Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978),^[1] better known by his stage name Diplo, is a Philadelphia-based American DJ, producer, and songwriter. Together with DJ Low Budget, he runs Hooked on Hollerphonix, a club and music collective. He also founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as the not for profit organization Heaps Decent. Among other jobs, he has worked as a school teacher in Philadelphia.

During his rise to notability, Diplo worked with British musician M.I.A., an artist who is credited with helping expose him in his early career. Later, he and fellow M.I.A. producer Switch created a Jamaican dancehall project titled Major Lazer. Since then, Diplo has worked on production and mixtape projects with many other notable pop artists, such as Beyoncé, No Doubt and Usher.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} His alias, short for Diplodocus, derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs.^[7]

Career[link]

DJ and Hooked on Hollerphonix[link]

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in various regions across Southern United States, Diplo developed an interest in much of the local culture.^[8] He began attending the University of Central Florida in 1997, and then moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Temple University, where he first gained notoriety as a DJ.^[9] After frequently running into fellow DJ Low Budget, the two began throwing parties under the Hooked on Hollerphonix moniker in 2003 as a way of maintaining control of what they were able to play during DJ gigs in Philadelphia.^[3] The success of these parties allowed the two to release mixtapes, both separate and together, gathering acclaim across the country.^[10] One such mixtape, Never Scared, was named one of the New York Times' top ten albums of 2003,^[11] and the Hooked on Hollerphonix name became synonymous with parties featuring guests like Bun B, Spank Rock, M.I.A., among others.^[12] Hooked on Hollerphonix's sound has been described as "disparate genres to be smashed together for maximum attention-grabbing impact" an aesthetic which takes from the "organic, cohesive, whole" aesthetic of acts such as Bun B, Lil Jon, Drama, M.I.A., Björk, Busta Rhymes, and others.^[5][13]

Diplo accentuated the club aesthetic of his Hooked on Hollerphonix music for a more reflective sound on his solo debut, Florida, which was released on the Ninja Tune imprint, Big Dada Records.^[14] The album Florida was pressed twice, first with a CD and the second with a CD and DVD. The DVD was created by System D-128, another artist who has collaborated with Diplo on some audio and video projects. Before Florida’s DVD accompaniment, another DVD surfaced called Diplo: "Banned in Libya" which was released by Money Studies, the first label to release a solo project by Diplo under his original DJ name Diplodocus. It was a 45 rpm record called "Thingamajawn" for which there is also a music video System D-128 directed. Similar to the Florida DVD, "Banned in Libya" is an experimental audio and video mix of some of Diplo's original music blended with a number of other unidentified sources.

His particular affinity for one genre of music called baile funk (or favela funk) would spawn a series of mixtapes (Favela on Blast, Favela Strikes Back), which served to bring the Brazilian dance music of the ghettos to the United States.^[10]

It was not long before his Hooked on Hollerphonix parties would provide him the success necessary to move to the next logical step and build a studio where music would become his full-time focus. With this goal in mind, Diplo built "The Mausoleum," a video studio, recording studio, record label office, gallery, and event space in Philadelphia.^[15] Since its inception, The Mausoleum has become the home to recordings by artists like Christina Aguilera, Shakira, M.I.A., Santigold, Spank Rock, Plastic Little, Blaqstarr, Paper Route Gangstaz, and hosted concerts by Glass Candy, Skream, Boys Noize, Nicos Gun, and more.^[15]

M.I.A.[link]

After hearing one of his songs in 2004, M.I.A. approached Diplo when he was DJ'ing one night at the Fabric Club in London. Regarding their first meeting, M.I.A. said "It had that same homelessness about it. It didn't have a particular genre, which is what people always say to me: Your song doesn't fit anywhere. So I went on a mad mission to find other people like that, because then we could make a home."^[16][17] Coincidentally, Diplo was playing her songs "Galang" and "Fire Fire" as she entered the club, which he got from a worker at i-D magazine.^[17][18] Diplo added, "She came through and she wanted to meet me 'cause she'd heard my single and the funk mix from one of her A&Rs and she just thought I was right up her alley. Besides me being a white dude from Florida and her being a Sri Lankan girl in England, everything else was the same: [We were both] film graduates, [listened to] all the same music when we were kids, were going in the same direction right now in music, it was amazing... I always wanted to make a beat with her, but all my beats were really shitty at the time."^[18][19] The two eventually collaborated on a mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1., where Arular track acapellas were mashed with other artists' songs and was mentioned as ‘Albums of the Year’ from the New York Times and Pitchfork Media.^[18][20] At this time it is rumored the two became romantically involved and continued to work together after the release and he toured as a DJ on her 2005 Arular Tour.

Diplo would continue to work with M.I.A. and, through her, meet London DJ Switch; together they created the Grammy nominated track ‘Paper Planes’, peaking at No.4 on the Billboard US Hot 100.^[21] Diplo would go on to release a slew of similarly styled mixtapes with Downtown Records’ Santigold and Polydor Records’ La Roux, as well as mixtapes with Paper Route Gangstaz, Das Racist, and Gucci Mane.

