DJ Disco Wiz
Encyclopedia
DJ Disco Wiz in the Bronx, New York, USA, to a Puerto Rican
father and a mother from Cuba
. He is also credited with being the first Latino
DJ in Hip-Hop music.
movement taking place in The Bronx
DJ Disco Wiz teamed up with his best friend, Casanova Fly (Grandmaster Caz
), to form a group called the Mighty Force crew. Mighty Force is credited as being one of the first Hip-Hop DJ crews in the mid-to-late 1970s. Legendary for their DJ battles in the streets of the South Bronx
, the Mighty Force crew was also responsible for presenting the first Latino rapper to the world, Prince Whipper Whip
, who is also of Puerto Rican decent. DJ Disco Wiz is also credited for being the first DJ to create a "mixed plate" in 1977 (Hip-Hop’s first mixed dub recording) when he and Grandmaster Caz, combined sound bites, special effects and paused beats.
and poetry
performance series that gives a voice to up and coming Latino talent in New York City
. As a poet, DJ Disco Wiz has performed at the Apollo Theater
and the landmark Nuyorican Poets Cafe
and his poetry can be seen in the upcoming book “Born in the Bronx.” Wiz also appears in a few documentaries on Hip-Hop history including “1 LOVE”, a film Produced by noted Hip-Hop Historian James "Koe" Rodriguez about the lives of Joe Conzo, Ernie Paniccioli
and Jamel Shabazz; Hip-Hop’s first photographers.
Wiz has openly contributed to the community education of the formative years of Hip-Hop. In the millennium issue of The Source Magazine he candidly shared his experience in being the first Latino during the culture’s evolution. He was also a major contributor in the opening of the Experience Music Project
in Seattle, Washington
in 2000. His contribution and donation of original hip-hop flyers, solely for the preservation of hip-hop can be seen as part of the archives. He was also instrumental in the making of Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn’s rendition of the early years of hip-hop entitled Yes, Yes Y’all; sharing numerous original flyers and first hand accounts of the early years of hip-hop including an account of the historical New York City blackout of 1977
.
He is also a board member of the Universal Federation for the Preservation of Hip Hop Culture, chaired by Afrika Bambaataa
of the Universal Zulu Nation
. The Federation also includes on its board; Grandmaster Caz
, DJ Tony Tone, Kurtis Blow
, GrandMaster Melle Mel
, KRS-One
, Lovebug Starski
, Jorge “PopMaster Fabel” Pabon and photographer Joe Conzo.
At present time Wiz is co-authoring his memoirs with Simon & Schuster
author Ivan Sanchez. The book is titled It’s Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip-Hop’s First Latino DJ. The book will be released on the Miss Rosen imprint of powerHouse Books in June 2009.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
father and a mother from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He is also credited with being the first Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
DJ in Hip-Hop music.
Old School
After being inspired at a Kool Herc jam by the emerging hip hopHip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
movement taking place in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
DJ Disco Wiz teamed up with his best friend, Casanova Fly (Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Caz
Curtis Fisher , better known by his stage name Grandmaster Caz or Cassanova Fly is an American "Old Skool" rapper, MC, and DJ...
), to form a group called the Mighty Force crew. Mighty Force is credited as being one of the first Hip-Hop DJ crews in the mid-to-late 1970s. Legendary for their DJ battles in the streets of the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
, the Mighty Force crew was also responsible for presenting the first Latino rapper to the world, Prince Whipper Whip
Prince Whipper Whip
Prince Whipper Whip is the stage name of James Whipper, a Puerto Rican rapper from the Bronx. He was an original member of Grandwizard Theodore & the Fantastic Five...
, who is also of Puerto Rican decent. DJ Disco Wiz is also credited for being the first DJ to create a "mixed plate" in 1977 (Hip-Hop’s first mixed dub recording) when he and Grandmaster Caz, combined sound bites, special effects and paused beats.
