Master Mark's Magic Rap Attack: The Radio Godz Blog

Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito - WKCR 20 May 1993

2012-03-02T21:35:00.001-08:00

DJ Stretch Armstrong (born Adrian Bartos) has been instrumental in presenting up-and-coming MCs through his media barrage of radio programs, mixtapes, and even video games. The New York native's first notoriety came as one-half of the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, which quickly became one of the premier forums for the city's emerging hip-hop talent to be heard. Robert "Bobbito" García is a Puerto Rican DJ, writer, entrepreneur, streetball player/coach/announcer, sneaker connoisseur, and member of the Rock Steady Crew. Several of the '90s' biggest names in rap received early notice on the Columbia University radio program from 1990 to 1998. It featured exclusive demo tapes and in-studio freestyles from many then-unsigned artists such asNas, Big Pun, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Cam'ron, DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, Fugees, Talib Kweli and Notorious B.I.G. who later found great success on major record labels.

STRETCH AND BOBBITO - WKCR 20 MAY 1993

BONUS: STRETCH AND BOBBITO - WKCR 1992

DJ Kid Capri - WBLS 1987

2012-03-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

Who says Italians and Blacks don't get along. Here is living proof, the half African American, half Italian Bronx born Kid Capri aka. David Anthony Love Jr. Kid Capri started Deejaying at the wee age of 8 on his family's old Zenith stereo system. He rose to prominence at the infamous Studio 54. Capri and his onetime partner Starchild bolstered their fame by selling tapes of their sets. Capri is the Prime Minister of Mixtapes recognizing early the profit potential therein.

Kid Capri is also a Producer having produced songs by BDP, Heavy D (RIP), Foxy Brown, The Lox, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, KRS-ONE, Slick Rick, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, The Lost Boys, Brand Nubian, Camron, Noreaga, Big Pun, Da Ranjahz, Big L and Jermaine Dupri. He has released his own album and spent 7 years as the DJ for the Def Comedy Jam.

Capri is easily the most recognizable DJ to the general public due largely to his TV exposure, film work ("Who's The Man") and his extensive touring with multi-platinum artists such as Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown, NAS, Lil' Kim, Mase, Jay-Z, Usher, R-Kelly, Mary J. Blige, Dru Hill, Ginuwine and Aaliyah.

DJ KID CAPRI - WBLS 1987

Boyd & Timmy - WBLS 1983

2012-03-02T19:15:00.001-08:00

The Godfathers of House music. Boyd Jarvis, and American and Timmy Regisford, Trinidad born worked together at WBLS. Boyd started his career in the entertainment business as an intern for the renowned dancer/choreographer, Pearl Primus and trained under Sandra Ross in theater lighting and set design. He went on to design lighting for shows at Lincoln Center, Perry Street Theater, and Riverside Church Theater. Music had always been a passion of his and so in 1981 he bought his first synthesizer, a Yamaha CS-15. Timmy Regisford heard him play at Melon’s and asked him to overdub a set that Timmy was about to do as an audition for WBLS. Soon, Boyd and Timmy were producing a dance music show for WBLS. From that show came the hit track, The Music’s Got Me . Boyd and Timmy began to do a lot of work as remixers. The rest, as they say, is history.

BOYD AND TIMMY - WBLS 1983

DJ Afrika Islam - WHBI 1983

2012-03-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Straight outta the Big Apple, Afrika Islam was rappin and break dancing with the Rock Steady Crew at the tender age of 10. Afrika Islam's DJing career also began in 1977. Afrika relocated to L.A, in the 80s where he hooked up with Ice - T and co-produced several platinum records, including my fasvorite Ice-T release POWER.......woo woo woo. Afrika also hosted the Zulu Beats radio program on Power 106 FM in the city of the angels.

In the 90s he became involved in the club scene in Europe where he carved out a niche by developing his own crossover sound: with music elements of R&B, Hip Hop, Techno & House. It was in Germany where he hooked up with Euro DJ giant Westbam. Afrika and Westbam created a new kind of global sound. Afrika Islams DJ performance is amazing as he often works with 50 to 60 albums in a two hour performance. His mastery of presenting techno sound a la Hip Hop style is behind his incredible success in many clubs all over Europe. Afrika Islam now recedes three quarters of the year in Germany.

