Shaquille O’Neal Moves Past 2023 Setback by Unveiling New Talent in Denver

2024 is all about DJ Diesel. Shaquille O’Neal is set on accelerating his EDM career to superstardom. After ringing in the New Year at the Lights All Night festival in Dallas, he’s heading to Denver next. He launched his own music festival, Bass All-Stars, in September 2023 in Texas too. The second incarnation of Bass All-Stars will be in Mile-High City.

The next Bass All-Stars festival will be on January 5, 2025 in Mission Ballroom. It was originally set for September 8, 2023 in the same venue with an all-female lineup with Shaq. It didn’t work out and Shaq held the first Bass All Stars festival at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth with 15,000 EDM fanatics in attendance.

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Dubstep maniacs can expect an all-female star-studded lineup joining Diesel in Denver. LayZ, the alt-punk duo So Tuff So Cute, AIMMIA, and Los Angeles-based DJ Softest Hard. It will be a long night as the concert runs from 7 pm to 1 am. When the Denver launch of Bass All-Stars shifted, Shaq was on X bemoaning the lack of fresh faces in the EDM biz. He ranted, “WE. NEED. FRESH. TALENT. ticket sales are important but not everything.”

One Florida-based DJ, So&So, saw the opportunity and responded, “MY DREAM to play for @djdiesel.” Shaq immediately scouted her from that tweet with an offer. “Then I need you on my @missionballroom show Jan 5.” So&So was overwhelmed by the positive response. The lineup doesn’t mention her though but she confirmed she’s one of the acts on her official social media while celebrating the sold-out show. She ecstatically wrote, “Big ups for @djdiesel for booking all women.”

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This is just the start for Shaq’s DJ dreams. He’s got bigger aspirations in the business.

DJ Diesel’s 2024 checklist

O’Neal spent New Year’s Eve through the New Year at the Lights All Night festival where his daughter was present to. Taahirah O’Neal was backstage and had her on-stage moments while showing her crazy DJ dad’s antics.

Shaq will be back on TNT this Thursday with the rest of the Inside Crew. Interestingly, the Denver Nuggets are playing the Warriors in San Francisco. Maybe he’d hitch a ride to Denver with his favorite big Nikola Jokic to perform the next day.

Mission Ballroom has a near 4000 capacity while the first Bass All-Stars festival drew three times that. Shaq though has his sights set on a venue with the floor capacity of 20,000. That’s Nevada’s The Sphere. O’Neal revealed on The Big Podcast it’s his dream venue.

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But logistics are a thing to consider. He said he’s not one of the top-tier DJs to be paid accordingly. So he loses money at every gig. He’s in the EDM business for the thrill and he’s seizing every chance for it irrespective of the venue’s size.