A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc referred to the Compact Disc, and has become the more common spelling. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.

There are several types of disc jockeys. Radio DJs or radio personalities introduce and play music that is broadcast on AM, FM, shortwave, digital, or internet radio stations. Club DJs select and play music in bars, nightclubs, discothèques, at raves, or even in a stadium. Hip hop disc jockeys select and play music using multiple turntables, often to back up one or more MCs, and they may also do turntable scratching to create percussive sounds. In reggae, the DJ (deejay) is a vocalist who raps, "toasts", or chats over pre-recorded rhythm tracks while the individual choosing and playing them is referred to as a selector. Mobile DJs travel with portable sound systems and play recorded music at a variety of events.

Equipment and techniques

DJ equipment may consist of:

Sound recordings in a DJ's preferred medium (for example, vinyl records, Compact Discs, computer media files, etc.);

A combination of two devices (or only one, if playback is digital) to play sound recordings, for alternating back and forth to create a continuous playback of music (for example, record players, Compact Disc players, computer media players such as an MP3 player, etc.);

A multiple Sequencer which can mix MIDI tracks with Digital Audio;

A sound system for amplification or broadcasting of the recordings (for example, portable audio system, PA system) or a radio broadcasting system;

A DJ mixer, which is an electronic (usually 2- or 4-channel) audio mixer usually equipped with a crossfader used to smoothly go from one song to another, using two or more playback devices;

Headphones, used to listen to one recording while the other recording is being played to the audience, or to listen to both recordings simultaneously; and

Optionally, a microphone, so that the DJ can introduce songs and speak to the audiences.

Other equipment could or can be added to the basic DJ setup (above), providing unique sound manipulations. Such devices include, but are not limited to:

Electronic effects units (delay, reverb, octave, equalizer, chorus, etc.). Some club DJs use a sub-harmonic synthesizer effect which either doubles low frequencies with energy added an octave lower or synthesizes harmonics such that the impression of a very low bass sound is added to the mix.

A computerised performance system, which can be used with vinyl emulation software to manipulate digital files on the computer in real time.

Multi-stylus headshells, which allow a DJ to play different grooves of the same record at the same time.

Special DJ digital controller hardware can manipulate digital files on a PC or laptop;

Samplers, sequencers, electronic musical keyboards (synthesizers), or drum machines.

Several techniques are used by DJs as a means to better mix and blend recorded music. These techniques primarily include the cueing, equalization, and audio mixing of two or more sound sources. The complexity and frequency of special techniques depends largely on the setting in which a DJ is working. Radio DJs are less likely to focus on music-mixing procedures than club DJs, who rely on a smooth transition between songs using a range of techniques.

Club DJ turntable techniques include beatmatching, phrasing, and slip-cueing to preserve energy on a dancefloor. Turntablism embodies the art of cutting, beat juggling, scratching, needle drops, phase shifting, back spinning, and more to perform the transitions and overdubs of samples in a more creative manner (although turntablism is often considered a use of the turntable as a musical instrument rather than a tool for blending recorded music). Professional DJs may use harmonic mixing to choose songs that are in compatible musical keys.

History

19th century to 1920s

In 1857, Leon Scott invented the phonoautograph in France, the first device to record sound but with no method of playback. In 1877, Charles Cros invented a phonograph in France that was patented before Thomas Alva Edison's invention but never built. Edison invented the phonograph cylinder, the first device to play back recorded sound, in the United States. In 1892, Emile Berliner began commercial production of his gramophone records, the first disc records to be offered to the public. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden transmitted the first audio radio broadcast in history also playing the first record, that of a contralto singing Handel's ''Largo'' from ''Xerxes''.

The world's first radio disc jockey was Ray Newby, of Stockton, California. In 1909, at 16 years of age, Newby began regularly playing records on a small spark transmitter while a student at Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless, located in San Jose, California, under the authority of radio pioneer Charles "Doc" Herrold. Though it was really called Disco Jockey, it has been changed through the years to Disc Jockey but it can be referred as DISCO or DISC Jockey.

By 1910, regular radio broadcasting had started to use "live" as well as prerecorded sound. In the early radio age, content typically included comedy, drama, news, music, and sports reporting. The on-air announcers and programmers would later be known as disc jockeys. In the 1920s, juke joints became popular as places for dancing and drinking to recorded jukebox music. In 1927, Christopher Stone became the first radio announcer and programmer in the United Kingdom, on the BBC radio station. In 1929, Thomas Edison ceased phonograph cylinder manufacture, ending the disc and cylinder rivalry.

