DJ Fuze
Encyclopedia
DJ FUZE, born David Elliot in 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...
, is an American Hip-Hop DJ and Record producer, who is most known for his work in the 1990s with the multi-platinum, P-Funk
P-Funk
P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
inspired rap group, Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
.
Digital Underground
Fuze co-produced several songs on Digital UndergroundDigital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
’s grammy nominated and multi-platinum debut album Sex Packets
Sex Packets
- LP :-Cassette:The cassette version of the album has 3 extra tracks, plus an extended version of "Gutfest '89"...
. Most notable of these songs is the bay area classic "Freaks of the Industry". He toured with D.U. internationally in 1990, supporting the group's hit single "Doowutchyalike", and platinum single "The Humpty Dance
The Humpty Dance
"The Humpty Dance" is a 1990 hip hop song by Digital Underground, which was featured on their debut album Sex Packets. The single climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart...
" (Billboard Rap Chart position #1), and also toured the U.S. on the 1991 Budweiser Superfest tour supporting their follow up effort This Is An EP Release
This is an EP Release
This is an EP Release is the RIAA Gold certified second Digital Underground release, from which "Tie the Knot" and "Same Song" were featured in the film Nothing But Trouble starring Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy...
featuring the single "Same Song" on which a young Tupac Shakur debuted. The following year D.U. released Sons of the P
Sons of the P
Sons of the P is the third album by American rap group Digital Underground, released on October 15, 1991. The album featured two hit singles, "No Nose Job" and "Kiss You Back", both of which were written by, and featured the lead vocals of Greg Jacobs Sons of the P is the third album by American...
, which featured the hit singles "Kiss You Back" and "No Nose Job", the latter of which showcased a unique scratching technique that Fuze playfully coined "the bumble-bee scratch", inspired by DJ QBert, and featured prominently in the song's intro. He demonstrated this scratch live at the Apollo Theater in 1992 during a televised performance with Digital Underground.
Tupac
DJ FUZE also collaborated with the late rap superstar Tupac ShakurTupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
on his debut album 2PACALYPSE NOW. In addition to naming the album, FUZE produced the song “Violent,” which is a partial remake of Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
' and Cocoa Tea
Cocoa Tea
Cocoa Tea is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer, songwriter, and DJ.- Biography :Cocoa Tea was popular in Jamaica from 1985, but has become successful worldwide only since the 1990s...
's dance-hall hit Pirate Anthem.
Raw Fusion
DJ FUZE was also one half of the group Raw FusionRaw Fusion
Raw Fusion was a spin-off project from Digital Underground emcee Money-B, with DJ talent provided by DU contributor DJ Fuze. Their albums contained cameos by many of the Digital Underground crew, including Shock G and 2Pac...
along with fellow DU member Money-B
Money-B
Ron Brooks better known by his stage name Money-B, is an American rapper, best known for being a member of the funk and rap group Digital Underground. He is a member of Raw Fusion with DJ Fuze whom they had two albums, Live From the Styleetron and Hoochified Funk.He had a solo album named Talkin'...
. In 1991, the two scored a minor bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
radio hit “Throw Your Hands In The Air,” which was the first single from their debut album Live From The Styleetron. The video, which featured cameo appearances by rappers Tupac and Saafir, was the first major video production by directors The Hughes Brothers, who later directed Menace To Society, Dead Presidents
Dead Presidents
Dead Presidents is a 1995 American crime film written by Michael Henry Brown and also written, produced and directed by the Hughes brothers , starring Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker, Freddy Rodriguez, N'Bushe Wright and Bokeem Woodbine...
, American Pimp
American Pimp
American Pimp is a 1999 documentary that examines the pimp subculture in the United States. It was directed by the Hughes Brothers, the filmmakers behind Menace II Society and Dead Presidents....
, and From Hell.
The Luniz
In 1994, DJ FUZE began working with the Oakland duo The LunizThe Luniz
The Luniz were an American platinum-selling rap duo from Oakland, California, formed by the rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. They released an internationally successful hit in 1995 entitled "I Got 5 on It", two versions of which appeared on their album Operation Stackola...
, and produced three songs on their debut multi-platinum release Operation Stackola
Operation Stackola
Operation Stackola is the debut album by hip hop duo Luniz, released on July 4, 1995. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of over one million records. It features their most famous song to date "I Got 5 on It"...
. Fuze also toured internationally with The Luniz during their platinum period, supporting their hit I Got Five On It.
Dru Down
DJ FUZE also produced a minor Bay Area hit “Can You Feel Me” for Oakland rapper Dru DownDru Down
Darnel Robinson, better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California...
in 1996.
Film and Video Appearances
FUZE appeared with Digital Underground in the Hollywood cult film flop “Nothing But Trouble,” which starred Dan AkroydDan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
, John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
, Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, and Demi Moore
Demi Moore
Demi Guynes Kutcher , known professionally as Demi Moore, is an American actress. After minor roles in film and a role in the soap opera General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St...
. He also is featured in digital undergrounds videos for The Humpty Dance, Doowutchyalike, Same Song, Kiss You Back, and No Nose Job.
FUZE also appeared with Tupac in the oscar nominated documentary film Tupac Resurrection, as well as in Tupac’s first two music videos, “Trapped” and “Brenda’s Got A Baby."
Current Activity
DJ FUZE returned to college in 2003 and received a B.A. in International DevelopmentInternational development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 2007. He began touring again with digital underground upon graduating college, and has also been sitting in with Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
since 2008, at the comedian's exclusive Bay Area improv performances.
Discography
- Sex Packets (LP) Tommy Boy Music 1990
- This Is An E.P. Release (LP) Nuttin' Dis Funky Tommy Boy Music, Tommy Boy Music 1990
- Sons of the P (LP) title track + No Nose Job (single) Tommy Boy Music 1991
- Raw Fusion Live From The Styleetron Hollywood Basic Records 1992
- The "Body-Hat" Syndrome (CD) Tommy Boy Music 1993
- Freaky Note / Glockadoodayoo (12") Glockadoodayoo, Glocka... Hollywood BASIC 1994
Production
- Freaks of The Industry (12") Tommy Boy Music 1990
- 2Pacalypse Now (CD) Interscope Records 1991
- Live From The Styleetron Hollywood Basic Records 1992
- Operation Stackola (CD) Noo Trybe Records 1995
- Can You Feel Me (CD) Relativity 1996
Appearance
- The Humpty Dance (12") Tommy Boy Records 1989
- Sex Packets (CD) Tommy Boy Records 1990
- Same Song (EP Release Part 2) Nuttin' Nis Funky Tommy Boy Records 1991
- 2Pacalypse Now (CD) Interscope Records 1991
- Live From The Styleetron (CD) Hollywood BASIC 1991
- Sons Of The P (CD) Tommy Boy Records 1991
- Operation Stackola (CD) Virgin Records 1995
- Can You Feel Me (CD) Priority Records 1996