Chuck City is a DJ from the Bronx. He was partners with DJ Rockin’ Rob as the two would spin parties and park jams for many years. Chuck was also on Grandmaster Flash’s security team, called the Casanovas.
What Inspires Chuck City
Chuck City is a DJ from the Bronx. He was partners with DJ Rockin’ Rob as the two would spin parties and park jams for many years. Chuck was also on Grandmaster Flash’s security team, called the Casanovas.
Dutchess is an emcee from the Bronx, NY. She began recording music at age 11 and years later was exposed to the rap battle community in 2010. Her first competition was in the league Queen Of The Ring. She joined Barz N Brastrapz booking agency and competes on stages throughout the U.S. Dutchess’ latest project, Queen Of New York, is currently being finished.
The Jacka is an emcee from Oakland, CA. At a young age, he was exposed to b-boying, rap music, and graffiti. His career began with the group Mob Figaz, formed by C-Bo. Their first album, C-Bo’s Mob Figaz, was released in 1999, followed by Jacka’s 2001 solo album, Jacka Of The Mob Figaz. In 2005, The Jacka released his sophomore album, The Jack Artist, followed by Tear Gas in 2009. He’s collaborated with Too Short, Cormega, Keak Da Sneak, Yukmouth, Andre Nickatina, DJ Juice, and many others. In 2006, Jacka received an award for Best Underground Artist at the Bay Area Rap Scene Awards, in addition to Mob Figaz being nominated for Group Of The Year.
DJ Qbert is a turntablist and composer from San Francisco, CA. He began playing with records at age 15, and later joined a group in 1990 with with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo called FM20. He was first recognized in 1985 for his technical DJ skills and is credited for perfecting the turntable as a musical instrument, inventing original techniques of scratching. In 1994, he released a scratch and breakbeat mixtape, Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik. Qbert is a founding member of Invisibl Skratch Piklz, the first turntablist “band” that layered turntablism, drums, basslines, and scratch solos on top of each other. The group won three years in a row at the DMC World Championship. In 1998, Qbert released his debut album, Wave Twisters, along with an animated film created by Dug-1 to sync with the music. Qbert was featured in the film Scratch, as he is knighted by GrandMixer DXT, and was inducted into the DMC DJ Hall of Fame along with Mix Master Mike. Qbert has worked with Vestax to develop the scratching instrument, QFO, which combines a turntable with a crossfader. In 2009, Qbert launched the Qbert Skratch University, an online school and community for DJs.
Voli is a producer, songwriter, and lyricist from NJ. He grew up rapping for several years before diving into the production world. His music relates to anyone that has put their dreams on hold to deal with reality. Voli is most recognized for collaborating with J. Cole. He’s released a self-titled album along with two others; Glass Doors and In The Meanwhile.
Rico Wade is a producer from Atlanta, GA. He is most popular as a founding member of the production team Organized Noize, alongside Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown as well as the larger collective, Dungeon Family. ON was prominent production team for Atlanta’s contemporary R&B and rap, including TLC, En Vogue, OutKast, and Goodie Mob. Rico introduced the members of TLC to one another and later produced the hit “Waterfalls”. Organized Noize also produced “Can’t Let Go (Love)” by En Vogue and “Saturday (Oooh Ooooh)” by Ludacris. The group has produced the entire OutKast album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, the entire Goodie Mob album, Soul Food, and the entire Nappy Roots album, Nappy Dot Org. Later production credits include “So Fresh, So Clean” by OutKast, and “They Don’t Dance No Mo” by Goodie Mob, and several songs on Big Boi’s album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.
Egadz is a producer from Long Beach, CA. Originally from Boston, his production dates back to 1996. He’s worked with artists since 1997 on his label Cursed Out Productions such as Oak Lonetree. His beats have also been featured on projects with Rakaa Iriscience, LMNO, and Edo G. Currently Egadz is directing a feature length documentary, Mass Transit, on the history of Boston hip hop.
Medusa is an emcee and motivational speaker from Los Angeles, CA. Growing up pop-locking with the Groove-Atrons, she won Best Female Dancer at The Palladium’s 1st Hip Hop Dance Awards. Medusa began emceeing at age 16 and later improved her talent at the Good Life Cafe and the Project Blowed Workshop. She became the first artist in the Los Angeles hip hop scene to perform with a live band and released her EP, Do It The Way You Feel It. She won a Grammy with the band Ozomatli and has landed film scoring, soundtrack production, and acting in films such as Life Is A Traffic Jam, Gridlock, and Moesha. She wrote, produced, and performed “My Momma Raised a G” for the HBO film, Stranger Inside and appeared in the documentary Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme. Medusa also speaks at colleges and seminars on the effect of hip hop on children and women, relating to culture and life.