1930s–1950s

In 1935, American commentator Walter Winchell coined the term "disc jockey" (the combination of ''disc'', referring to the disc records, and ''jockey'', which is an operator of a machine) as a description of radio announcer Martin Block, the first announcer to become a star. While his audience was awaiting developments in the Lindbergh kidnapping, Block played records and created the illusion that he was broadcasting from a ballroom, with the nation’s top dance bands performing live. The show, which he called ''Make Believe Ballroom'', was an instant hit. The term "disc jockey" appeared in print in ''Variety'' in 1941.

Prior to this, most music heard on radio was live; most radio stations had an orchestra or band on the payroll. The Federal Communications Commission also clearly favored live music, providing accelerated license approval to stations promising not to use any recordings for their first three years on the air. Many noted recording artists tried to keep their recorded works off the air by having their records labeled as not being legal for airplay. It took a Federal court ruling in 1940 to establish that a recording artist had no legal right to control the use of a record after it was sold.

In 1943, Jimmy Savile launched the world's first DJ dance party by playing jazz records in the upstairs function room of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds in Otley, England. In 1947, he claims to have become the first DJ to use twin turntables for continuous play. Also in 1947, the Whiskey à Go-Go nightclub opened in Paris, France, considered to be the world's first commercial discothèque, or disco (deriving its name from the French word meaning a nightclub where the featured entertainment is recorded music rather than an on-stage band). Regine began playing on twin turntables there in 1953. Discos began appearing across Europe and the United States. From the late 1940s to early 1950s, the introduction of television eroded the popularity of radio's early format, causing it to take on the general form it has today, with a strong focus on music, news, and sports.

The postwar period coincided with the rise of the radio disc jockey as a celebrity separate from the radio station, also known as a "radio personality". In the days before station-controlled playlists, the DJ often followed their personal tastes in music selection. DJs also played a role in exposing rock and roll artists to large, national audiences. While at WERE in Cleveland, Ohio, DJ Bill Randle was one of the first to introduce Elvis Presley to radio audiences in the northeastern US.

In the 1950s, American radio DJs would appear live at "sock hops" and "platter parties" and assume the role of a human jukebox. They would usually play 45-rpm records, featuring hit singles on one turntable while talking between songs. In some cases, a live drummer was hired to play beats between songs to maintain the dance floor. In 1955, Bob Casey, a well-known "sock hop" DJ, brought the two-turntable system to the U.S. Throughout the 1950s, payola payments by record companies to DJs in return for airplay were an ongoing problem. Part of the fallout from the payola scandal was tighter control of the music by station management. The Top 40 format emerged, where popular songs are played repeatedly.

In the late 1950s, sound systems, a new form of public entertainment, were developed in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica. Promoters, who called themselves DJs, would throw large parties in the streets that centered on the disc jockey, called the "selector," who played dance music from large, loud PA systems and bantered over the music with a boastful, rhythmic chanting style called "toasting". These parties quickly became profitable for the promoters, who would sell admission, food, and alcohol, leading to fierce competition between DJs for the biggest sound systems and newest records.

1960s and 1970s

In the mid-1960s, nightclubs and discothèques continued to grow in Europe and the United States. Specialized DJ equipment, such as Rudy Bozak's classic CMA-10-2DL mixer, began to appear on the market. In 1969, American club DJ Francis Grasso popularized beatmatching at New York's Sanctuary nightclub. Beatmatching is the technique of creating seamless transitions between records with ''matching'' ''beats'', or tempos. Grasso also developed slip-cuing, the technique of holding a record still while the turntable is revolving underneath, releasing it at the desired moment to create a sudden transition from the previous record.

By 1968, the number of dance clubs started to decline; most American clubs either closed or were transformed into clubs featuring live bands. Neighborhood block parties that were modelled after Jamaican sound systems gained popularity in Europe and in the boroughs of New York City.

In 1973, Jamaican-born DJ Kool Herc, widely regarded as the "father of hip-hop culture," performed at block parties in his Bronx neighborhood and developed a technique of mixing back and forth between two identical records to extend the rhythmic instrumental segment, or ''break''. Turntablism, the art of using turntables not only to play music but to manipulate sound and create original music, began to develop.

In 1974, Technics released the first SL-1200 turntable, which evolved into the SL-1200 MK2 in 1979—which, as of the early-2010s, remains the industry standard for DJing. In 1974, German electronic music band Kraftwerk released the 22-minute song "Autobahn," which takes up the entire first side of that LP. Years later, Kraftwerk would become a significant influence on hip-hop artists such as Afrika Bambaataa and house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles. During the mid-1970s, Hip-hop music and culture began to emerge, originating among urban African Americans and Latinos in New York City. The four main elements of Hip Hop culture are graffiti, DJing, breakdancing, and MCing (rapping).

