How many DJs do you know who came from the streets and grew up with “hip-hop” in their blood? DJ Peter Gunz is one of these DJ’s – because for this South Auckland New Zealand-born hustler, life is an everyday struggle, homeless at the age of 6 and turning to music as an escape, he began his career as a DJ at the age of 14. He knew at the end of the day, it’s what you make of the music, not from it, that will set you apart from the rest. This belief and his natural ability to command the turntables and crowds like no other is what has given him the tag…”Australia’s Most Wanted”. In addition to previously managing the premier vinyl store Anthem Records in Sydney, Gunz has been able to focus most of his energy into youth development projects, such as the All Stars DJ Academy, underage parties, festivals and basketball competitions. Peter Gunz is also part of some formidable DJ crews in Australia…. The Allstars, The Clubjoint Allstars & the Hitmakers.

More than any other DJ in Australia’s urban scene, Gunz is renown for his ability to break the newest hip-hop, R&B, soul and dancehall tracks amongst popular club hits while keeping the dancefloor packed. “There’s a lot of DJs here,” he clarifies, “but they are all gutless. They play the butterfly R&B and the lame hip-hop you hear on the radio. Good DJing is what’s missing from the current club scene. I play the what other DJs don’t have the balls to play, mixed together with turntable wizardry.”  He puts his words into action by supporting international touring artists, including UB40, Maxi Priest, DJ Rectangle, Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, De La Soul, Ja Rule, Usher, Busta Rhymes, Naughty By Nature, Ashanti, Kurupt, Tech9, Cypress Hill, Black Eyed Peas, Chingy, 112, Case, Twista, Rza (Wu-Tang Clan), Public Enemy, Sean Paul, Toya, Nivea, Mario Winans, Montell Jordan, Horace Brown. He has also had the pleasure of touring around Australia with America’s hip hop stars - Mixmaster Mike, Beastie Boys, Nelly, Akon & Snoop Dogg. Peter Gunz also has spent time supporting and/or touring with Australian/ New Zealand big name acts such as Guy Sebastian, Bliss N Esso, Weapon X & Ken Hell, Hill top Hoods, Phrase, Paulini, P.Money, King Kapisi, Fast Crew, Nesian Mystik, Che Fu, Scribe, Dei Hamo, Savage, Mareko, Deceptikonz and Adeaze.

In addition to the above, DJ Gunz is also Australia’s unofficial mixtape king. Involved in legal proceedings brought about by the Music Industry Piracy Investigation Unit, Gunz defended himself against copyright charges for a career move that represents the “other” side of the music industry - where record labels don’t exist, where the CDs are sold on the streets, and where bootlegging is encouraged. This underground side has greatly benefited his US counterparts, including DJ Kay Slay, now signed to Sony Music, and DJ Clue, aligned with Universal Music. Gunz’s mixtape notoriety established him at the forefront of the national urban scene, establishing his unique ability to combine multiple cuts into one hot sequence, and displaying his innate sense of what makes a particular joint the hot sound of the future. And what every hip-hop artist, producer and label executive in America knows, is something their counterparts in Australia will eventually learn – to saturate the street market is to get to the top and stay there, because as 50 Cent, the hottest artist in the world says, “mixtapes are the entry level of hip-hop.”  Simple as that.

In 1999, DJ Peter Gunz created the now popular “Fresh Off The Boat” cds, a mixtape series that involved a collection of pacific island grooves mixed with old school tracks of the past. His Allstars crew member, DJ Tikelz also worked on this project to give it the unique sound it is popular for.

Besides being Australia’s most wanted DJ, Peter Gunz has also taken the time to bring international acts to our shores. The first tour, Gunz arranged for two of L.A’s hottest DJ’s – DJ Vice and DJ Echo (L.A’s Power 106fm) for the Holla Boyz show, the Holla Boyz perform in front of 1000+ patrons at one Sydney’s premier nightclub. The second tour, he organised for Hawaii’s biggest act, Pati to perform in Sydney, well over 1000+ people came to watch the concert. He has also put together a couple of tours featuring some of New Zealand’s hottest acts. The third tour being Nesian Mystik, which was sold out concert, over 1600+ patrons attended the show. The fourth tour consisted of Dawnraid Entertainment’s full roster. This show was called “Str8 from South Auckland” tour. This concert also sold 1600+ tickets to patrons.

With the success of the “Str8 from South Auckland” tour. DJ Peter Gunz has aligned himself with New Zealand’s premier hip hop record label DAWNRAID ENTERTAINMENT (www.dawnraid.com.au). Dawnraid Entertainment are New Zealand’s most successful independent record label with consecutive top 10 singles to prove it. With their recent distribution deal in Australia with Warner Music Australia, DJ Peter Gunz and DJ Tikelz have become the first Australian signing to the Dawnraid label. Peter has also toured with the Dawnraid Label in New Zealand for the “Boost Mobile Hook Up” tour, the largest Hip Hop tour ever to be seen in the country spanning both the North and South islands. The 2005 Big Day Tour of Australia and New Zealand, saw Peter perform with the Deceptikonz to crowds of over 7000 in the “Boiler Room”.

DJ Peter Gunz is currently the “face” of Dawnraid’s clothing label in Australia, a distribution deal with Footlocker to carry the Dawnraid apparel in all stores throughout Australia and New Zealand.

In January 2006, Dj Peter Gunz released his first official mixtape called “Street Dreams”. A hip hop & rnb compilation mix consisting of 45 of the hottest songs available, mixed by DJ Gunz and DJ Tikelz. With the release of the cd, Peter Gunz has toured all around the country including New Zealand and the South Pacific islands to showcase his skills and to promote the mix cd. His official launch party held in Sydney attracted over 2500+ people through the doors at SPACE nightclub.

DJ Gunz can be seen at the following Sydney establishments;

Sydney Clubs

Notorious @GAB bar, Saturday
Oasis Lounge @City Of Sydney RSL, Saturday
EQ @Gas Nightclub, Thursday
Candy Shop @Star Dust Hotel, Fridays
Hunny @UN, Fridays
Urban Soul Lounge @Collingwood Hotel, Fridays
Booty Bar @Civic Hotel, Saturdays

Also appears at one off events such as Milkshake #1 @Oneworld Sport, Milkshake #2 @Gas nightclub, Milkshake #3 @Space nightclub, Urban Quarterz @Space nightclub, Blue Velvet @Space nightclub, Cookies and Cream @Space nightclub, Imperial @Space Nightclub, Urban Showdown @Space nightclub & Soul’d Out @Shellbourne Hotel, Tha Spot u18’s parties @Gas nightclub. Peter has also guest DJed in the United States during his 2002 tour.