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Clinton Sparks on Lady Gaga, Nelly and his ‘Boston mentality’ – Metro US

Clinton Sparks on Lady Gaga, Nelly and his ‘Boston mentality’

Clinton Sparks

Expect bumping tunes throughout the midnight hours when Boston-born DJ and producer Clinton Sparks teams up with Nelly for a one-night show this weekend.

The duo is taking over Foxwoods Resort Casino for the latest installment of the “Get Familiar Fridays” series at the Shrine Kitchen, Lounge & Nightclub. Sparks tells Metro that he goes way back with the hip-hop star.

“I’ve known Nelly for many years,” Sparks says. The pair has worked together on several albums over the years, which is why the DJ knows that this weekend’s show in New England will be “a whole lot of awesome” with his good friend.

While the lineup will be flexible, fan favorites like “Hot in Herre” will probably be worked into the mix alongside newer selections from both parties. “I usually get artists to do things they usually wouldn’t,” says Sparks.

The Dorchester native believes much of his success, musical style and attitude has been influenced by his childhood in Boston. Sparks explains that “you can hear the emotion and pain in my music, it comes from my upbringing. But I also made it in this industry because of my relentless Boston mentality.”

Aside from energizing crowds with his tunes, Sparks has worked with stars like Akon, Ludacris and, most notably, Lady Gaga.

“I didn’t actually spend much time with Gaga, but I worked with two other DJ’s to help create her album ‘Born this Way,’” he says. It was this work that lead to his 2012 Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

And while Connecticut is not quite home, Sparks is looking forward to sipping on a Dunkin’ Donuts iced tea while on his visit to the East Coast.

If you go:

Aug. 18, 9 p.m., Foxwoods Resort Casino, 240 Fox Tower Drive, Mashantucket, Conn., $30, shrinefoxwoods.com