In the mid-1970s, the soul-funk blend of dance pop known as disco took off in the mainstream pop charts in the United States and Europe, causing discothèques to experience a rebirth. Unlike many late-1960s clubs, which featured live bands, discothèques used the DJ's selection and mixing of records as the entertainment. In 1975, record pools began, providing disc jockeys access to newer music from the industry in an efficient method.

In 1975, hip-hop DJ Grand Wizard Theodore invented the scratching technique by accident. In 1976, American DJ, editor, and producer Walter Gibbons remixed "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure, one of the earliest commercially released 12″ singles (aka "maxi-single"). In 1979, the Sugar Hill Gang released "Rapper's Delight", the first hip-hop record to become a hit. It was also the first real breakthrough for sampling, as the bassline of Chic's "Good Times" laid the foundation for the song.

In 1977, Saratoga Springs, NY disc jockey Tom L. Lewis introduced the Disco Bible (later renamed Disco Beats), which published hit disco songs listed by beats per minute (tempo), as well as by either artist or song title. Billboard ran an article on the new publication, and it went national relatively quickly. The list made it easier for beginning DJs to learn how to create seamless transitions between songs without dancers having to change their rhythm on the dance floor. Today, DJs can find the beats per minute of songs in the BPM List.

1980s

In 1981, the cable television network MTV was launched, originally devoted to music videos, especially popular rock music. The term "video jockey", or VJ, was used to describe the fresh-faced youth who introduced the music videos. In 1982, the demise of disco in the mainstream by the summer of 1982 forced many nightclubs to either close or change entertainment styles, such as by providing MTV-style video dancing or live bands. Released in 1982, the song "Planet Rock" by DJ Afrika Bambaataa was the first hip-hop song to feature synthesizers. The song melded electro hip-hop beats influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra with the melody from Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express." In 1982, the Compact Disc reached the public market in Asia, and early the following year in other markets. This event is often seen as the "Big Bang" of the digital audio revolution.

In the early 1980s, NYC disco DJ Larry Levan, known for his eclectic mixes, gained a cult following, and the Paradise Garage, the nightclub at which he spun, became the prototype for the modern dance club where the music and the DJ were showcased. Around the same time, the disco-influenced electronic style of dance music called house music emerged in Chicago. The name was derived from the Warehouse Club in Chicago, where resident DJ Frankie Knuckles mixed old disco classics and Eurosynth pop. House music is essentially disco music with electronic drum machine beats. The common element of most house music is a 4/4 beat generated by a drum machine or other electronic means (such as a sampler), together with a solid (usually also electronically generated) synth bassline. In 1983, Jesse Saunders released what some consider the first house music track, "On & On." The mid-1980s also saw the emergence of New York Garage, a house music hybrid that was inspired by Levan's style and sometimes eschewed the accentuated high-hats of the Chicago house sound.

During the mid-1980s, techno music emerged from the Detroit club scene. Being geographically located between Chicago and New York, Detroit techno artists combined elements of Chicago house and New York garage along with European imports. Techno distanced itself from disco's roots by becoming almost purely electronic with synthesized beats. In 1985, the Winter Music Conference started in Fort Lauderdale Florida and became the premier electronic music conference for dance music disc jockeys.

In 1985, TRAX Dance Music Guide was launched by American Record Pool in Beverly Hills. It was the first national DJ-published music magazine, created on the Macintosh computer using extensive music market research and early desktop publishing tools. In 1986, "Walk This Way", a rap/rock collaboration by Run DMC and Aerosmith, became the first hip-hop song to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was the first exposure of hip-hop music, as well as the concept of the disc jockey as band member and artist, to many mainstream audiences. In 1988, ''DJ Times'' magazine was first published. It was the first US-based magazine specifically geared toward the professional mobile and club DJ.

Starting in the mid-1980s, the wedding and banquet business changed dramatically with the introduction of DJ music, replacing the bands that had been the norm. Bandleaders, like Jerry Perell and others, started DJ companies, such as NY Rhythm DJ Entertainers. Using their knowledge of audience participation, MC charisma, and "crowd-pleasing" repertory selection, the wedding music industry became almost all DJ while combining the class and elegance of the traditional band presentation. New DJs as well as bandleaders with years of experience and professionalism transformed the entire industry.

1990s

During the early 1990s, the rave scene built on the acid house scene. The rave scene changed dance music, the image of DJs, and the nature of promoting. The innovative marketing surrounding the rave scene created the first superstar DJs who established marketable "brands" around their names and sound. Some of these celebrity DJs toured around the world and were able to branch out into other music-related activities. During the early 1990s, the Compact Disc surpassed the gramophone record in popularity, but gramophone records continued to be made (although in very limited quantities) into the 21st century—particularly for club DJs and for local acts recording on small regional labels. During the mid-1990s, trance music, having run rampant in the German underground for several years, emerged as a major force in dance music throughout Europe and the UK. It became one of the world's most dominant forms of dance music by the end of the 1990s, thanks to a trend away from its repetitive, hypnotic roots, and towards commercialized song structure.

