ONIEL “OB Khalibah” Graham has built an enviable reputation in central Jamaica as one of the most sought-after disc jocks.

In April, the one-time dancer decided to start a business, Dynamix Lounge. Located in Somerset district, Mandeville, the lounge caters to the entertainment needs of residents in that rural part of Manchester.

“I opened the business because I wanted to start a new venture. I have always had my eyes on a recording studio because I wanted to stick to my musical lifestyle. However, COVID happened and I said to myself let me just go ahead and venture into something more essential,” Graham, 35, told the Jamaica Observer.

The business, which employs four persons, has been growing since it opened. His cousin, Alex Williams, is his business partner.

“Business is and has been growing ever since we opened. Some people complain about the distance (15 minutes from Mandeville) while others have no problem with travelling to the lounge,” said Graham.

Graham was unwilling to reveal how much capital was invested to start the business but said he raised funds from hosting events and livestock farming.

He grew up in a single-parent household with his older sister.

“Daddy was MIA [missing in action]. Mommy ensured we were always comfortable but financially, it was unstable,” he shared. “Back then it was hard to find food; and we had clothes that we had to repeat on multiple occasions because honestly, we couldn’t do better at the time.”

As an adolescent Graham gravitated to performing arts as a way to express himself.

“I started dancing because I wanted an escape — and music was it for me,” he revealed. “The dancing we see today is not what I was into, it was always choreography for me. I would tell a story with my body.”

This passion saw the formation of the Dynamic Motion dance group which entered the Dancing Dynamites dancing competition in 2014. The group placed sixth.

His life took a sharp turn soon after.

“I opened a dance studio in Mandeville, but then dancing was no longer feasible after I got my daughter at 18 years old. I had to do what I had to do because I refused to be an absentee father.”

Graham worked as a customer service representative and was promoted to trainer. However, challenges at work forced him to quit.

Said Graham, “I moved to Westmoreland in 2015 and my brother-in-law gave me a laptop to use. When I got back to Manchester about eight months later, it was hard for people to accept that side of me because they never knew me as a DJ.”

He teamed up with his friend, Renardo Rhoden, to create a team of disc jockeys called Team Khalibah, and with each booking they forced themselves to be better-skilled DJs.

Last Friday he promoted the event Foam Party, held at Dynamix Lounge. His other events include No Limits, ABC and Likkle More.