When you think of the nightlife at Penn State, two names might come to mind: DJ Yemi and DJ Rictor. These two DJs have defined Champs’ sound, transforming it into a staple at Penn State with their performances every weekend.

For the past few years, the duo have been the heart and soul of Champs, turning their passions into creating memories for college students.

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Beyond Penn State, they both have grown as artists and made names for themselves through their college tours and performing with world-renowned musicians like Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Trippie Redd, and NLE Choppa, to name a few.

For Yemi, music has always been second nature. Growing up, he was surrounded by it, from playing the clarinet to banging on bongos at church. It was clear that music was in his blood.

“Music’s always been in me,” Yemi said. “I played the clarinet, bongos, sang at church — you name it.”

But DJing? That wasn’t exactly the plan. What started as a hobby soon grew into something bigger.

“I wasn’t trying to be a DJ,” Yemi said. “I was the guy at house parties with the best playlists… I just loved playing music at house parties and seeing how it brought people together.”

Rictor’s journey was rooted in a similar passion for music, though with a slightly different path. Coming from a musical family, Rictor found his love for DJing in middle school, when he performed at a talent show. Despite a shaky start, he was hooked.

“I remember using Champs-level speakers in a little lunchroom. It got shut down, but it lit a spark,” Rictor laughs. “From there, I just kept going.”

By high school, Rictor started taking his music more seriously by DJing at events, and his passion developed into something more. Eventually, he was taken on tour with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang in the early days of his professional career.

Yemi, who also worked with Taylor Gang, got his big break in 2021 when he was booked at Champs during a bar crawl.

“Ten minutes in, I knew I was where I belonged,” Yemi said.

The one-time performance eventually led to a weekly residency as the house DJ for Champ’s Dollar Vodka Soda Night.

“It’s not just about cheap drinks — it’s about giving people an outlet,” Yemi said. “College is stressful, and for a few hours, we make that disappear.”

For Rictor, playing at Champs is about more than just the music — it’s about creating lasting memories and moments.

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“With Champs, we go together,” he said. “We’ve made it a staple in Penn State’s culture and community… The energy here is different.”

Though Yemi and Rictor have traveled all over the country, they both see Penn State as home.

“Penn State has this unique energy. You don’t find it anywhere else,” Rictor said. “I travel all over the world, but there’s nothing like the energy here.”

Together, Yemi and Rictor have made Champs more than just a bar — It’s become a cornerstone of the local nightlife scene.

“When I first started at Champs, it wasn’t the 300-person packed house you see now,” Yemi said. “It’s grown because of the roots we’ve built.”

For Rictor, that connection to the crowd is what makes it all worth it.

“When I’m on stage, it doesn’t feel like I’m working,” Rictor said. “I’m connecting with people and creating moments. That’s why I do this.”

On top of DJing in State College, both are making names for themselves outside the Penn State bubble, traveling to different colleges on tour year-round.

Outside of Champs, Rictor is a part of the team for Puerto Rican musician Christian Alicea, who was recently nominated for the Latin Grammy award for Best Album of the Year.

Yemi also produces music and has even started creating his own songs, which he plans to continue doing on top of his routine Thursday nights at Champs.

“We’re growing into our glow,” Rictor said.

Despite their accomplishments, Yemi or Rictor don’t see DJing as work. For them, it’s a passion.

“It’s not a job to me,” Yemi said. “I do it because I love it. Watching the crowd react to a beat drop or a perfect transition — it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Back at Penn State, both DJs have been working towards helping other local, aspiring DJs “grow into their glow.”

Through their continuous efforts, the pair has turned Champs into more than just a college bar — they’ve made it a space where Penn State’s energy comes alive every weekend. Beyond Champs, they each continue to spread their passion for music nationwide.

“We’re loyal to the soil,” Rictor said. “There’s no place like Penn State.”