In 1991, ''Mobile Beat'' magazine, geared specifically toward mobile DJs, began publishing. In 1992, MPEG which stands for the Moving Picture Experts Group, released The MPEG-1 standard, designed to produce reasonable sound at low bit rates. The lossy compression scheme MPEG-1 Layer-3, popularly known as MP3, later revolutionized the digital music domain. In 1993, the first internet "radio station", Internet Talk Radio, was developed by Carl Malamud. Because the audio was relayed over the internet, it was possible to access internet radio stations from anywhere in the world. This made it a popular service for both amateur and professional disc jockeys operating from a personal computer.

In 1995, the first full-time, internet-only radio station, Radio HK, began broadcasting the music of independent bands. In 1996, Mobile Beat had its first national mobile DJ convention in Las Vegas. During the late 1990s, nu metal bands, such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park, reached the height of their popularity. This new subgenre of alternative rock bore some influence from hip-hop because rhythmic innovation and syncopation are primary, often featuring DJs as band members. As well, during the late 1990s, various DJ and VJ software programs were developed, allowing personal computer users to DJ or VJ using his or her personal music or video files.

In 1998, the first MP3 digital audio player was released, the Eiger Labs MPMan F10. Final Scratch debuted at the BE Developer Conference, marking the first digital DJ system to allow DJs control of MP3 files through special time-coded vinyl records or CDs. While it would take sometime for this novel concept to catch on with the "die hard Vinyl DJs", This would soon become the first step in the new Digital DJ revolution. Manufacturers joined with computer DJing pioneers to offer professional endorsements, the first being Professor Jam (aka William P. Rader), who went on to develop the industry's first dedicated computer DJ convention and learning program, the "CPS (Computerized Performance System) DJ Summit", to help spread the word about the advantages of this emerging technology.

In 1999, Shawn Fanning released Napster, the first of the massively popular peer-to-peer file sharing systems. During this period, the AVLA (Audio Video Licensing Agency) of Canada announced an MP3 DJing license, administered by the Canadian Recording Industry Association. This meant that DJs could apply for a license giving them the right to perform publicly using music stored on a hard drive, instead of having to cart their whole CD collections around to their gigs.

See also

Computer DJ

Digital DJ licensing

Disc or disk (spelling)

Live PA

Mixset

Record collecting

Seoul World DJ Festival

Notes

References

Assef, Claudia (2000). ''Todo DJ Já Sambou: A História do Disc-Jóquei no Brasil''. São Paulo: Conrad Editora do Brasil. ISBN 85-87193-94-5.

Brewster, Bill, and Frank Broughton (2000). ''Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey''. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-3688-5 (North American edition). London: Headline. ISBN 0-7472-6230-6 (UK edition).

Broughton, Frank, and Bill Brewster. ''How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records''. New York: Grove Press, 2003.

Graudins, Charles A. ''How to Be a DJ''. Boston: Course Technology PTR, 2004.

Lawrence, Tim (2004). ''Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970–1979 ''. Duke University Press. ISBN 0-8223-3198-5.

Miller, Paul D. aka DJ Spooky, ''Sound Unbound: Writings on DJ Culture and Electronic Music'', MIT Press 2008. ISBN 0-262-63363-9 ISBN 978-0-262-63363-5.

Poschardt, Ulf (1998). ''DJ Culture''. London: Quartet Books. ISBN 0-7043-8098-6.

Zemon, Stacy. ''The Mobile DJ Handbook: How to Start & Run a Profitable Mobile Disc Jockey Service'', Second Edition. St. Louis: Focal Press, 2002.

External links

Category:Broadcasting occupations Category:Media occupations Category:Occupations in music Category:Disco

ar:دي جي az:Disk jokey bs:Disc jockey bg:Диджей ca:Discjòquei cs:DJ da:Dj de:DJ es:Disc jockey eo:Diskĵokeo eu:DJ fa:دی‌جی fo:DJ fr:Disc jockey ko:디스크 자키 hr:Disc Jockey id:Disjoki is:Plötusnúður it:Disc jockey he:DJ ka:დისკ-ჟოკეი kk:Ди-джей la:Discimpositor lv:Diskžokejs lt:Diskžokėjus hu:Lemezlovas mk:Диџеј ms:DJ nl:Diskjockey ja:ディスクジョッキー no:Disc jockey nn:DJ mhr:Диджей pl:DJ pt:DJ ro:Disc jockey ru:Диджей simple:Disc jockey sk:Diskotekár sl:Didžej sr:Диск џокеј fi:DJ sv:DJ th:ดีเจ tr:DJ uk:Ді-джей vi:DJ yi:דידזשיי zh:DJ

name	DJ Laz
background	solo_singer
origin	Miami, Florida, United States
genre	Reggaeton, Miami Bass
occupation	DJ, rapper
years active	1990–present
label	TVT Records, Collipark Music
associated acts	Flo Rida, Casely, Pitbull, Ying Yang Twins, Mami El Negro
website	MySpace account }}

Lazaro Mendez, better known by his stage name DJ Laz is a Cuban-American rapper and DJ from Miami, Florida.