Producer and Mad Decent[link]

From this, Diplo went from an unknown DJ to taking off as a producer, landing him collaborations with artists like Shakira, Robyn, Kid Cudi, Bruno Mars and Snoop Dogg, as well as work with Maluca, Kid Sister, Die Antwoord, Alex Clare, Rolo Tomassi, Amanda Blank and Dark Meat. After taking a trip to Brazil to investigate the Favela music scene,^[3] and fascinated with the energy the scene had to offer, Diplo decided to import a dance-funk group Bonde do Role from Brazil for release on his Mad Decent record label (also housed within ‘The Mausoleum’).^[22] This group would serve to define Baile Funk in the United States, spawning a host of others to join the movement. Diplo also spent some time documenting the music, and the favelas of Brazil^[23] with a film he produced and directed called Favela on Blast.^[24]

Although Favela Funk remained an interest (the Favela on Blast documentary just saw release in 2009), his Mad Decent imprint would serve as a blank palette for Diplo to showcase the myriad different sounds he’d come across while touring around the world.^[9] Diplo quickly developed a reputation for his extensive touring. In the April, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine Diplo was touted as one of ’40 Reasons to be Excited About Music’.^[25] This kind of jet setting pushed his label far beyond the Favela Funk genre with which it initially began. Since founding it in 2005^[26] Diplo’s Mad Decent label has released music by Santogold, Lil’ Jon, Gucci Mane, Peter Bjorn and John, Bosco Delrey, Rusko, Buraka Som Sistema, Savage Skulls, Oliver Twizt, Jamie Fanatic, Douster, Boy 8-Bit, and Popo.^[27][28] Beyond the scope of their own releases, there is Mad Decent Worldwide Radio, a mixtape/podcast series showcasing artists who have seen release on Mad Decent, but also many more who may have caught the attention of the label.^[29] Additionally, Diplo and Mad Decent have put together an annual block party, showcasing talent from the label. While the first three years of the festival only occurred in the label hometown of Philadelphia, 2010 saw the party spread to include Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.^[30] He also produced mathcore band Rolo Tomassi's sophomore album, Cosmology.

In 2011, Diplo worked with Beyoncé on "Run the World (Girls)" and the album track "End of Time" for her fourth studio album 4. He also worked with Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts on her debut solo single "Beat of My Drum". In 2012 Diplo produced for Usher on the single "Climax" which Usher released on his Facebook page. He also produced the track "Lies" on Marina and the Diamonds' second album Electra Heart, released 30 April 2012.

Major Lazer[link]

Although highly sought after to create productions for other artists, Diplo’s focus soon turned to another collaborative project with Switch, this time in the form of a full-length record under the guise Major Lazer. After landing a deal with Downtown Records before even recording a note of music, Diplo & Switch set out for Jamaica to record a project that, like most of Diplo’s projects before it, would highlight the little-known subgenres, this time of Jamaica’s dancehall scene.^[21] The two received support by many already established Jamaican artists such as Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man and Ms. Thing, and the resulting record Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do also featured vocals from Santigold, Amanda Blank, Nina Sky, Ricky Blaze and more.^[31] When discussing the Major Lazer project, Diplo described the dancehall sound as being " the end of the world, all the little influences—house, soca, oldies, R&B, jazz—it all ends up in Jamaica."^[32] The track "Pon De Floor" (originally sampled from Afrojack's "I'll be there") from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was sampled for Beyoncé's single "Run the World (Girls)".^[33]

Major Lazer's first album was followed up with an EP, Lazers Never Die, which was released in 2010. An as yet untitled album is also due to be released by Major Lazer in 2012.

Major Lazer played at Notting Hill Carnival, London CF, in 2010 and have confirmed they will be there again in the summer of 2011.

Additional Projects[link]

Beyond Major Lazer and Mad Decent, Diplo has continued to show support for 'all the little influences', the lesser-known music scenes around the globe. Most recently his focus shifted to the ‘Bounce’ scene in New Orleans, Louisiana for a television piece commissioned by Current.tv.^[34] In 2007 Diplo also founded a not-for-profit organization for the underprivileged in Australia, called Heaps Decent.^[35] As Diplo has throughout his career as producer and DJ, the organization’s focus is to integrate indigenous and underprivileged artists’ music into a wider spectrum of recognition through original productions created via schools, juvenile justice centers, and studios.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Sound and Fury (2002)
• Florida (2004)
• Decent Work for Decent Pay (remix compilation) (2009)

EPs and Singles[link]

• "Newsflash" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Epistemology Suite" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Thingamajawn" (2003) (as Diplodocus)
• "Diplo Rhythm" (2004)
• "Reload It" 2005 (as Diplo)
• "Blow Your Head" 2008 (as Diplo)
• "C'Mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)" (vs. Tiesto featuring Busta Rhymes) 2010 (as Diplo) UK No.13
• "Make You Pop (Vs Don Diablo)" 2010 (as Diplo)
• "Amplifier (with Skrillex)" 2011 (as Diplo)
• "Pick Your Poison (with Datsik and Kay)" 2011 (as Diplo)
• "El Tigeraso" with Maluca 2011 (as Diplo)
• "Express Yourself feat. Nicky Da B" (as Diplo)

