The Chronicle News' Community Spotlight-DJ Cutt Nice: Persistence Gets it Done

Courtesy Photo – Brian Payne, also known as DJ Cutt Nice, pays homage to the golden era of hip-hop with classic style and timeless beats.

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Brian Payne's dad learned three things about his two-year-old son early on: he was stubborn, determined, and didn’t take no for an answer—even if the consequence of being persistent was daddy's belt.

“I love music,” said Brian Payne. “Those fantastic sounds positively captured my imagination.”

Brian’s father quickly realized it was going to be easier to join him rather than fight him. So, he queued up his pint-sized D.J. “I couldn’t even read when I got started,” explained Payne.

“My dad would mark the outsides of the packages of the records he wanted me to play. So, it wasn’t long before I was playing music at my father’s basement parties.”

Payne's childhood fascination became a full-time business in 2003. He eventually settled on the business name F.T.H. Entertainment—short for Feel the Hunger.

“When I realized that I could actually make money off playing records, following this to its natural conclusion sparked a business venture,” said Payne.

While Payne is open to many genres, his favorites surround hip hop and R&B.

"I also really like the old-school stuff," said Payne. "The stuff I grew up on."

As a reporter with a few years on Payne, I smiled and noted, "Old-school" depends on the era in which you were born. Payne laughed, acknowledging that his "old school" starts in the 70s and moves up through the decades.

"I guess it really is all relative," stated Payne. "The year 2000 was twenty years ago."

As for a specialty, Payne prides himself on his ability to mix, scratch, and get the crowd going.

"Whether it's a wedding, the club, or a high school open house," said Payne, "I'm able to get the crowd moving."

He also recalled a time when he competed in quite a few D.J. contests.

"I competed at a contest called the DMC in Chicago," said Payne. "It was highly competitive."

While he didn’t win that competition, he did take home the top prize at another event in Cincinnati.

"The prize was a crisp $100 bill and a world championship belt with your name engraved on it. I won that contest, and the prize was pretty cool too," he said.

When asked about his fan base, Payne smiled. "Oh yes, I definitely have a following. I get a lot of bookings from my internet feeds, being on the radio, and through word of mouth."

He paused and added, “I want to send a special shout-out to my number one supporter who has always been in my corner—my wife, Chereese Payne. 143.”

Though he doesn’t have a trademark tagline, Payne is widely recognized for his skill.

“They call me Cuttnice,” he said. “I guess that could be considered my signature.”

We’ve already established that music makes Payne happy—but what brings him the most peace is knowing he’s never lost his love for it. He turned his passion into a career.

When asked where he would go if he could travel anywhere in the world, Payne replied, “Wow, that’s a tough question. I guess my special place would be the Dominican Republic. I’ve never been there, but I’ve always been interested in going.”

If he had one message for potential clients?

“Well, I would like to thank them in advance for giving me a chance and coming out to see what I can do,” said Payne. “Without them, I would have nothing.”

Connect with DJ Cuttnice:

• Facebook: facebook.com/cuttnice

• Instagram: instagram.com/cuttnice

• Twitch: twitch.tv/cuttnice

• Email: cuttnice@gmail.com