He is best known for his albums ''DJ Laz'' and ''Category 6'', which charted on U.S. ''Billboard'' album charts. He is also notable for the singles "Journey Into Bass" (1994) and "Move Shake Drop" (2008), which peaked at #56 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Discography

Studio albums

1991: ''DJ Laz featuring Mami El Negro''

1993: ''Journey In''

1994: ''The Latin Album''

1996: ''Bass XXX, Vol. 2''

2001: '' XXX Breaks''

2008: ''Category 6''

2010: ''TBA''

Compilation albums

2001: ''Greatest Hits''

Singles

1991: "Mami El Negro"

1992: "Moments in Bass"

1992: "Latin Rhythm"

1992: "Hump All Night"

1993: "Journey Into Bass" #44 U.S. Rap

1995: "Shake It Up"

1996: "Esa Morena"

1998: "Sabrosura"

1998: "Negra Chula"

1999: "Get Your Ass Off Stage"

2000: "The Red Alert Project"

2000: "Ki Ki Ri Bu"

2000: "Facina"

2008: "Move Shake Drop" (featuring Flo Rida, Casely and Pitbull) #56 U.S. Hot 100, #42 U.S. Pop 100

2008: "She Can Get It"

2009: "I Made It To The U.S.A"

2010: "Alcoholic" (featuring Pitbull)

See also

List of Miami rappers

References

External links

DJ Laz at MySpace

Detailed discography of DJ Laz at Discogs

[ Profile and discography of DJ Laz] at Allmusic

Category:Electro-hop musicians Laz, DJ Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Miami, Florida Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

fr:DJ Laz

name	DJ Clue?
background	solo_singer
birth name	Ernesto Shaw
alias	MC Drama
born	January 08, 1975Queens, New York, United States
origin	Queens, New York
instrument	Turntable, Sampler
genre	Hip Hop, R&B;
occupation	DJ, rapper, producer, VJ, radio personality
years active	1994–present
label	Desert Storm, Def Jam
associated acts	Fabolous, DJ Envy, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Ja Rule, DMX, Red Cafe, Kanye West
website	DJ Clue }}

Ernesto Shaw (born January 8, 1975) better known as DJ Clue?, is a mixtape DJ and MTV correspondent.

Biography

For more than 10 years, DJ Clue has proven that he is more than just a beat-thumper. His accomplishments show how a turntable genius precisely puts together different songs to make a concoction of beats and melodies that rule the clubs and the streets. This mix tape phenomenon is nothing short of spectacular. DJ Clue has the honed-down expertise and handiness of a veteran, and is undoubtedly on the verge of spinning himself into history. He has turned a personal hobby into a commodity and a booming industry all on his own. The “Mixtape” is one of the most sought after products in the Hip Hop world. His 90-minute compilations are full of the hottest artists, mixed with never-heard-before rhythms and unique freestyles. DJ Clue is known for street masterpieces such as Clue For President, Clueminatti and Show Me The Money Pt.’s I and II; works of art which have traveled around the world faster than Clue himself. And if a song isn’t on a Clue tape, then little attention is paid - because in spite of everything, all this tastemaker has to do is suggest what’s hot and everyone tags along. DJ Clue is most notably known for his first Mixtape CD, The Professional Part I, which sold over a million copies. He was also the mastermind behind the infamous DJ Clue Presents: Backstage Mixtape, which debuted at #6 on the charts. With a new compilation, The Professional Part II, DJ Clue is headed for a whole other level. What makes The Professional Part II so exhilarating is the artists DJ Clue has assembled - a roster of the hottest and most versatile artists out today: Mary J. Blige, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, DMX, Snoop, Lil Mo, Busta feat. Rah Digga, Eminem feat. Method Man and Royce, and Nas - just to name a few. He also produced half the album along with his partner Ken Durro with whom he has a production company (No Question Entertainment).

A native of Queens, New York, 26-year old “Clue” became fascinated with the artistry of Hip Hop back in 1989, when he (then known as MC Drama) was the front man for a neighboring Queens rap group. It was in the mist of one of their intense practice sessions that Clue gazed over at his deejay’s turntables and immediately became enthralled - shortly after deciding that he’d rather add, subtract and multiply beats, and get the crowd’s undivided attention by making their eardrums dance to what he’s mixing. All it took was a pair of Linear-Tech DD 1700’s, two copies of Chic’s “Good Times” and heart to get started. Now, with a style as personal and established as his name, DJ Clue’s good times are indeed on the rise.