Mixes[link]

• AEIOU (2003)
• AEIOU Pt. 2: Making Music Your Own (2004) (with Tripledouble)
• Piracy Funds Terrorism (with M.I.A.) (2004)
• Favela on Blast (2004)
• Favela Strikes Back (2005)
• FabricLive.24 (2005)
• Mad Decent Radio, Vol. 1 (2006)
• I Like Turtles (2007)
• Top Ranking: A Diplo Dub (with Santogold) (2008)
• Benzi & Diplo Present: Paper Route Gangstaz: Fear And Loathing In Hunts Vegas (2008)
• 2009 Rewind (Mixmag Jan 2010 Cover CD) (2009)
• Diplo Presents: Free Gucci (Best of The Cold War Mixtapes) (2010)
• Major Lazer & La Roux present: Lazerproof (2010)
• Blow Your Head – Diplo Presents: Dubstep (2010)
• Benzi & Diplo Present: Mansions on the Moon: Paradise Falls (2010)
• Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves (2011)

Singles[link]

2005[link]

• Disco D – "Lets Hug It Out Bitch (Diplo Remix)"
• Edu K – "Popozuda Rock n' Roll (Diplo Remix)"
• Gwen Stefani – "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix)"
• Kanye West – "Gold Digger (Diplo Mix)"
• Spank Rock – "Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix)"
• Three 6 Mafia – "Stay Fly (Mad Decent Remix)"
• Biz Markie – "Vapors (Diplo Remix)"
• Walter Wanderley – "Popcorn (Diplo Remix)"

2006[link]

• Beck – "Wish Coin (Go it Alone)"
• Bloc Party – "Helicopter (Diplo Remix)"
• Clipse – "Queen Bitch (Diplo Remix)"
• CSS – "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Diplo Remix)"
• Daedelus – "Sundown (Diplo Remix)"
• Hot Chip – "Over And Over (Shake It Over And Over)"
• Justin Timberlake – "My Love (Diplo Remix)"
• The Beatles – "Twist and Shout (Diplo B'more Edit)"
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Gold Lion (Diplo Remix)"

2007[link]

• M.I.A. – "Birdflu (Diplo remix)"
• Claude VonStroke – "The Whistler (Diplo Remix)"
• Daft Punk – "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Diplo's Work Is Never Over)"
• Peter Bjorn and John – "Young Folks (Diplo's Drums of Death Remix)"
• Znobia – "Tchilo (Diplo Mix)"
• Bart Simpson – "Do the Bartman (Bartman So So Krispy Remix)"
• The Decemberists – "The Perfect Crime No. 2 (Doing Time Remix)"
• Bloc Party – "Where Is Home? (Diplo Mix)"
• Black Lips – "Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo Remix)"
• Hot Chip – "Shake a Fist (Diplo Remix)"
• Dark Meat – "Unsuccessful Space Jam (Diplo Mix)"

2008[link]

• Sunny Day Sets Fire – "Brainless (Mad Decent Remix)"
• Spoon – "Don't You Evah"
• Kanye West – "Flashing Lights" (Diplo Remix)
• The Black Ghosts – "Repetition Kills You (Diplo Remix)"
• Marlena Shaw – "California Soul (Diplo Remix)"
• Radiohead – "Reckoner" (Diplo Mix)"
• Telepathe – "Chrome's On It (Mad Decent Remix)"
• PRGz – "Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)"
• Journey to the West – "Monkey Bee (Diplo Remix)"

2009[link]

• Private – "My Secret Lover (Diplo Remix)"
• Britney Spears – "Circus (Diplo Circus Remix)"
• Britney Spears – "Circus (Diplo Alt Clown Mix)"
• Bassnectar – "Art Of Revolution (Diplo Remix)"
• The Dead Weather – "Treat Me Like Your Mother (Diplo Remix)"
• As Tall As Lions – "Circles (Diplo Remix)"
• Feist – "I Feel It All (Diplo Remix)"
• Brazilian Girls – "Good Time (Diplo Remix)"
• MIA – "Paper Planes"

2010[link]

• Sia – "Clap Your Hands" (Diplo Remix)
• Madonna – Hung Up (Diplo Remix)
• I Blame Coco – Caesar feat. Robyn (Diplo Remix)
• Maroon 5 – Misery (Diplo Put Me Out Of My Misery Mix)
• La Roux – Bulletproof (Diplo and Bot Remix)
• Deerhunter – Helicopter (Diplo and Lunice mix)
• Sunday Girl – Four Floors (Diplo Remix)
• Linkin Park – When They Come For Me (Diplo Remix) For DJ Hero 2
• GD & TOP – Knock Out
• Robyn – Dancehall Queen feat. Spoek Mathambo (Diplo and Stenchman Remix)
• Proxy – 8000 (Diplo remix)

2011[link]

