Shaquille O'Neal won four NBA titles, made it into the Hall of Fame and became one of the most familiar faces on TV. On a growing list of college campuses, though, students know him as something else: DJ Diesel, the 7-foot-1 headliner behind the decks.

It Started at LSU

O'Neal started DJing as a student-athlete at Louisiana State University, according to both his Wikipedia biography and the University of North Carolina's own announcement of his 2026 campus show.

Music came early in his NBA career too. His first rap album, Shaq Diesel, came out in 1993, while he was playing for the Orlando Magic, and was certified platinum.

The DJ act came later. He began performing as DJ Diesel in 2014, after getting into electronic dance music and dubstep.

From the Front Row to the Main Stage

In July 2019, O'Neal went to Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium, the giant electronic music festival, to play a set as DJ Diesel.

While he was there, he was also filmed in the front row of another DJ's show, pressed against the barricade and head-banging with the crowd, CBS Sports reported.

Tomorrowland's official channel posted his 2019 set:

On August 4, 2023, he performed as DJ Diesel on day two of Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park.

Two weeks later, on August 18, 2023, he released his debut album as DJ Diesel, Gorilla Warfare. Tracks he is known for include "STFU," "Bang Your Head" and "No Fear."

A Campus Tour in 2026

This fall, O'Neal took the act to college students. He played a free pregame concert at the University of Virginia in late August.

On August 28, he headlined Penn State's free LightsUP festival on the lawn outside the HUB-Robeson Center.

On September 12, he played the Chapel Thrill pregame concert on Polk Place at UNC before the Tar Heels' home opener, and former UNC coach Roy Williams joined him for part of the set.

He also played a free set at SMU in Dallas in September.

On September 27, he headlined the halftime show at the New Orleans Saints' home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at the Caesars Superdome.

On October 9, he headlined Elon University's Rock the Block, the free concert that opens its Homecoming weekend.

Still on the Road

He was also booked to headline a Halloween party in North Charleston, South Carolina, as DJ Diesel.

His first rap album came out more than 30 years ago. The DJ act is still going.

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