DJ Clue broke ground by releasing his first tape in 1990, Clue #24. The tape took New York City by storm: the tape was distributed citywide, from Queens to the Boogie Down Bronx to Brooklyn and back, and his name grew as fast as his record collection - mainly because he included what no one else could on their tapes: unreleased material. Add live recording street freestyles to the mix and Clue gave the people a tape as diverse as a multicultural classroom. There were mix tapes, and then therewere Clue tapes - and the difference was always apparent. DJ Clue has put together close to two hundred mix tapes within a seven-year span, often selling as much or more than a top record label. “If the RIAA were to count the tapes I’ve sold independently over the years, I would’ve been certified multi-Platinum by now,” says Clue confidently.

In the past three years DJ Clue has earned “Best Mix Tape” awards from the music industry. Now, DJ Clue not only contributes his talent to one of the most popular radio stations in the country - Hot 97 in New York City - but he is also one of the hottest club DJs, dominating the club scene around the world. His radio show is one of the most tuned into, mainly because he exudes the same mixing prowess as he does on his mix tapes.

DJ Clue knows what’s hot, and he brings that knowledge to his new project. “I try to be the voice of the streets,” says an enthusiastic Clue. “From wherever I am to wherever I go, people are always feeling what I’m feeling.” And this is the reason why when DJ Clue steps onto the DJ’s Podium, questions are never asked.

Discography

Albums

''The Professional'' (1998)

''The Professional, Pt. 2'' (2000)

''The Professional, Pt. 3'' (2006)

Remixes

Heartbreaker (remix) (featuring Da Brat & Missy Elliott) - Mariah Carey (1999)

Thank God I Found You/Make It Last Forever (Remix) (featuring Joe & Nas) - Mariah Carey (1999)

It's Gonna Be Me - *NSYNC (2000)

U Remind Me (featuring Blu Cantrell and Method Man)- Usher (2001)

Overnight Celebrity (remix) (featuring Kanye West, Cam'ron and 50 Cent - Twista (2005)

Mesmerized (featuring Nas) - Faith Evans (2005)

How to Deal - Frankie J (2005)

We Belong Together (Remix) (featuring Styles P. and Jadakiss) - Mariah Carey (2005)

Shake It Off (Remix) (featuring Jay-Z and Young Jeezy) - Mariah Carey (2005)

One Wish (Ray J song) (featuring Fabolous) - Ray J (2005)

Don't Forget About Us (Remix) (featuring Styles P. and Fabolous) - Mariah Carey (2006)

Ride for You - Danity Kane (2006)

You Should Be My Girl - Sammie (featuring Sean P) (2006)

Production

"Heartbreaker" (featuring Jay-Z) - Mariah Carey (1999)

"Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" (featuring Busta Rhymes and Fabolous) - Mariah Carey (2001)

"Trade It All Pt.2" (featuring Jagged Edge and P. Diddy) - Fabolous (2002)

"Hurry Up" (featuring Gunz) - Mya (2003)

"One Wish" (remix) feat. Fabolous - Ray J (2006)

"The Gold" - Mobb Deep (2006)

"Superwoman" (featuring Fabolous - Lil Mo

"Dopeman" - Jay-Z

" Keepin It Gangsta" - Fabolous

External links

DJ Clue?'s Official MySpace

Desert Storm Records

The DJ Booth: DJ Clue? Interview

DJ Clue at Artst Guild & Gallery

References

Category:Roc-A-Fella Records artists Category:1975 births Category:People from Queens Category:Def Jam Recordings artists Category:Living people Category:American record producers Category:African hip hop DJs Category:VJs (media personalities) American music industry executives Category:Mixtape DJs Category:Desert Storm Records artists

de:DJ Clue fr:DJ Clue it:DJ Clue pl:DJ Clue

Landscape	yes
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Tramar Dillard
Born	September 17, 1979 Carol City, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Rapper, Songwriter, Actor
Genre	Southern hip hop, Pop rap, R&B;, Dance
Years active	2006–present
Label	Atlantic, Poe Boy
Associated acts	Brisco, Timbaland, David Guetta, Ke$ha, T-Pain, Akon
Website	}}

Tramar Dillard (born September 17, 1979), better known by his stage name Flo Rida ("flow rider"), is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, ''Mail on Sunday'', in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from ''Mail on Sunday'': "Elevator" and "In the Ayer". In 2009, his second album ''R.O.O.T.S.'' was released; its most successful single "Right Round" was at the top of the Hot 100 for six weeks. Since then, he has released his third studio album titled ''Only One Flo (Part 1)'', which will see a sequel titled ''Only One Rida (Part 2)''.