• Sleigh Bells – "Tell 'Em" (Diplo Remix)
• The Streets – "Going Through Hell" (Diplo Remix)
• Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne – "Motivation (Diplo Remix)"
• Travis Barker – "Can a Drummer Get Some? (Diplo Remix)"
• Mavado – "Delilah (Diplo Remix)"
• Ceci Bastida – "Have You Heard? (Diplo Remix)"
• Lil Wayne – "Two Shots"
• Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne - "Look At Me Now"
• Wale featuring Big Sean - "Slight Work"
• The Wombats - "Techno Fan (Diplo Remix)"
• Tiesto vs. Diplo featuring Busta Ryhmes - C'Mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)
• Yelawolf featuring Fefe Dobson – "Animal"
• The Bloody Beetroots - Church of Noise (Diplo remix)
• Julianna Barwick - Vow (Diplo and Lunice Remix)
• Star Slinger featuring Reggie B - Dumbin' (Diplo Remix)

2012[link]

• FKi featuring Iggy Azalea - "I Think She Ready"
• Usher - "Climax"
• Usher - "Climax (Diplo Bouncier Climactic Remix)"
• Usher - "Climax (Flosstradamus and Diplo Remix)"
• Katy B - "Witches' Brew (Diplo Remix)"
• Marina and the Diamonds - "Lies"
• Sleigh Bells - "Demons (Diplo Remix)"

Soundtracks[link]

• ATV Offroad Fury 4 – Tambo, Newsflash (featuring Sandra Melody)
• SSX on Tour – Big Lost, Indian Thick Jawns (featuring P.E.A.C.E.)
• Midnight Club Los Angeles – Wassup Feat Rye Rye (Crookers Remix)

Podcasts[link]

Diplo presents these podcast serials:

• Mad Decent – http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/mad-decent-worldwide-radio/id128879031

References[link]

External links[link]

• Diplo (DJ) at the Internet Movie Database
• Mad Decent
• Diplo's bio on Mad Decent
• Stylus Diplo interview (10/2004)
• Village Voice article (December 2004)
• Philadelphia Weekly article (February 2005)
• Dummy Magazine interview (October 2009
• Interview With The Smoking Section (2/08)
• Interview with ION Magazine (April 2010)
• Diplo and Friends at BBC Programmes

DJ Fresh
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Stein
Also known as	DJ Fresh, Fresh, Mosquito, Absolute Zero
Origin	England
Genres	Drum and bass, Dubstep
Occupations	Record producer, DJ, Musician
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Breakbeat Kaos, Data Records, Ram Records, V Records, Valve Recordings
Associated acts	Bad Company UK, Pendulum, Tenor Fly, $pyda, Adam F, Andy C, Deekline & Wizard, Ivory, Soundweapon, Stamina MC, Koko, Ce'Cile, Sigma, DJ Shadow, DJ Hype, Darrison, Mary Byker, Baron, Swift, Valkyrie, Sian Evans, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal.
Website	http://www.thedjfresh.com/

DJ Fresh (born as Daniel Stein) is an English Drum & Bass and Dubstep producer and DJ. He was one of the principal members of drum & bass supergroup, Bad Company,^[1] alongside Darren White (dBridge), Jason Maldini, and Michael Wojcicki (Vegas). He also owns and runs the pioneering drum & bass label Breakbeat Kaos with Adam F.

Career[link]

Early success and 'Escape from Planet Monday' (1998 - 2008)[link]

The cover for Escape From Planet Monday

Along with the three other members of Bad Company, Fresh founded the record label BC Recordings, as well as the website Dogs On Acid.^[2] Bad Company are heralded as one of the finest drum & bass acts ever, having produced numerous genre-defining tracks. Undoubtedly their most renowned track is "The Nine", a track released in 1998 when Fresh was just 21 years old. "The Nine" was later voted the greatest drum & bass track of all time by readers of Knowledge Magazine^[3]

Resuming his solo career in 2002, Fresh founded Breakbeat Punk, which merged with Adam F's Kaos Recordings to become Breakbeat Kaos in 2003.^[4] In 2004 Dogs on Acid was given its own imprint.

Fresh has worked with artists ranging from Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Apollo 440 to Andy C and Grooverider, and has also held a working relationship with the drum and bass trio Pendulum, whom he signed to Breakbeat Kaos in 2005.^[5]

Fresh has had his own tracks included on a number of remix CDs, including the 2006 release Jungle Sound: The Bassline Strikes Back!, Andy C's Nightlife series, DJ Hype's Drum and Bass Warfare, and Goldie's Drum and Bass Classics.

In 2006, Fresh released his first studio album, Escape from Planet Monday, featuring "The Immortal", "X Project", "Nervous" and "All that Jazz" on Breakbeat Kaos.

A 100% Pure Mix of X Project was featured in the video games Wipeout Pulse (2007) and Wipeout HD (2008).

'Kryptonite' and commercial success (2009 - 2011)[link]

The cover for Kryptonite

In 2009 Fresh released a 12" of "Heavyweight" (with Fantasia on the B side) on the Digital Soundboy label. "Heavyweight" had a different style from Fresh's usual output, and gained positive reviews and a general positive response through the underground scene and within various radio stations.^[6] Fresh subsequently released "Hypercaine" (including a remix from Nero) in September 2009,^[7] and made BBC Radio 1's daytime playlist.

