Artist Inquiry
Born in Hackensack and raised in Paterson, NJ, Daren “DJ Poun” Smith is the son of a gospel singing mother and a jazz musician father. This early childhood exposure to 70s soul, funk, jazz, R&B, and disco helped shape Poun’s natural instinct for music awareness and knowledge. While still in grammar school, Poun’, along with his brother DJ Jus, were able to secure a weekly residency gig at the local skating rink/dance club known as “Skater’s World.” Hundreds of young adults would flock to the club on a weekly basis to party with Paterson, New Jersey’s favorite sons.
DJ Poun’s career shifted into high-gear when his DJ talents were discovered by management at Jay-Z’s flagship establishment, the 40/40 Club New York City. Claiming residency in November 2004, DJ Poun’ transformed the musical soundscape of the sports bar, quickly turning it into one of the hottest nightclubs in NYC. Following his success in New York City, Jay-Z and the 40/40 Club management offered DJ Poun’ residencies at each of their upcoming clubs, including Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Poun’ has spun alongside nationally recognized DJs such as Kid Capri, Funkmaster Flex, and DJ Clue, and has provided sounds for celebrity guests such as Kanye West, Alex Rodriguez, Beyonce, and Lebron James.
From the streets of New York City, all the way to the bright lights of Las Vegas, DJ Poun’ has yet to meet a crowd he can’t rock! With a distinguished passion for music and an incomparable drive for perfection, DJ Poun’ will continue to raise the bar for club and mixtape DJs for years to come.
