DD172
Encyclopedia
DD172 is a media collective founded by American entrepreneur Damon Dash
. DD172 encompasses Creative Control, a video agency; America Nu, a magazine; and VNGRD79, a web design firm. It also includes an art gallery. DD172 is named for Dash's initials and its original street address (172 Duane Street in Tribeca
, Lower Manhattan
, New York
). That building, a rented four-story warehouse, housed the organization until mid-June 2011, at which time DD172 moved out.
DD172 began with Dash and two assistants—McKenzie Eddy and Raquel Horn—working on several music projects, and later included video producers Cootie and Chike, who started Creative Control. Horn then became director of America Nu, while Eddy was charged with running the music division. Eddy, a singer, has also produced music through DD172.
The art gallery, called, "The Dash Gallery," opened on February 19, 2010, and includes paintings and sculptural works by artists such as Bobby Castaneda, Jeremy Wagner, Heather Gargon and Hector Ruiz
. In March 2011, DD172 creative directors David Barnett and David Chang opened a clothing store called Local 172 Trading Post in the lobby of Dash's building.
DD172 has produced projects such as Blakroc, a partnership between The Black Keys
and several hip-hop artists, including Mos Def
, RZA
, Jim Jones
, and Q-Tip. The rapper Curren$y
has also collaborated with various other musicians at DD172, including Thomas Pridgen
and Sean O'Connell of Voodoo Farm (for the album Muscle Car Chronicles
); and Mos Def
and Jay Electronica
, to form the group "Center Edge Territory." Producer Ski Beatz has worked with DD172 as well, naming his first album, 24 Hour Karate School
, after a nickname for the organization. Ski Beatz has released other material on DD172's BluRoc Records label, including Love & Rockets, Volume 1: The Transformation (with Murs) in 2011. BluRoc has also worked with Def Jam Recordings
to release content.
In June 2011, DD172 departed from the building in Tribeca, which was subsequently occupied by 172 Duane Street Realty. On September 7, 2011, criminal charges emerged claiming that Dash and his partners had been selling alcohol without a liquor license
in the building since November 2010. However, on September 15, the charges were settled, as Dash left the property several months earlier. His lawyers also denied the allegations of illegal liquor retailing. DD172 had previously been criticized by neighboring tenants as being a public nuisance
.
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
. DD172 encompasses Creative Control, a video agency; America Nu, a magazine; and VNGRD79, a web design firm. It also includes an art gallery. DD172 is named for Dash's initials and its original street address (172 Duane Street in Tribeca
TriBeCa
Tribeca is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. Its name is an acronym based on the words "Triangle below Canal Street", and is properly bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street...
, Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
). That building, a rented four-story warehouse, housed the organization until mid-June 2011, at which time DD172 moved out.
DD172 began with Dash and two assistants—McKenzie Eddy and Raquel Horn—working on several music projects, and later included video producers Cootie and Chike, who started Creative Control. Horn then became director of America Nu, while Eddy was charged with running the music division. Eddy, a singer, has also produced music through DD172.
The art gallery, called, "The Dash Gallery," opened on February 19, 2010, and includes paintings and sculptural works by artists such as Bobby Castaneda, Jeremy Wagner, Heather Gargon and Hector Ruiz
Héctor Ruiz
Hector de Jesus Ruiz is the chairman and CEO of Advanced Nanotechnology Solutions Inc. and former CEO & executive chairman of semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. .-Education:...
. In March 2011, DD172 creative directors David Barnett and David Chang opened a clothing store called Local 172 Trading Post in the lobby of Dash's building.
DD172 has produced projects such as Blakroc, a partnership between The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
and several hip-hop artists, including Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
, Jim Jones
Jim Jones
James Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in...
, and Q-Tip. The rapper Curren$y
Currensy
Shante Scott Franklin, born April 4, 1981, better known by his stage name Curren$y, is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana.-Early career:...
has also collaborated with various other musicians at DD172, including Thomas Pridgen
Thomas Pridgen
Thomas Armon Pridgen is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta from October 31, 2006 until October 23, 2009, and currently the drummer for his own project The Memorials as well as hard rock supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.-Biography:Pridgen won the Guitar...
and Sean O'Connell of Voodoo Farm (for the album Muscle Car Chronicles
Muscle Car Chronicles
Muscle Car Chronicles is the seventh studio album by American rapper Curren$y. It is produced by Sean O'Connell and contains features of Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids and Tabi Bonney. A movie for this album has been produced. It is going to be released along with the album. It is Curren$y's final...
); and Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
and Jay Electronica
Jay Electronica
Timothy Elpadaro Thedford , better known by his stage name Jay Electronica, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer...
, to form the group "Center Edge Territory." Producer Ski Beatz has worked with DD172 as well, naming his first album, 24 Hour Karate School
24 Hour Karate School
24 Hour Karate School is the debut album by hip hop record producer, Ski Beatz. Originally, the album was set for a March 30, 2010 but was pushed back due to sample clearance issues. The project was then given a September 7, 2010 release date, however, was not released until September 21...
, after a nickname for the organization. Ski Beatz has released other material on DD172's BluRoc Records label, including Love & Rockets, Volume 1: The Transformation (with Murs) in 2011. BluRoc has also worked with Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
to release content.
In June 2011, DD172 departed from the building in Tribeca, which was subsequently occupied by 172 Duane Street Realty. On September 7, 2011, criminal charges emerged claiming that Dash and his partners had been selling alcohol without a liquor license
Liquor license
-Alberta:In Alberta, liquor licences are issued by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.-United Kingdom:Throughout the United Kingdom, the sale of alcohol is restricted—pubs, restaurants, shops and other premises must be licensed by the local authority. The individual responsible for the...
in the building since November 2010. However, on September 15, the charges were settled, as Dash left the property several months earlier. His lawyers also denied the allegations of illegal liquor retailing. DD172 had previously been criticized by neighboring tenants as being a public nuisance
Public nuisance
In English criminal law, public nuisance is a class of common law offence in which the injury, loss or damage is suffered by the local community as a whole rather than by individual victims.-Discussion:...
.