New School
The grandson of the late Puerto Rican artist and Santero Norberto Cedeño; (La Mano Poderosa (1950)), Wiz is the creator of The Hip-Hop Meets Spoken Wordz Series, a hip hopHip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
performance series that gives a voice to up and coming Latino talent in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As a poet, DJ Disco Wiz has performed at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
and the landmark Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Nuyorican Poets Café
The Nuyorican Poets Café is a non-profit organization in Alphabet City, Manhattan. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican art movement in New York City, USA, and has become a forum for poetry, music, hip hop, video, visual arts, comedy and theatre.-History:...
and his poetry can be seen in the upcoming book “Born in the Bronx.” Wiz also appears in a few documentaries on Hip-Hop history including “1 LOVE”, a film Produced by noted Hip-Hop Historian James "Koe" Rodriguez about the lives of Joe Conzo, Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli is an American photographer of hip hop culture. He is a Cree Native American, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His photography of hip hop began in the 1970s with shots of graffiti in New York....
and Jamel Shabazz; Hip-Hop’s first photographers.
Wiz has openly contributed to the community education of the formative years of Hip-Hop. In the millennium issue of The Source Magazine he candidly shared his experience in being the first Latino during the culture’s evolution. He was also a major contributor in the opening of the Experience Music Project
Experience Music Project
The EMP Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction located in Seattle, Washington...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in 2000. His contribution and donation of original hip-hop flyers, solely for the preservation of hip-hop can be seen as part of the archives. He was also instrumental in the making of Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn’s rendition of the early years of hip-hop entitled Yes, Yes Y’all; sharing numerous original flyers and first hand accounts of the early years of hip-hop including an account of the historical New York City blackout of 1977
New York City blackout of 1977
The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout affected most of New York City from July 13, 1977 to July 14, 1977. The only neighborhoods in New York City that were not affected were in southern Queens, and neighborhoods of the Rockaways, which are part of the Long Island Lighting...
.
He is also a board member of the Universal Federation for the Preservation of Hip Hop Culture, chaired by Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
of the Universal Zulu Nation
Universal Zulu Nation
|rightThe Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local...
. The Federation also includes on its board; Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Caz
Curtis Fisher , better known by his stage name Grandmaster Caz or Cassanova Fly is an American "Old Skool" rapper, MC, and DJ...
, DJ Tony Tone, Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
, GrandMaster Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Grandmaster Mele Mel , also known as Melle Mel , is an American hip-hop musician — one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.- Biography :...
, KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, Lovebug Starski
Lovebug Starski
Lovebug Starski is an American MC, musician and record producer. He began his career as a record boy in 1971 as hip-hop first appeared in the Bronx, and he eventually became a DJ at the Disco Fever club in 1978.Starski recorded his first single, "Positive Life," on the Tayster record label in 1981...
, Jorge “PopMaster Fabel” Pabon and photographer Joe Conzo.
At present time Wiz is co-authoring his memoirs with Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
author Ivan Sanchez. The book is titled It’s Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip-Hop’s First Latino DJ. The book will be released on the Miss Rosen imprint of powerHouse Books in June 2009.
Further reading
- It's Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop's First Latino DJ By Ivan Sanchez and Luis "DJ Disco Wiz" Cedeño, Miss Rosen Editions, (2009) Powerhouse Books ISBN 978-1-57687-494-3
- Yes Yes Y'All: Oral History of Hip Hop's First Decade. Fricke, Jim and Charlie Ahearn (eds). Experience Music Project. Perseus Books Group. ISBN 0306811847
- Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop. Joe Conzo, Johan Kugelberg, Afrika Bambaataa, Buddy Esquire and Jeff Change. (2007) - Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7893-1540-3
- Freedom of Expression: Overzealous Copyright Bozos and Other Enemies of Creativity. Kembrew McLeod (2005) - Doubleday ISBN 978-0385513258
- Hip Hop Decoded. The Black Dot (2005) - MOME Publishing Inc. ISBN 0-9772357-0-X
- Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco. Peter Shapiro (2005) - Faber & Faber ISBN 978-0571211944
- Rap Music and Street Consciousness (Music in American Life). Cheryl L. Keyes (2004) - University of Illinois Press ISBN 978-0252072017
- Rap Whoz Who. Steven Stancel (1996) - Schrirmer Books
- U.net, Bigger than hip hop 2006, Agenzia X, Cox 18 Books, ISBN 88-95029-02-X
Television
- The Emmy Nominated Vh1 Rock Doc ny77: the Coolest year in hell Developed by Nanette Burstein and Firehouse Films for Vh1.