dementia, music is very powerful,” he said. “My gran forgot my name but if we played her a hymn, she’ll know it word for word. I thought let’s go into care homes, we’ll take their requests and give them enjoyment.”
In the future, Gordon hopes to take the format to Jamaica and Africa to showcase the talent there. He also has a following in Brazil, so that is also on the list. “We should be taking that platform around, showcasing talent, but not forgetting to give back where we can,” he said. “We need to amplify the message and encourage that positivity, that fulfilment.”
