The Columbus-raised DJ turned a chance booking with his hero into a touring career, a run of industry partnerships and a reputation for spotting talent early.
Some DJs play the room. Gregory Pace, known to club crowds and artists alike as Celebrity DJ YG, has spent his career building it. From house parties in Ohio to stages shared with some of hip-hop’s biggest names, his story is one of persistence, timing and an ear for what moves a crowd.
From the South Side to Columbus
Pace was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and spent the first 13 years of his life there. His biography describes those streets as rough, and it was that environment his mother wanted her three children to leave behind.
In 2001 she moved the family to Columbus, Ohio, in search of a better life. The move gave Pace a new city and, in time, a new direction. A few years later he was out on his own and doing what would become his trade: rocking house parties.
The night that changed everything
House parties led to clubs and bars, where DJ YG began carving out his own lane. Then came the moment every young DJ hopes for: he crossed paths with his favorite DJ, the legendary Mix Master Ice.
Soon after, he was booked to play a major event alongside him. By his own account, the two rocked the house, and the night became a turning point. From then on, Celebrity DJ YG was no longer a local name. He was a working DJ with momentum.
State to state
That momentum carried him onto the road. His biography describes shows from state to state, major tours and special guest appearances alongside national recording artists.
The names he lists read like a map of Southern and Midwestern street rap: Young Joc, Yo Gotti, Boosie, Blac Youngsta, YFN Lucci, the late Young Dolph and Icewear Vezzo, along with Chino Dollar, J Dub, Grade A CTE, Monsta LLC, F.O.R Y2da and AL Fatz.
For a DJ, that kind of list is more than name-dropping. Each appearance is a room he had to hold and an artist who trusted him to set the tone.
Deals, partnerships and an eye for talent
The business side has grown with the bookings. In 2021 DJ YG announced a deal with 55 Bagz / Celebrity Status Records, with tour dates and distribution opportunities to follow. A 2022 report linked him with Grammy-winning Atlanta producer Zaytoven, and an August 2023 article in 24Hip-Hop reported a partnership with Robert Williams, CEO of Urban Vision TV Network.
That same summer IJU performed at the BET Awards pre-show, while their single “BIG IJU” picked up traction. For a DJ who came up in Ohio himself, backing an Ohio group on a national weekend closes a loop.
On record and online
DJ YG’s work is on streaming platforms too. Apple Music credits him on Jed Gwola’s “Lbs,” featuring Celebrity DJ YG and DJ Hustle Man, released in 2018.
More than two decades after his family left Chicago for a fresh start, Gregory Pace has made good on it. The house parties became clubs, the clubs became tours, and the kid who looked up to Mix Master Ice became the DJ younger artists want in their corner.
Follow Celebrity DJ YG on Instagram at @iamygoden.
