His name is Ka'Juan D. Hill. But you may also know him as Khaos. He is one man with two names and two purposes.
By day, Hill is the creator and host of the "Let's Talk About It" show, an original program found on YouTube. By night, Khaos is a party host known for hyping up the crowds at his gigs around town.
Hill, 23, grew up in Hamtramck and graduated from Highland Park Community High School. A dancer, he became known in the ballroom scene for his voguing ability. Throughout his ballroom career with the House of Mizrahi, he won six $1,000 prizes for his dancing.
"My spins were so fast that every time I hit the floor it was chaos," Hill recalled. "That's how I got my name. But now I want to venture from the ballroom scene and become a leader in the community to give people a voice that don't have one. I choose to use my popularity and platform for positive purposes."
To that end, Hill created "Let's Talk About It."
"I made a video about HIV and how you need to be tested and I received a very positive reaction," Hill said of his show's beginnings. "So I decided I wanted to give people a perspective and an outlook on different types of people in the world. I want to inspire and motivate people, and I found that I loved talking to people."
The show quickly took off and Hill continued to delve into deep topics.
"All the feedback that I got, it made me want to do it more," Hill explained. "It felt so good to know that I had helped someone and inspired somebody. Whatever challenge that I go through, I talk about it. Things in my life and my family's lives, friends … I talk about it to express to people that they're not going through it alone and they're going to get through it. So many people face issues and they think that they're alone and that's when they lose hope. And you always need to hold onto hope.
"Another reason why I started my show is because I felt that there were a lot of things that people swept under the rug," Hill continued. "There were a lot of things that needed to be talked about. If we keep sweeping things under the rug how can we fix them? That's why the show is called 'Let's Talk About It.'"
To date, the show that was hardest for Hill to do was on police brutality.
"I went to downtown Detroit and I had to talk to every ethnicity that I could – men, women and children – and I had to actually walk up to them and approach them and ask them what they felt about police brutality. It was hard to approach people because a lot of people didn't want to talk about it. Just walking up to people on the street I had to come out of my comfort zone. I wanted to get the message out there that we needed to come together as a people. And to tell certain people that was difficult because they didn't want to hear it. That was definitely difficult. But it was a challenge I'm glad I took on."
As the show began attracting attention, Hill got offers to branch out and began hosting parties at various clubs. For this, he brought back the name Khaos.
"Once my show started getting popular I started getting booked in different states," Hill said. "People come to the club to forget what they're going through in life. So if I'm the host I feel it's my job to make sure they have an extraordinary, turnt up time."
One might think that may be a challenge. But Hill doesn't see it that way.
"The way my personality is set up I'm going to have a good time," he said. "So everyone else is going to have a good time, too. Whether it's three people or three hundred, we're going to turn up. So if you come to a party that I'm hosting, be ready to have a good time."
Popular Detroit DJ, Tone, agreed.
"Everywhere he goes he has a good vibe," Tone said. "He can relate to the whole crowd – the men, the women, the young and the old – everybody likes him. He just has this energy and personality that people vibe with."
Tone was so impressed with Hill that the two took on a father-son type relationship.
"At first I was hesitant," Tone said. "But just seeing things about his personality and how he reminded me so much of me … his energy was always so good every time I was around him. So I decided to go ahead and take on the responsibility."
Tone said he is quite proud of his son and his efforts with the "Let's Talk About It" show.
"I think it's an amazing thing," he said. "I'm a little jealous 'cause it's something that I would love to do if I had the balls and the personality. I love it. I think it's something that somebody his age should be doing – talking about all these topics."
Hill is excited about filming his show live from the Hotter Than July picnic in Palmer Park on Saturday.
"The show will be about the leaders within the lgbt community," Hill said. "I will be interviewing people that give so much to the world. They'll be shining through my show. I'm going to find out who they are and why they do what they do."
Detroit's Black Gay Pride
The 2016 Hotter Than July celebration features nearly a week of activities for the LGBT community now through July 31.
The week began with a candlelight vigil at the Blue Spruce Memorial Tree in Palmer Park where longtime community activist Ron Doe remembered those we have lost to HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses. This set the tone for the entire week.
On July 28, the play "Before It Hits Home," written by playwright Cheryl West is featured. The performance will take place at the Virgil Carr Center at 311 E. Grand River Ave. where the Poor Man's Art Collective is currently exhibiting.
HTJ continues with an annual gathering on LGBT issues beginning at 8 a.m. July 29 at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary at 2930 Woodward Ave. This year's event features several panel discussions including community engagement, experiences of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, an inter-generational discussion, and caregiving, among other topics. These discussions will feed into the overall theme of "Where do we go from here?" Roland Stringfellow, senior minister and teacher for Metropolitan Community Church-Detroit, will give the keynote address. Admittance is free following registration.
The pinacle event of the festival, the Palmer Park Picnic, will kick off the weekend at 10 a.m. July 30. The picnic receives over 20,000 guests who gather to celebrate culture, self-empowerment and identity. Sunday services include a 10 a.m. worship service at Whosoever Ministry located at 2930 Woodward Ave. The festival will close with a Sunday brunch hosted by Imagine This Productions beginning at 12 p.m. at the Charlevoix Gallery at 14505 Charlevoix in Detroit. Advance tickets are required.
Check http://www.lgbtdetroit.org/hotterthanjuly/ for updates and for information on other HTJ events.