On the 1 August 2010, he re-released his song Gold Dust Featuring vocals from Ce'Cile, Where it peaked 24 in the UK and 39 in Ireland, it marked his first Top 40 hit in both countries. On 16 August, he released his second studio album, "Kryptonite" where it peaked 4 on the UK Dance Chart.

He then released his follow-up single, called "Lassitude" with Sigma and Vocals from Koko. It managed to peak 98 on the UK Singles Chart and 11 on the UK Dance Chart.

Third album, tour and continued commercial success (2011)[link]

The first single from his Third Album, "Louder" was released on July 3, 2011. The song was used as part of a Lucozade Lite advertising campaign in the UK and Ireland. The song features vocals from Welsh singer Sian Evans from the band Kosheen, it peaked number 4 on the Irish Singles Chart and was the first ever Dubstep Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

On February 12, 2012 the second single "Hot Right Now" featuring British/Albanian singer Rita Ora which became his second number one in the UK, and the first Drum & Bass song to chart at Number 1 in the UK. The third single from the album, "The Power",features Dizzee Rascal is due to be officially released on June 3rd 2012.

His third album is due for release in September 2012.

FRESH/LIVE[link]

The poster for the FRESH/LIVE tour.

In late 2011, DJ Fresh began a new aspect of his career by launching 'FRESH/LIVE'. This live show incorporates a drummer, guitarist, vocalist, an MC and Fresh himself on keys to perform identical renditions of his studio-produced hits in live settings.

Fresh handpicked the musicians that made up the band, calling on people he had encountered at various stages of his career. On the drums was Kodish, a man with over ten years experience as a drummer in the drum & bass scene, having performed with such eminent acts as Moving Fusion, Bad Company, and Pendulum. Guitarist Richard de Rosa founded the Ska/Swing band Scubaroots, with whom he has performed to thousands of people at countless festivals. Seemingly a master of all trades, he also produced the band's album, was nominated for producer of the year at the 2011 South West Music Awards, and had previously performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge with Example and Fresh. Vocalist Fleur exploded onto the scene after performing on X Factor to 9 million TV viewers in 2005 and had also previously performed with Fresh on Live Lounge, and with Ms Dynamite on 1Xtra. The MC comes in the form of Drum and Bass' rising star Messy MC, who has previously performed and toured extensively with Pendulum, The EZ Rollers, Nero, Camo and Crooked and the Hospital Records tour nights Hospitality. He also received the Award for Best Newcomer MC in 2010 at the DNBA Awards and was then subsequently nominated in 2011 for Best MC.

The UK-wide tour completely sold out, taking in seven prestigious venues: The Arches in Glasgow, Alexandra Palace in London, The Big Reunion in Skegness, Manchester Club Academy, Waterfront in Norwich, Concorde 2 in Brighton, and the Student Union in Leeds. FRESH/LIVE is set to return in Spring 2012.

Discography[link]

• Escape from Planet Monday (2006)
• Kryptonite (2010)
• Third Studio Album (2012)

See also[link]

• Breakbeat Kaos
• Drum and bass
• Dogs On Acid
• Dubstep
• Jungle
• Pendulum

References[link]

External links[link]

• DJ Fresh on Myspace
• DJ Fresh discography at Discogs
• DJ Fresh at rolldabeats

DJ Green Lantern
Background information
Birth name	James D'Agostino
Also known as	The Evil Genius, James 1 The Green Lantern
Origin	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip Hop, R&B
Occupations	DJ/Producer/On-Air Personality/Rapper/Singer
Instruments	Sampler, Keyboards, Turntable
Associated acts	Royce da 5'9", Immortal Technique, Styles P, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Uncle Murda, DJ Head, Nas, Crime Mob, Lil' Mo, Cashis, 50 Cent, Fort Minor, Mike Shinoda, Styles Of Beyond, Ryu, Tak, Celph Titled, Apathy, Holly Brook, Juelz Santana, Ghostface Killah, Emilio Rojas
Website	djgreenlantern.tv
Notable instruments
The 1's and 2's

James D'Agostino (born 1975), better known by his stage name DJ Green Lantern, is an Italian-American DJ and hip hop music producer from Rochester, New York. In 2002, D'Agostino was signed by Eminem to become the official DJ for Shady Records after DJ Head stepped down for undisclosed reasons.^[1] D'Agostino left the label in 2005 due to a dispute with Shady Records rapper 50 Cent.

Biography[link]

Rise to fame[link]

DJ Green Lantern came to prominence with his "Invasion" mixtape series, the first set of officially sponsored mixtapes from Eminem's Shady Records. On the series, spanning three mixtapes (later to be spun off into the Armageddon series), the DJ broke several diss records, furthering the issues between Eminem and Benzino/The Source as well as the entire Shady camp and Ja Rule/Murder Inc.

