DJ Cameo
Encyclopedia
DJ Cameo is a British disc jockey
and former host of Pirate Sessions, a now-defunct Sunday afternoon grime show
on the digital
UK
radio station
BBC 1Xtra
. He now presents the Tuesday night UKG show. The music Cameo produces varies from 2 step
vocals, to 4x4
, to grime, and sublow. In 2004, Cameo was voted winner of the "Best Newcomer" Award for the garage
scene's 2004 Peoples Choice Awards held in London. Cameo also received two back to back awards on behalf of Uptown Records, winner of best record shop.
In 2001 he secured a job at Uptown records, a European underground music store and has since been promoted to head buyer for the UK garage
department. That same year Cameo teamed up with Danny C and MC Viper to produce Addicted. Cameo then got involved with producer J-Sweet to produce the underground track "Hi Grade" that was then signed to the MOBO 2002 compilation, and more recently the 2003 Garage anthem "original bad girl style" featuring Gemma Fox
for ministry of sounds street beats compilation.
In October 2005, the start of Cameos label, On A Level, and Kamikaze Recordings working with artists such as Jon E Cash, DaVinChe
, Terror Danger, P-Jam, Dexplicit, Vital, Delinquent, TnT, J-Sweet, IMP, Jiggalo, Black Jack and Scandalous. Also in 2005, the Garage Anthems CD compilation, mixed by DJ Cameo was released on Virgin Records
. Cameo went on to become head A&R
of Def Jam mobile, a ring tone company offering UK and US tracks for download. That same year Cameos very own promotion "Hot Off The Block" Grime Allstars alongside Rebecka Prochnik (elastic artists). It's a fresh concept which showcases established and new UKG talent in a live concert format enabling fans around the world to truly experience the UKG phenomena on their doorstep. A world tour was set up with dates in New York, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Paris. The UK was covered too with dates at Glastonbury
Festival, V Festival, Cargo and Various universities. The tour included mind blowing acts such as Crazy Titch & J2K, Lethal B, Roll Deep, JME, Skepta, Bruza, No Lay, L Man, Purple and Tinchy Stryda to name a few. This
promotion is the benchmark in an ever changing industry. It aims to take the UKG scene to another level providing artists and producers with unlimited global exposure.
In early 2006, on behalf of 1xtra and BBC Radio 3, Cameo hosted Urban Classic, a music event which brought urban street stars such as Bruza Purple Pace Tor, Faith Sfx, and Da vin che together with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
for a performance at the Hackney Empire
. Cameo also appeared on the TV drama series Dubplate Drama.
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and former host of Pirate Sessions, a now-defunct Sunday afternoon grime show
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
on the digital
Digital radio in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio is proceeding since test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990. The UK currently has the world's biggest digital radio network, with 103 transmitters, two national DAB ensembles and 48 local and regional DAB ensembles...
UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
BBC 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
. He now presents the Tuesday night UKG show. The music Cameo produces varies from 2 step
2-step garage
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically English style of modern electronic dance music, and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage.A transcription of this article is available as a PDF file.-Characteristics:...
vocals, to 4x4
Speed garage
Speed garage is a type of music, associated with UK garage and hard dance scenes.-Characteristics:Speed garage has sped-up NY garage 4-to-the-floor rhythms. Snares are placed as over the 2nd and the 4th kickdrums, so in other places of the drum pattern. Speed garage tunes have warp, heavy...
, to grime, and sublow. In 2004, Cameo was voted winner of the "Best Newcomer" Award for the garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
scene's 2004 Peoples Choice Awards held in London. Cameo also received two back to back awards on behalf of Uptown Records, winner of best record shop.
Biography
DJ Cameo began his DJing career back in 1997 playing in local bars and clubs in West London. His main influences at that time were Tuff Jam, EZ and the Dreem Teem. Cameo landed on the set on London's Taste FM. This allowed him to be heard on the UK underground music scene and to gain experience in working on a radio station. With success on Taste FM Cameo also featured on other pirate stations such as Delight FM, Ice FM and Lush Fm.In 2001 he secured a job at Uptown records, a European underground music store and has since been promoted to head buyer for the UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
department. That same year Cameo teamed up with Danny C and MC Viper to produce Addicted. Cameo then got involved with producer J-Sweet to produce the underground track "Hi Grade" that was then signed to the MOBO 2002 compilation, and more recently the 2003 Garage anthem "original bad girl style" featuring Gemma Fox
Gemma Fox
Gemma Fox is a UK pop, R&B and hip hop singer, best known for her 2004 album Messy. The lead single, "Girlfriends Story", was released in April of that year and featured MC Lyte. The second single, "Gone", featured Juelz Santana...
for ministry of sounds street beats compilation.
In October 2005, the start of Cameos label, On A Level, and Kamikaze Recordings working with artists such as Jon E Cash, DaVinChe
DaVinChe
DaVinChe is a British Record producer and songwriter from South London, England.His notable works include Kano’s “Brown Eyes" and "P's and Q's” and Tinchy Stryder's “Something About Your Smile” and "Breathe".-Biography:...
, Terror Danger, P-Jam, Dexplicit, Vital, Delinquent, TnT, J-Sweet, IMP, Jiggalo, Black Jack and Scandalous. Also in 2005, the Garage Anthems CD compilation, mixed by DJ Cameo was released on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Cameo went on to become head A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
of Def Jam mobile, a ring tone company offering UK and US tracks for download. That same year Cameos very own promotion "Hot Off The Block" Grime Allstars alongside Rebecka Prochnik (elastic artists). It's a fresh concept which showcases established and new UKG talent in a live concert format enabling fans around the world to truly experience the UKG phenomena on their doorstep. A world tour was set up with dates in New York, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Paris. The UK was covered too with dates at Glastonbury
Festival, V Festival, Cargo and Various universities. The tour included mind blowing acts such as Crazy Titch & J2K, Lethal B, Roll Deep, JME, Skepta, Bruza, No Lay, L Man, Purple and Tinchy Stryda to name a few. This
promotion is the benchmark in an ever changing industry. It aims to take the UKG scene to another level providing artists and producers with unlimited global exposure.
In early 2006, on behalf of 1xtra and BBC Radio 3, Cameo hosted Urban Classic, a music event which brought urban street stars such as Bruza Purple Pace Tor, Faith Sfx, and Da vin che together with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
for a performance at the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
. Cameo also appeared on the TV drama series Dubplate Drama.
Discography
- Garage Anthems 2005
- The Sound of the Pirates
- DJ Cameo Presents Bassline'