Tributes are pouring in for DJ Stef, a prominent Bay Area DJ and revered member of the Hip Hop community. Stef (real name Stephanie Ornelas) passed away unexpectedly on Sunday (October 1), as indicated by countless posts on social media.
El-P, Sage Francis, The Beat Junkies’ Rhettmatic, DJ Z-Trip, Lyrics Born, B. Dolan, RJD2, Doomtree’s Sims and more took to Twitter to express their condolences, a testament to her reach in Hip Hop.
Stef was the founder of Vinyl Exchange, a newsletter she started in the ’90s that documented the record collector culture. She also worked as a graphic designer, developer and writer.
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No details surrounding her death have been released at this time.
Check out some of the tributes below.
RIP @djstef415. Thank you for always being such pillar in our community. This is heartbreaking news.https://t.co/RC3fTJ45ze
— anticon records (@anticon) October 2, 2017
heartbroken to hear about dj stef passing. truly a lovely, kind soul.
— el-p (@therealelp) October 2, 2017
RIP DJ Stef. one of the first people to support our records on the West Coast. you'll be missed.
— Pack Pistol Pazzy (@vinnie_paz) October 2, 2017
So sad to hear of DJ Stef’s passing. Thoughts go out to her family & the *countless* people who’ve been connected thanks to her love/support
— Sage Francis (@SageFrancis) October 2, 2017
DAMN. DJ Stef?! Hip hop historian & music head who did so much for the bay. She schooled us at HH Slam & Beatsauce on the regular. RIP
— J Boogie (@jboogiejustin) October 2, 2017
DAMN. DJ Stef?! Hip hop historian & music head who did so much for the bay. She schooled us at HH Slam & Beatsauce on the regular. RIP
— J Boogie (@jboogiejustin) October 2, 2017
DJ STEF forever pic.twitter.com/ewsq0PeyNc
— Equipto (@EQUIPTO) October 2, 2017
RIP @djstef415, a Bay Area staple & OG. 1 of the 1st ppl to give love 2 the @BEATJUNKIES & @theVisionaries. U will be missed #VinylExchangepic.twitter.com/psNHGkdxLd
— rhettmatic (@rhettmatic) October 2, 2017
Still can't really find words about the loss of @djstef415.
Gonna miss her. A lot.
<3 to everyone whose lives she touched.
Rest easy, O.G. pic.twitter.com/3IVxQlIVrl— (((B. Dolan))) (@BDolanSFR) October 2, 2017
RIP to @djstef415
One of the first journalists to have my back & one of the main reasons I moved to the bay. A true comrade to Indy rap pic.twitter.com/eKwo4LYpvV— S O L E (@mcsole) October 2, 2017
Im so fvckin heartbroken. RIP #BayArea HipHop pioneer, curator, DJ, & historian @djstef415. We ❤️ U & treasure what Uve done 4 all of us ??
— Lyrics Born (@lyricsborn) October 2, 2017
Man, can't believe it… RIP @djstef415 – Bay Area icon and amazing lady on top of that
— DJ Z-TRIP (@ztrip) October 2, 2017
Heavy heart. @djstef415 you will be missed. You were loved.
Love to her family— Sims (@SIMSdoomtree) October 2, 2017
R.I.P. @djstef415 , Pioneer, Friend, and Absolute DIAMOND of a human being, all my Love&Strength go out to your family & friends.
— doseone (@doseonetweets) October 2, 2017
RIP to my dear friend @djstef415 a huge loss to anyone that knew her. I'll cherish all the memories. ❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️
— Blue Sky Black Death (@BSBDmusic) October 2, 2017
Love for DJ STEF ?? pic.twitter.com/kcOXZ5LzET
— Equipto (@EQUIPTO) October 2, 2017
