Looking to dance to the beat of a different drummer? Sacramento's DJ Rock Bottom strives to enable you to do just that.

The first and third Friday of every month, Rock Bottom spins a dance party called "Hot Pants" at Level Up Lounge. Whether it's Prince, Black Star or remixes of old-school Motown, Rock Bottom said his goal is to "challenge people to push the envelope, get outside of their box and let go musically."

Rock Bottom, born John Word, grew up in Gary, Ind., about 25 miles from downtown Chicago. He recalls as a child listening religiously to Common Sense (now Common), perhaps Chicago's most innovative emcee. He also emulated a cousin's musical taste by listening to Afrika Bambaataa, one of the three originators of break beat DJing.

In 2001, he came to Sacramento to "find himself." Checking out the music scene, with DJs playing the same songs all the time, Rock Bottom said he realized that the scene lacked originality.

"Instead of (being) hip hop DJs, they would just play these sick songs that would get the crowd going," he said. "I love A Tribe Called Quest, I love hip hop, but it was 2004, and I felt like DJs weren't pushing the envelope."

He got his break when DJ Mad Planet of the Zulu Nation gave him a chance to perform in front of an audience at The Golden Bear.

"I knew I couldn't at the time. I could mix worth nothing," he said. "He gave me a chance. He put his name on the line and gave me a shot. I just wanted to make sure my selection was impeccable. (Afterward) cats were like, 'You killed it at The Golden Bear!' "

Rock Bottom, 31, has been DJing since that moment in 2004. He works as an afterschool team leader at Woodlake Elementary School in Del Paso Heights, and takes classes at Sac City College with the goal of becoming a teacher.

Rock Bottom is realistic about his aspirations.

"If the opportunity came up to become a full-time DJ, I would, but there are no health benefits," he said. "I need to work and DJ."

From 2004 to 2005, Rock Bottom toured as the backing DJ for SAMMIE-award-winning, five-piece hip hop group Righteous Movement. "It was a good learning experience for me, getting to see different places, a lot of good shows, a lot of good food," he said.

Rock Bottom still works with emcee Tais from Righteous Movement, but his energy is largely on Hot Pants. He said it's his favorite gig because Level Up Lounge gives him creative freedom to honor artists dead or alive, known or unknown.

Many of his records come from The Beat, 1700 J St., or Records, 1618 Broadway. Rock Bottom said when he can't find them there, he purchases records online.

"I play (turntables) like an instrument. It is by no means like a guitar, because with an actual instrument, you're limited to that instrument," he said. "With turntables, whatever our imagination allows us to do, with hard work you can do it."

Rock Bottom performs "Hot Pants" every first and third Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Level Up Lounge, 2431 J St. The event is free, for ages 21 and older.

Photographs credit Amanda Lopez.