AFRIKA ISLAM - BREAKS MIX SHOW - WHBI 1983

BONUS: DJ AFRIKA ISLAM - WHBI 1983

-- LIVE BREAK 2 --

2012-02-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

RUN DMC

Live @ Roseland, NYC - 18 May 1984

DJ Clark Kent - WBLS 1989

2012-02-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Panama representin. DJ Clark Kent is one of the industry’s hottest and most recognized producer and turntable superstars from the mid 80s. In 1985 he began co-hosting a show on WKCR out of Columbia university. Kent was the DJ for Dana Dane. He has served as a Sr. Vice President of A&R at Motown Records, worked as a Director of A&R at Atlantic Records, and now heads his own record label, ClarkWorld Entertainment. Kent has produced many hits.

In 2010 Nike commissioned DJ Clark Kent to design a limited edition AF1.

DJ CLARK KENT - WBLS 1989

The Latin Rascals - 1984

2012-02-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

In 1981, Anthony Moran and Albert Cabrera teamed up to create the DJ duo called The Latin Rascals. They helped create the mid-'80s, edit heavy genre of dance music known as freestyle. Working as DJs in the early '80s, the duo realised that after the disco backlash dance music wasn't the most popular of genres. Still, they were working in the U.S. capital of club culture, New York, and after much hustling they were able to score a high profile gig as mix masters on WKTU's popular "lunch time mix" program

The duo produced acts as well including the hit "Show Me' for the female group The Cover Girls.

Moran has been twice nominated for a Grammy Award.

THE LATIN RASCALS - 1984

DJ Jazzy Jay - 13 August 1983

2012-02-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

Starting out in South Carolina but ending up in where else, but the Boogie Down, came DJ Jazzy Jay. Jay was one of the original members of Afrika Bambaataa's Universal Zulu Nation starting out as a dnacer but ending up as the resident DJ. Jazzy Jay was also a meber of the group the Jazzy Five. Jay is the younger cousin of Kool DJ Red Alert.

In 1984 Jay along with Rick Rubin layed down the foundation of what would become the huge record label Def Jam Recordings. The first official release was the single "it's yours" by T. La Rock and Jazzy Jay. JAy later introduced Rick Rubin to Russell Simmons creating one of, if not the, most important partnerships in Rap/Hip Hop production.

Jay founded Jazzy Jay's Studion in the Bronx, releasing such artists as; Diamond D, Fat Joe, Brand Nubian, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Jay founded his own label called Strong City Records.

Jay has collected over 400,000 records and counting.

DJ JAZZY JAY - WRKS - 13 AUGUST 1983

DJ Afrika Bambaataa - WRKS 1982

2012-02-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

Kicking it back even further is the Grandfather of Hip Hop culture, DJ Afrika Bambaataa. Hailing from the Souf Souf Bronx, Afrika is known as one of the three originators of the break-beat style of deejaying. Afrika is one of the most important figures resposible for spreading Rap and accompanying culture, throughout the World.

From organizing block parties to forming the Universal Zulu Nation, Bambaataa was an incredible leader who gained followers throughout the sub culture from Rappers, to B-Boys, to Artists and kept them under the Zulu Nation umbrella. Some of those artists included: Mr. Biggs, Queen Kenya, DJ Cowboy Soulsonic Force, G.L.0.B.E., Pow Wow, DJ Jazzy Jay, Cosmic Force, Queen Lisa Lee, Prince Ikey C, Ice Ice, Chubby Chub, Jazzy Five, Mr. Freeze, Master D.E.E., Kool DJ Red Alert, Sundance, Charlie Choo, Master Bee, Busy Bee Starski, Akbar, and Raheim.

Bam organized the first European Rap tour.
He was a big part of the anti Apartheid LP Sun City
In 1990 Bam made Life Magazine's "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century"

DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA - 1982

-- LIVE BREAK --

2012-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE

Live at the T-Connection - NYC - 1979

DJ Chuck Chillout - 29 August 1986

2012-01-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

Hailing from the Boogie Down Bronx, Chuck Chillout hit the KISS FM airwaves circa 1982. Chuck was one of the earliest DJs to achieve World notoriety. Chuck was the first DJ to bring rap to Japan where it caught on quick helping other artists achieve another level of success. Chuck was also instrumental and garnering Rap a wider appeal by taking the host seat on Video Music Box, showcasing Rap videos of the day.

