Exclusive to those who are 21+ (or anyone with a good fake ID), Thirsty Thursdays are a favored move for most college students, especially those at Howard. Week after week, students pack out clubs and bars across DC for vibes, drink specials, and music. DJs are at the center of it all.

As gentrification slows down the era of huge house parties, many turn to the local club scene for some of the student body’s hottest parties. Grand Central DC, Zebbie’s Garden and Whitlow’s DC are recurring hubs for arguably the most treasured day of the week: Thirsty Thursdays. 

“Thirsty Thursday as we know it today started with DJ Mau spinning at HalfSmoke and it evolved from there,” said Ayinde Green, a senior civil engineering major who goes by DJ Yinde. The local restaurant partnered with the student DJ last year to drive students to the establishment, offering freakishly low prices on drinks and food. 

Each DJ typically finds a home venue. DJ Doobie, whose real name is Alani Hodge, can normally be found at Zebbie’s, a Dupont Circle hotspot, on a Thursday night. While DJ Yinde and DJ Wildchild or Madyson Patterson by day, have found homes at Grand Central and Whitlow’s. 

Patterson, who started DJing in Jan. believes the Howard party scene is diverse and fun. 

“There’s a wide variety and you can definitely find what you’re looking for. If you like house parties where [there’s] house music, R&B music, and there’s a lot of parties tailored to certain music genres or people. So I think that’s like the diversity and variety of everything at Howard,”  the Oregon native expressed.

Thursday nights tend to kick off the weekend for most Bison. Inside the popular bars and clubs, the space is packed to the brim. With dim lighting and drinks flowing, the genesis of college is evident: memories. 

With Howard students being from all over, student DJs are tasked with spinning for a diverse array of Black people—a skill that not many are equipped with.

“You have to be able to read a room and understand how people are feeling before you put on a song [and] before you transition into the next,” said Hodge. “Not every party is going to be good for Bounce and Jersey club music. Shorties don’t want to twerk every party.” 

The ability to read the crowd is make-or-break for DJs. Many students use nights out to blow off steam after dealing with the pressures of college life Monday through Thursday.

“I wait for Thursday most weeks, it’s a tough week with tests, quizzes. But once I hit Whitlow’s or Grand Central, I know I’m about to see everybody and it’s just good to socialize and be human beings,” said Katiana Carter, a finance major from New Jersey.

The importance of these spaces is not lost on the DJ. 

“I know that I’m playing the soundtrack to people’s college experience. It’s good pressure,” said Green.