Early life

Tramar Dillard was born in the 187th Street projects of Carol City, Florida. His single mother raised him and his seven sisters, some of whom sang in a local gospel group. Dillard's brother-in-law was a hypeman for local rap group 2 Live Crew, and, while in Ninth Grade, Dillard formed his own amateur group with some friends called the Groundhoggz. His work with 2 Live Crew member Fresh Kid Ice attracted attention of DeVante Swing, a member of the band Jodeci. However, he was rejected by several of the major labels, so he sought many other jobs outside of music. After graduating from high school in 1998, he studied international business management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for two years and attended Barry University for two months. He returned to Florida to continue pursuing his music career after receiving a phone call from a representative of the independent label Poe Boy Entertainment. Dillard signed with Poe Boy in 2006, and as Flo Rida he began affiliating with other artists, such as Rick Ross, Trina, T-Pain, and Trick Daddy. A promotional street single entitled "Birthday", featuring Rick Ross, was his first significant release. He made his debut guest appearance with the song "Bitch I'm from Dade County" on DJ Khaled's album ''We the Best'', which featured Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Brisco, C-Ride, and Dre.

Music career

''Mail on Sunday'' (2007–08)

Flo Rida's first single was "Low", featuring T-Pain. It was his first official single from his debut album ''Mail On Sunday'' and the soundtrack to the movie ''Step Up 2: The Streets''. "Low" reached #1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. "Elevator", featuring Timbaland, "In the Ayer" featuring will.i.am, and "Roll" featuring Sean Kingston followed and all charted on the Hot 100 and other charts.

After the success of ''Mail on Sunday'', Flo Rida made guest performances on other R&B;, rap, and pop singles, including "Move Shake Drop" by DJ Laz, "We Break the Dawn" by Michelle Williams, the remix of "4 Minutes" by Madonna, "Running Back" by Australian R&B; singer Jessica Mauboy, "Feel It" by DJ Felli Fel, and the remix of "Speedin'" by Rick Ross. During the summer of 2008, he did live performances on the Fox dance competition program ''So You Think You Can Dance'' in the US and 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada. He appeared on the albums ''We Global'' by DJ Khaled, ''Gutta'' by Ace Hood, and ''The Fame'' by Lady Gaga, among others.

''R.O.O.T.S.'' (2009)

According to ''Billboard'' magazine, Flo Rida began recording his sophomore nine months after ''Mail On Sunday''. The album is titled ''R.O.O.T.S.'' and was released on March 31, 2009. The first single "Right Round" featured Ke$ha and was released for airplay in January 2009. "Right Round" jumped from number 58 to the top spot in one week in late February. The song broke a record for the most digital one week sales in the U.S., with 636,000, beating the previous record he had set himself with "Low". "Right Round" sampled "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", a 1985 hit by Dead or Alive. The second official single was "Sugar", which featured R&B; singer Wynter Gordon. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other singles were "Jump" featuring Nelly Furtado, which reached #54 on the Hot 100 and was the promotional single for the animated film ''G-Force'', and "Be On You" featuring Ne-Yo, which reached #19 on the Hot 100. In addition to singles from his own album, Flo Rida made guest performances on "Feel It" by DJ Felli Fel, "Starstruck" by Lady Gaga, and "Feel It" by Three 6 Mafia. "Bad Boys", the first single by winner of British reality show ''The X Factor'' Alexandra Burke that featured Flo Rida, debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart in October.

''Only One Flo (Part 1)'' (2010)

Flo Rida's third album ''Only One Flo (Part 1)'' was released on November 24, 2010. In March 2010, Flo Rida announced on Twitter that the album would be titled ''The Only One''. ''Billboard'' reported that ''The Only One'' was to be a double album. "Club Can't Handle Me", produced by David Guetta, was the first official single and reached #9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United States. Flo Rida also made guest appearances on "iYiYi", a song by Australian teen singer Cody Simpson, and on the song "Out My Video" by Bulgarian singer LiLana. Flo Rida collaborated with UK girl group The Saturdays, recording a new version of the girl's single, "Higher".

In December 2010, the Associated Press reported that Flo Rida had created his own label, International Music Group, inspired by Nicki Minaj's signing with Lil Wayne's. He has signed an 18 year-old rapper, Brianna and Git Fresh to International. Currently Flo Rida teamed up with Malaysian singer, Mizz Nina in Take Over. They shoot Take Over in Miami, Florida.

''Only One Rida (Part 2)'' (2011)

On August 29th, 2011 Flo Rida released his new single off the album Only One Rida (Part 2), called Good Feeling, which is now out now on the US iTunes store. The Album is due out later in 2011. A track called Hangover is rumored to be the second Track, Taio Cruz is featured on it. Inna, Starboy Nathan will be featured on the record, too.