He is also recognized as a producer, featuring on his own mixtapes several "Green Remixes," including, most notably, a remix of the Nas and Tupac Shakur collaboration, "Thugz Mansion." He also produced D-Block's "2 Guns Up", an acclaimed street single, which originated as a freestyle rap on his Hot 97 radio show, "In the Lab" (the most memorable of which has also appeared as a mixtape, "The Best of In the Lab"). "In the Lab" is formatted as a one-hour (with commercials) mix show, in which DJ Green Lantern blends a cappella and instrumental tracks from various artists, as well as breaking new and underground music (such as the Ghostface Killah and El-Producto collaboration "HideYaFace").

"Bin Laden"[link]

D'Agostino also produced Ludacris' "Number One Spot," the second single off of his album The Red Light District, and Immortal Technique's "Bin Laden" single, which blames the Reagan Doctrine (under which the U.S. aided the mujahideen in Afghanistan) and U.S. President George W. Bush for the September 11, 2001 attacks.

With the Shady Records family[link]

As a member of the Shady Records family, D'Agostino also hosted a show on Eminem's Sirius Satellite Radio channel, Shade 45, along with an accompanying mixtape released in the fall of 2004. As Eminem's DJ, D'Agostino was responsible for touring with him and spinning at shows such as the Shady National Convention and The Game's album release party. D'Agostino's much anticipated album Armageddon was set to be released under Shady Records, but controversy and an eventual parting would put the release in limbo.

Hip-Hop Nation[link]

In summer 2007, D'Agostino returned to Sirius Satellite Radio on the Hip-Hop Nation channel. He hosts a show called The Invasion.

Bar Exam 2[link]

D'Agostino recently put together and mixed the highly anticipated Bar Exam 2 mixtape by acclaimed underground MC Royce Da 5'9". Green took over for DJ Premier and Statik Selektah who hosted and mixed Royce's first Bar Exam Mixtape. The Bar Exam 2 was pushed back several times because of Green Lantern's inability to mix the tape due to his touring. After several stated released dates, Bar Exam 2 was finally released on September 15 as a free download on HipHipDX.com. Due to the high anticipation of the mixtape, Royce gave the mixtape the slogan "Happy Bar Exam 2, It's a Holiday" prior to its release.

Pulse of the People[link]

D'Agostino collaborated with Dead Prez on their latest album, Pulse of the People: Turn Off The Radio, Vol. 3, released in June 2009^[2]

Discography[link]

• 2005 Invasion Part II: Conspiracy Theory
• 2005 New World Order
• 2006 New York State of Mind
• 2006 Throwback Classics, Vol. 1
• 2006 You'll See
• 2006 Team Invasion: Best of DJ Green Lantern and Dipset
• 2006 Pre-Release Therapy: The Truth Shall Set U Free (with Ludacris)
• 2007 Alive On Arrival
• 2007 Hood Rules Apply
• 2007 R.O.C. Stars Street Leak: American Gangster
• 2007 Shady Times: Invasion Part I
• 2007 Invasion Part Three: Countdown to Armageddon
• 2007 The MySpace Invasion
• 2007 I Produced That
• 2008 Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City Invasion [Soundtrack]

Other releases[link]

• DJ Green Lantern, Russell Simmons & Barack Obama: Yes We Can (The Mixtape)
• Grafh and DJ Green Lantern: The Oracle 2
• Royce da 5'9" and DJ Green Lantern: Bar Exam 2
• 07-07-08 (with Cassidy and Team Invasion)
• Dj Green Lantern and Immortal Technique: The 3rd World
• Charles Hamilton & DJ Green Lantern: Outside Looking
• Nas & DJ Green Lantern: The Nigger Mixtape
• Monster Mash Part 2
• Grow Season (with Wiz Khalifa)
• 07-07-07 (with Cassidy and DJ Thoro)
• The MySpace Invasion Vol. 3
• Cocaine on Steroids (with N.O.R.E.)
• The MySpace Invasion Vol. 2
• Respect The Shooter (with Uncle Murda)
• Monster Mash
• The Sirius Invasion
• MySpace Takeover (with Team Invasion)
• Say Uncle (with Uncle Murda)
• AND 1 Streetball - The Official Video Game Mixtape
• In The Kitchen (with DJ Khaled and Team Invasion)
• On My New York Shit (with DJ Kay Slay)
• This Ain't No Greezy Talk (with Team Invasion)
• The Internet Invasion (with Ghostface Killah)
• DJ Green Lantern presents Fort Minor: We Major (with Mike Shinoda) 2005
• Razor Tag (with Styles of Beyond)
• Ain't No Greezy Talk: Team Invasion Edition (with DVD / with Team Invasion)
• The Green Lantern Instrumentals (Hosted by Team Invasion)
• Team Invasion Presents: Keyshia Cole
• The Best of Green Lantern and D-Block (Hosted by Team Invasion)
• The Best of Green Lantern and Shady Records (Hosted by Team Invasion)
• 5 Star General
• Shade 45: Sirius Bizness (Hosted by Eminem)
• Public Enemy Number One (with Beanie Sigel)
• The Oracle (with Grafh)
• The Champ Is Here (with Jadakiss/ Hosted by Big Mike)
• Countdown To Armageddon 2: Back To The Lab (hosted by Dame Dash)
• The Best Of In Da Lab Vol. 1
• Rap Phenomenon II: 2Pac (with Dirty Harry and DJ Vlad)
• Invasion Part 1
• Get in Where U Fit in (with the Young Gunz)
• New World Order Pt.2
• The Chosen One
• Takin' it to The Streets
• Inherited Beef Vol.1 (With Ronald)^[3]
• Just Us and The Gunz
• In Too Deep
• Rookie of the Year
• Coming of Age
• Millennium All-Stars (with DJs Tony Touch, Mister Cee, Ron G, Funkmaster Flex, Doo Wop, DJ Enuff, Spinbad, and DJ Dale)
• The Green Ghost Project (with Styles P)
• Man vs Many (with Nefew)
• Back To School EP (With Ronald)^[4]
• Cak-ill-ack Muzik (with Ben G) ^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• DJ Green Lantern on Myspace

