By ESENDOM
November 11, 2025
Lea en español: DJ Chulo Jay: el latido de la noche latina en Nueva York — In Memoriam
The passing of DJ Chulo Jay—a key figure in the tri-state area’s nightlife and Latin radio—unleashed a wave of touching messages, digital embraces, and shared memories from artists, colleagues, and audiences who followed him for years. More than a DJ, he connected people within a welcoming atmosphere and served as a tireless champion of Dominican talent.
FROM THE STAGE TO THE DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM
Dominican at heart and New Yorker by trade, Chulo Jay built his name from the dance floor up: first energizing community parties and cultural events, then ascending to booths at renowned clubs and influential Latin radio stations. His stamp was not just technical—clean mixes, a surgical read of the room—but deeply humane: charisma, warmth, humility. He understood a set is not just a list of songs; it is a story that rises and falls with the crowd’s energy.
With a feel for the times, he bet early on the Internet and social media to amplify Dominican and Caribbean music. He spotlighted new talent and kept established voices in rotation, weaving bridges between merengue típico and urbano, local and global. That push crystallized in his role as president of LosTraficante.com, a platform and collective that became a showcase for both established and emerging artists—sessions, premieres, and live streams that brought Dominican culture closer to thousands of followers inside and outside the United States.
Those who knew him point to a rare blend of discipline and generosity: he arrived first, left last, introduced a newcomer as if they were already an established star, and defended the diversity of rhythms without labels. His name became synonymous with good vibes: when “Chulo” came on, the party found its pulse.
COMMUNITY ARCHITECT
His knack for combining rhythms—from merengue típico to dembow, from salsa to reggaetón—turned the dance floor into an open conversation where every audience found its moment. Beyond the booth, he mentored new voices: recommending, introducing, opening the mic, sharing contacts. His editorial eye helped shape New York’s urban Latin sound over the last decade.
He understood that online presence mattered as much as the Saturday gig. From LosTraficantes.com and his social channels, he pushed premieres and sessions that kept the movement in constant circulation.
Above all, his contribution was communal. For many young DJs and artists, Chulo Jay was that first “yes, go for it” every creative journey needs. For audiences, he was a seal of trust: if he was on the bill, the night was worth the ticket.
A FAREWELL FELT EVERYWHERE
Colleagues, singers, and entertainment figures have shared messages of grief and gratitude, remembering him as a tireless worker who put his heart into every mix. From stages and booths to the digital platforms where his name was a staple, tributes keep multiplying.
Veteran Dominican artists have expressed their sorrow and underlined what his work meant to popular culture. Musicians who collaborated with him for more than two decades highlighted his constant support and the way he pushed careers when the spotlight had not yet arrived.
As of this writing, there is no official information on the circumstances of his passing. Loved ones have asked for respect and discretion. What is clear is the size of the void: a community that knows itself through music has lost one of its most beloved ambassadors.
WHAT KEEPS PLAYING
DJ Chulo Jay’s legacy is not measured in videos or flyers, but in opportunities created. What remains is his concept of an inclusive party, his insistence on technical excellence, his work ethic, and his conviction that the DJ is not background scenery but a storyteller who builds community, song by song.
What remains are the spaces he helped consolidate: booths where música típica shares space with Latin electronic, stations that open their grids to new ideas, collectives that inherited his drive to serve the scene rather than serve themselves. And his example remains for the next generation: learn, share, elevate.
HOW WE WILL REMEMBER HIM
When a DJ can turn any given night into collective memory, they transcend the booth. DJ Chulo Jay did it countless times. We will remember him with that “everything under control” smile, hand on the fader and ear tuned to the crowd, moving the tempo like someone who knows the secret to the perfect moment.
Rest in rhythm, Chulo DJ. Your name will keep sounding wherever the community dances: in New York, in the Dominican Republic, and in every corner where a young artist finds—thanks to your example—an open door.
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