Idris Elba: The Man, the Myth, the Legend and…the DJ?

I know what you’re all thinking: Idris Elba? DJ? What can this man NOT do? Trust me, I asked myself these questions when I found out that yes, award-winning actor Idris Elba deejayed at Coachella this weekend, and frankly, it blew my mind. And get this: he even used to go by DJ Big Driis during his early DJ career.

Elba makes side jobs look uncomplicated, as if balancing a thriving acting career and performing at one of the largest music festivals is easy to juggle.

Elba talked to Rolling Stone about his DJ career, saying that “by the time I had an awareness that [deejaying] could be a job, I definitely wanted to do that.”

While most of us only know him from “The Wire,” “Thor,” “The Office” or maybe even as a rumored James Bond, Elba has actually been deejaying for quite some time.

Elba began deejaying at small gigs in London when he was young (he started at age 14!), eventually working in New York City in the 90s.

As he grew in popularity because of his acting, he eventually rose up even more in the deejaying world too.

He soon burst onto the rap scene, joining a remix of the song “Boasty,” and later even took up a deejaying residency at an Ibizan nightclub. Who knew?

It was only fitting for him to now return as a real DJ too, having just played one in a Netflix series “Turn Up Charlie.” And return he did.

Idris Elba took Coachella’s Yuma Tent by storm this past Saturday, and people loved it. Sure, they were a little skeptical when his name popped up in the lineup poster, but it was Idris Elba andwe accepted it, and him, wholeheartedly.

As the festivities continued, Elba’s set grew more and more crowded and he soon became a go-to show. Many attendees noted the variety of age groups who watched Elba take the stage.

It comes as no surprise though. Elba is a man that spans many generations (he was voted “Sexiest Man Alive” before…c’mon people). Even Liam Payne took to Instagram to congratulate him – amazing, truly amazing.

The set lasted two hours and watchers were kept enthralled the entire time, albeit sweaty too. It was reported he played house music for his set and didn’t bring out any guests, but I’m sure most were completely content with Elba himself.

He was supported by and enjoyed the weekend with his fiancée and daughter, who skipped her prom in order to attend the festival.

If you love Idris Elba as an actor and overall person as much as I do, be sure to listen to his DJ work on Spotify! Who knew one man could do so much?