One of the biggest — definitely the largest — DJs on the festival circuit is coming to San Antonio.
Shaquille O’Neal, who plays music as DJ Diesel, announced a Texas tour this week that includes a Sept. 18 stop at 1902 Nightclub in St. Paul Square. He also will make appearances in El Paso, Houston and Dallas.
“I usually come to Texas once a year for my festival … but this year we’re mixing it up and doing a full Texas Takeover,” O’Neal posted on social media. “See you in September.”
O’Neal was in San Antonio not long ago as part of ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” team covering the NBA Finals. His alter-ego DJ Diesel also was here in 2022 during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and appeared at an event called Freakfest at Cowboys Dancehall.
His festival, Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Festival, took place March 21 at Panther Island Pavilion. Bass is a teeth-rattling subset of hip-hop that includes dubstep and drum and bass.
According to a bio posted by electronic music event promoter Insomniac, O’Neal first got into hip-hop music when he attended a Public Enemy concert as a teenager. As soon as he could, he bought a set of turntables so he could learn how to DJ.
O’Neal, who graduated from Cole High School in San Antonio, has released hip-hop albums under his own name and as DJ Diesel. He also has appeared at festivals including Lost Lands, Electric Zoo and Lollapalooza.
Tickets for DJ Diesel’s San Antonio performance cost $40-$45 and are available now at discopresents.com.