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (May 2010)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.

Jaguar Skills is a British Disc Jockey (DJ) who has gained notoriety since 2002 for his eclectic multi-genre, cut-n-paste style Djing mixes. The DJ has released hundreds of mixtapes through various outlets, including BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra and has a weekly 10 minute mix on The Trevor Nelson Show. As of 2012, Jaguar Skills is an international, award winning, electronic multi-genre DJ, whose super-charged live DJ performances continue rock the spot.^{[according to whom?]}

Early career[link]

Jaguar Skills' breakthrough came in 2002 when he started DJing at East London arts bar Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes.^[2] Influenced by early Hip-Hop cut-n-paste tapes, especially those of UK underground cut-n-paste legend, DJ Craig Leckie, Jaguar would mix 90's Hip-hop with 80's pop and weird 70's jazz breaks, making a name for himself as mash-up DJ, even before the term came into existence. Since his father was also a DJ, Jaguar inherited a huge record collection, to constantly draw inspiration from. During 2002, he made "Revenge Of The Ninja", a mix-CD entirely produced, edited and mixed on two mini-disk walkmen. He also made a mixtape/album CD for clothing label Maharishi, of original music, which was well received. From there he went on to build his profile and learn his craft in clubs across London however in 2005, he broke his hand, and the DJing bar work dried up at which point he decided to give up Djing and left the UK, after he was offered a student internship, studying Martial Arts with Taoist Guru Barefoot Doctor, at his retreat in Northern Spain. To pay for this, Jaguar sold everything he owned as well as his entire record collection. However while in Spain he started working, via the internet, with Grand Theft Auto audio creative director, Lazlow, ending up with Jaguar performing some vocals to Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories while being credited as Mat Ckillz.

Jezebel Residency[link]

In 2004 Jaguar Skills was asked by Jade Jagger to take up residency at her famous Jezebel nights at world famous night club Pacha in Ibiza.^[2] Things quickly progressed and Jaguar started to DJ other Jezebel events across the globe including in Europe, Russia and Hong Kong, it was during this time that Jaguar produced two unreleased Hip-Hop tracks for Lupe Fiasco, the first track was "We Love You" which featured UK emcee Sway^[2] and the second was "We On" which featured Lupe Fiasco protege Gemini. Jaguar also worked on tracks with House Producer DRW (D.R.W/ Dan Williams)Young Disciples, Sweetie Irie, The Camp and Nellee Hooper.

Current Work[link]

Jaguar Skills has a slot on BBC Radio 1's Trevor Nelson show on Saturday night at around 8:00pm (GMT) everyweek and his mixes are normally around 10 minutes with over 300 produced.
He occasionally create longer mixes like the 60 minute "30 years of Hip Hop" mix, "History Of Drum & Bass Mix) and two hour gaming and all-star mixes.
In 2009 he carried out his first UK tour, visiting universities and nightclubs with the highlight date being in Cargo (club), London.

That year he started on the 'In New DJs We Trust' circuit on Radio 1, playing a one hour show every fourth Thursday of each a month.^[3] The show consists of mash-up mixes and comedic soundbites.

2010 saw Jaguar Skills perform live at almost every major festival and club around the UK however 2011 was even better as he was on the international DJ circuit for the first time, where he toured United States of America, Australia, Europe and Japan. That year saw two CD releases from him. "Ninja DJ Package Vol 1" Urban Outfitters and "Toolroom Knights" Toolroom Records.^[4] He currently performs sell-out gigs, wherever he performs and continues to DJ in every major club in the UK, Japan, USA and Austrailia. He has an untitled mix CD coming out summer 2012 on Ministry Of Sound.

