Man born without arms and legs vows to make it as DJ or 'die trying.'

Jet, Feb 28, 1994 by Bechetta A. Jackson

Some call him amazing. Others say he's inspirational. But Patrick Lewis, a man born without arms and legs, is only trying to live out a childhood dream.

"Ever since I was a little boy growing up in West Texas, I've been fascinated with music," says Lewis, who is known by rappers and music personalities in Texas as "D.J. Flex."

For seven years, Lewis, who has long dreamed of being a dee j ay, has strived to perfect his art of mixing and scratching on turntables.

It matters not that he lacks what most consider the basic essentials --fingers and hands.

"I just want to be the best ... arms or no arms," the 24-year-old said from the floor of his apartment in Arlington, TX.

"I know I can do it. I just need someone to give me a chance. If I don't make it, (as a dee jay) I'll die trying," he vows.

As he talks, LaKesha Blackmon, the mother of their 21-month-old son, Trayler, plays with the toddler.

"I want to be better at this than people with arms," Lewis maintains. "My grandmother taught me not to sell myself short. Not to doubt myself. If I had, I probably wouldn't be where I am today."

Despite having had some success at dee-jaying, Lewis acknowledges that he hopes the best is yet to come.

"I'd like to be in music videos, work at a radio station and even produce my own artists," the soft-spoken personable man said. For now, Lewis demonstrates his talent at birthday parties and high school proms. In addition, his mixed tapes are played during a weekly half-hour show on 97.9 FM, The Box, in Houston.

"The first time I saw him in action, I couldn't believe it," said Bobby Z, the radio station's promotions director.

Lewis says people are shocked, or in awe when he takes to the stage to perform.

"Most people are startled. I like seeing their expressions. It's a big thing to them, but I just do what I have to do."

Doing what he has to means lowering his head to look through a host of albums before finding the one he wants.

It also means picking up the album with his mouth, quickly tossing it into his possession--using his mouth again to pull the album from the cover sheet--and then flipping it onto the turntable.

Lewis is so active and enjoys himself so much, that once he's in the process of mixing and scratching one tends to forget that he has no limbs.

Lewis' manager, Byron K. Blunt, and Bobby Z are both doing what they can to get Lewis in the spotlight.

Blunt, who is president of Rrush Records, has introduced Lewis to local talents that he also manages like rap artist "Pimpsta" and the rap group "Choc.Lit.Sit.E Hustlers."

With Blunt's assistance, Lewis was featured in a "Pimpsta" music video. He also performed cuts and scratches on the upcoming "Choc.Lit.Sit.E Hustlers" album.

He attributes his success thus far to his persistence and drive to excel, despite his physical condition.

"Sometimes I'll think that I can't do something, and then I'll sit back for a while, think about it and figure out a way to do it."

He continued by stressing, "No matter what flaw you have in life, you should never allow that to stop you from achieving your goal.

"The only limitation is the limitation you allow yourself to have. Being handicapped is only a limitation if you look at it as one."

And Lewis clearly does not. He assures JET that he will make it as a dee jay.

"He's so talented. He needs to be working," Bobby Z told JET. "He can hang with anyone at this station. That's how good he is. What I'd like to see him do is get hooked up with rappers so he can open up shows. He'd be more than worth the price of admission."

Lewis' determination doesn't stop at mixing, he also tries to clean up around the house, he plays dominoes, feeds his son, and says he can even cut hair.

His son's mother confirmed that Lewis can "Pretty much" do anything he wants to.

The two met four years ago through a mutual friend. When they talked over the telephone, Blackmon learned that Lewis was born without arms and legs.

"When he told me I didn't believe him," said Blackmon, 20. "When I saw him in person I was shocked. It took me a while to get over that.

Blackmon said she immediately liked the fact that Lewis was outspoken, confident and so optimistic.

"The way he uses his elbows to do everything ... it's amazing. And he tries to do everything by himself He can even brush his teeth."

Yet Lewis is not role playing. He does what he has to do to survive.

"I do all this because I'm independent. I hate depending on people. I get impatient when it comes to waiting for someone to do something for me," the bachelor explained. "I think anything's possible. If you think you can do something, and you work at it long enough, you usually can."