DJ Franzen at Drai's Nightclub

Artist Profile

About DJ Franzen

DJ Franzen — real name Franzen Wong, whose first name was derived by combining his father Francisco and mother Zenida — is one of Las Vegas's most deeply rooted DJ and radio personalities, with a career dating to 1990 when he began as a 14-year-old intern at 106.1 KMEL in the Bay Area, California's most influential urban radio station and a foundational platform for West Coast hip-hop culture. Within a few years he had become an in-house DJ and on-air personality at KMEL, and ultimately the host of his own show that earned the highest ratings in the station's history. From 1994 to 2000 he hosted the CMC Music Video Countdown Show on California Music Channel, a visible mainstream media role that expanded his reach well beyond the club circuit. In late 2000 he left the Bay Area for Los Angeles to co-host Snoop Dogg's nationally syndicated radio show, which reached over 35 of the top markets in the United States — a syndication deal that placed his voice and DJ sets in front of a national audience at a scale that few regional club DJs achieve. His Las Vegas radio presence was equally dominant: hosting the 3–7 PM afternoon drive slot, his show became the highest-rated afternoon show in Las Vegas radio history. The city recognized his contributions in May 2015 when he was presented with a key to the city of Las Vegas, and May 28 was formally declared DJ Franzen Day in Las Vegas by civic proclamation — a distinction shared by very few entertainers in the market. He has shared the booth and the building with hip-hop's foundational figures across his career, with documented personal relationships and stories involving Jay-Z, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Nipsey Hussle, and Drake that span the genre's entire modern arc. His music philosophy reflects that depth: hip-hop, old school, R&B, and reggae are his primary territories, with influences ranging from Jay-Z and Tupac on the rap side to Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, and Sade as cross-genre touchstones that inform how he sequences a set for maximum emotional range and dancefloor utility. He is a TWITCH.tv partner and their top-ranked DJ, extending his reach into the streaming audience that now follows nightclub DJs between live appearances. His current Las Vegas residency centers on Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand, where his R&Bae Wednesdays event runs weekly throughout the spring and summer season — a dedicated R&B and hip-hop night format that draws a consistent crowd every Wednesday night. Confirmed R&Bae Wednesdays dates at Hakkasan in 2026 include January 28, April 8, April 15, and the residency continues weekly through November 25, 2026 — Supabase-verified upcoming dates include July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23, September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, November 18, and November 25. He also performs at Drai's Nightclub at The Vanderpump Hotel (formerly The Cromwell) — one of the Strip's leading hip-hop venues — and at Jewel Nightclub at ARIA Resort & Casino. Guest list registration through NoCoverVegas provides complimentary entry to DJ Franzen's R&Bae Wednesdays at Hakkasan Nightclub and his Drai's and Jewel performances throughout the 2026 season. Source: teamwhynot.com/dj-franzen, vipnightlife.com/artists/dj-franzen/, drinkchamps.com/dj-franzen-roc-solid/, taogroup.com/event/4-8-2026-rbae-wednesdays-w-dj-franzen-hakkasan-nightclub/