Legal issues

On June 9, 2011, Flo Rida was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida for DUI and driving with a suspended license. Flo Rida was released from jail after he posted $2,000 bail and obtained a signed court order allowing him to travel to Asia for a series of previously scheduled concerts in Bangkok over the weekend.

Discography

''Mail on Sunday'' (2008)

''R.O.O.T.S.'' (2009)

''Only One Flo (Part 1)'' (2010)

''Only One Rida (Part 2)'' (2011)

Awards and nominations

! Year	! Type	! Award	! Result
		Breakthrough Performer
Favourite Male Hip-Hop Artist
	Best New Artist
Rookie of the Year
	Breathrough Artist
	Choice Breakout Artist
Choice Rap Artist
APRA Awards
MOBO Awards
MTV Video Music Awards	Best Hip-Hop Video ("Right Round" with Kesha)
NT Indigenous Music Awards
People's Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards	Best Hip-Hop Rap Track ("Right Round" with Kesha)
	APRA Awards
Grammy Awards	Best Rap Album (''R.O.O.T.S.'')
People's Choice Awards	Hip-Hop Artist of the Year

See also

List of Miami rappers

References

External links

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:American dance musicians Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Barry University alumni Category:Electro-hop musicians Category:Hip hop singers Category:Rappers from Miami, Florida Category:University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumni

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name	DJ Craze
background	group_or_band
origin	Nicaragua
currently	Miami, Florida
genre	DJ
years active	1997–present
past members	}}

DJ Craze (November 19, 1977-), born Aristh Delgado, is a Nicaraguan American DJ who plays hip hop, Miami bass, breaks, Dubstep, drum n bass, and practices turntablism. He is the only solo DJ in history to claim the DMC World DJ Championships trophy three times consecutively (1998–2000).

Biography

DJ Craze was born in Managua, Nicaragua. At the age of 3, in 1980, he fled the country with his family during the war which lasted throughout the 1980s. Craze and his family moved to San Francisco, California, where they lived for a short while, before moving to Miami, Florida, where he currently resides.

The style of his music carries many of his past musical influences. Initially influenced by the Miami Bass movement when he was younger, Craze has gone on to incorporate elements of hip-hop, drum n bass, and breaks in his turntable routines. Recently, Craze has shifted his emphasis to DJ'ing and producing drum n bass with his own record label "Cartel".

Craze released his first album in 1999, Crazee Musick, and a second in 2002, Scratch nerds. He also released an album called D-Day in 2002 with his turntable crew, The Allies.

Craze has released two of the most popular battle records ever, "Bully Breaks" and "Bully Breaks 2".

Craze was Kanye West's DJ for his ''Glow in the Dark'' tour in 2008 while A-Trak worked on his Fool's Gold record label and tour.

Craze was featured on the Native-Instruments website demonstrating the Traktor X1 Controller.

Recently, Craze created his own record label with fellow DJ & friend Kill The Noise, Slow Roast Records. Slow Roast is distributed by Fool's Gold, the record label shared by A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs. Other than Craze and Kill The Noise, Klever and Senor Stereo also release material under the Slow Roast label.

In February 2011 DJ Craze and DJ Shiftee worked together, spinning on-stage with controllerist and Traktor S4 consultant Ean Golden at Club EVE in downtown Miami for the Midi Fight Club event. Between the two of them, DJ Craze and DJ Shiftee had 7 DMC world championships behind them. The event highlighted the use of Native Instruments controllers, such as the X1, S4 and Maschine.

Championship titles and recognition

Albums

Crazee Musick (1999)

United DJs of America, Vol. 16: The Nexxsound (2000)

Scratch Nerds (2002)

D-Day (with The Allies) (2002)

Adam F: Drum and Bass Warfare (CD2 mixed by DJ Craze) (2002)

Live in Puerto Rico: Hip Hop Drum N Bass Turntablism (2003)

Rugged Radio Saturday (2003)

Miami Heat (2005)

''FabricLive.38'' (February 2008)

References

External links

Interview with ''DJ Times'', 2000

Official Site

DJ Craze interview with HHC Digital

;Videos

DJ Craze - Murder @ Butterfactory - Kanye West Concert Afterparty ~ Bring it Back

DJ Craze - Murder @ Butterfactory - Kanye West Concert Afterparty - That Gal is Poison

DJ Craze - Murder @ Butterfactory - Kanye West Concert Afterparty - Annie Lennox

DJ Craze - Murder @ Butterfactory - Kanye West Concert Afterparty ~ Hold It

Category:Nicaraguan DJs Category:People from Managua Category:American people of Nicaraguan descent Category:People from Miami, Florida

de:DJ Craze