Jaguars latest tour is called "Jaguar Skills & His Amazing Friends" and starts on Friday 12th October 2012 at O2 Academy Oxford.^[5]

Character[link]

Jaguar Skills famously wears a ninja mask while performing, this is designed to add mystery to his persona with his name, age and hometown unknown.^[1]

Discography[link]

1. 1979-2006: A HipHop Odyssey airdate: 28 December 2006
2. Disco King Mix airdate: 16 August 2008
3. MOBO After Party Special airdate: 18 October 2008
4. Beyonce & Jay-Z Remix Special airdate: 22 November 2008
5. Nigerian Taxi Driver D&B Mix 29 November 2009
6. Imma Music Machine Mix airdate: 6 December 2008
7. Workout Plan Re-Up 2009 airdate: 3 January 2009
8. Blast Off Mash Up airdate: 10 January 2009
9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air airdate: 17 January 2009
10. Make Money Money Mix airdate: 24 January 2009
11. Jump Up Mix airdate: 31 January 2009
12. It's Time to Get Funky Mix airdate: 7 February 2009
13. Official Adventures of Jag Skills on the Wheels of Steel airdate: 21 February 2009
14. Drum and Bass Kitchen airdate: 28 February 2009
15. Jaguar Skills vs Timbaland Mix airdate: 7 March 2009
16. Classic Number One Selection airdate: 14 March 2009
17. Trev and Jag's Road Trip airdate: 21 March 2009
18. The Illest Emcees of All Time Vol. 1 airdate: 4 April 2009
19. 30 Years of Hip Hop in 60 Minutes airdate: 6 April 2009
20. Motown Mashed airdate: 11 April 2009
21. One Big Weekend Festival Rocker airdate: 18 April 2009
22. Name That Sample Show airdate: 2 May 2009
23. Big Weekend Set airdate: 9 May 2009
24. 2 Hour Computer Game Mix airdate: 26 May 2009
25. In the Mix airdate: 4 July 2009
26. Trevor Nelson Airways Mix airdate: 11 July 2009
27. The Dubstep Twitter Mix airdate: 18 July 2009
28. Ibiza 30 Minute Mix airdate: 1 August 2009
29. Carnivale 2009 Mix airdate: 29 August 2009
30. Sorry I Didn't Text You Back Trevor Mix airdate: 12 September 2009
31. The No Requests: Kill the Heckler Mix airdate: 17 October 2009
32. I Am the Rocketman airdate: 7 November 2009
33. The VIP Disco Room airdate: 14 November 2009
34. Original Pirate Material Mini Mix & BONUS 1xtra LIVE Mix airdate: 1 December 2009
35. Mother's Day Mix 13 March 2010
36. Sport Relief Mega Mix airdate: 20 March 2010
37. Spring Mix airdate: 27 March 2010
38. Easter Egg Hunt Mix airdate: 3 April 2010
39. Twitter Mix airdate: 11 April 2010
40. Classic Number One Mashup airdate: 17 April 2010
41. Guru Tribute Mix airdate: 24 April 2010
42. In New DJs We Trust airdate: 29 April 2010
43. History of Drum and Bass airdate: 3 May 2010
44. All Killer No Filler Mix airdate: 29 May 2010
45. World Record Breakers Mix airdate: 5 June 2010
46. Radio1 All Star Football Mix airdate: 12 June 2010
47. Where the Girls At Mix airdate: 19 June 2010
48. Michael Jackson Tribute airdate: 26 June 2010
49. Back to Bizznizz Mix airdate: 31 July 2010
50. Ultimate Holiday Mix 7 August 2010
51. 10 Years of Ayia Napa Mix airdate: 14 August 2010
52. Hot Minute Mix airdate: 21 August 2010
53. Carnival 2010 Mix airdate: 28 August 2010
54. Hip Hop Till Ya Drop Mix airdate: 4 September 2010
55. Classic #1 Mix airdate: 11 September 2011
56. 1Xtra Live Mix airdate: 18 September 2010
57. Kanye West Meets Daft Punk Mix airdate: 16 October 2010
58. Welcome to Autumn Mix airdate: 23 October 2010
59. Spookalicious Mix (Halloween Special) 30 October 2010
60. Access All Areas Mix airdate: 6 November 2010
61. 1Xtra DJ Takeover Mix airdate: 13 November 2010
62. Soundclash Mix airdate: 20 November 2010
63. Jag's Gone Bad Mix airdate: 27 November 2010
64. Relationship Mix airdate: 4 December 2010

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jaguar Skills' official website
• Jaguar Skills' official blog
• D.R.W Dan Williams Myspace
• A picture of Jaguar Skills]

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2011)

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. (May 2011)

Steve Smart is the host of Friday Night Kiss, Saturday Night Kiss and disc-jockey of Blow Ya Speakers on Kiss 100 London.

Early days[link]

Steve Smart was born and brought up in the east coast town of Lowestoft (to John & Ros Smart).

In September 1996 he joined the local radio station 103.4 The Beach to present a weekly dance music show. It wasn’t long before Steve caught the attention of London radio station Kiss 100 whom he joined in 2001.

After 3 years of presenting his own house music show he was offered the all new 'Floor-Fillers’ show on a Saturday night. The first show aired on 31 January 2004.

In September 2006 Kiss went national when former owners of Kiss - Emap - took over the Vibe FM stations Kiss 105-108 and Kiss 101.

Production[link]

Steve had his first solo single released in 2010 called ‘Missing You’ on 3 Beat Records. He is currently working on the follow up.

External links[link]

• Steve Smart on Totalkiss.com
• Stevesmart.net
• Steve Smart's MySpace profile

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