Chuck worked for a couple of years at WBLS but in 2009 returned to KISS where he kicked it all off.

He released an LP along with MC Kool Chip entitled "Masters of the Rhythym" in 1989.

Chuck established Full Blast Promotions in New Jersey after identifying a need there in 1999. Full Blast is New Jersey's premier record pool, distributing and streamlining the way DJs received their music.

DJ Chuck Chillout - 29 August 1986

Mr. Magic - 5 December 1986

2012-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

One of the most important figures in the NY radio game, John "Mr. Magic" Rivas made his debut on NY radio in 1981. Magic's show was the first exclusively rap radio program to hit the airwaves on a major station. Magic ruled the airwaves for several years. He was responsible for breaking a lot of new talent and gave routinely featured DJ Marley Marl as his on air DJ.

In 1983 Mr. Magic debuted on WBLS with Mr. Magic's Rap Attack, which changed the scope of rap and became several released records unto itself.

Magic also released his own 12" as an artist as well as produced the likes of The Force MDs. He was an ispiration to several artists including, Biggie, Tupac, Mr. Cee and tons more, including me, who glom'd a version of his name for the mixtapes I used to make friends back in my youth, as well as the name of this blog. It's all an homage to the man.

Sadly Mr. Magic passed away 2 october 2009.

Mr. Magic's Rap Attack - 5 December 1986

DJ PETE ROCK - 11 OCTOBER 1988

2012-01-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

Bronx born and Money Earnin Mount Vernon raised Pete Rock is an DJ, a Rapper, and a Producer. Pete rose to fame and gained his first audience in the World of Rap by working with DJ Marley Marl at WBLS in NYC doing the "In Control..." show and the "Future Flavas" show......at the tender age of 17. He was regarded as the man "puttin in work" because of his use of double copies of each record on each song he spun, a rarity at a time when most DJ's might have done it every third or fourth.......probably his Jamaican heritage at work.

He was half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth.

He began producing in the early 1990s working with such groups as Run DMC, Public Enemy, Biggie and Nas.

DJ PETE ROCK - 11 OCTOBER 1988

DJ MARLEY MARL - 20 JANUARY 1988

2012-01-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

Str8 out of the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, NYC came Marley Marl. Marl is an American DJ and record producer, who is considered one of the most important and influential rap producers in history as well as one of the first true "Superproducers". Marley Marl is known as an early innovator in the art of sampling, developing new techniques which helped usher in Rap's Golden Age. Marley Marl has also been a legend as a radio deejay along side Mr. Magic in the 80's on a show called Rap Attack on WBLS New York. Marley took the torch to start his own radio show called Private Radio, later with Pete Rock and K-Def. The radio show was called Future Flavas that was an online station and radio show that bounced around from New York radio stations like Hot 97, Power 105.1. Now Marley is currently back where it all started, WBLS, with his radio show called Golden Era Radio.

Marley Marl is the founder of Cold Chillin' Records for which he assembled a roster filled with some of the finest hip-hop talent in New York including:

MC Shan
Big Daddy Kane
Biz Markie
Roxanne Shante
Masta Ace
Kool G Rap and DJ Polo

Known as the Juice Crew, house Producer Marl and the rest were know for The Bridge Wars, a feud with Boogie Down Productions seen as one of the earliest and most influential hip hop beefs.

DJ MARLEY MARL - 20 JANUARY 1988

Kool DJ Red Alert - August 1989

2012-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Who better to kick things off with than the Antiguan via Harlem Kingpin, Kool DJ Red Alert. If you weren't huddled around a radio when this cat was spinning then you don't know shit about shit. DJ Red Alert's World Famous Radio Mix Show can be heard on New York City's 98.7 Kiss FM every Saturday night 10:00 pm - 12:00 Midnight Eastern Standard Time. Red Alert is the Voice of Sirius Satellite Radio's Backspin. Red Alert is a God among men.

DJ Red Alert is recognized and respected worldwide as one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop music and culture. Red has received numerous awards and accolades including:
-A special award at the first annual Rap Hall of Fame Awards show.
-The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from IMPACT music trade publication for 1998
-The 1997 Mix Show DJ of the year award from GAVIN.
-Named one of the 50 most influential people in music by ROLLING STONE magazine.
-Red Alert has a display in the Radio Section of the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME in Cleveland, (The only DJ of this era so honored)
-Named an honorary ambassador to the United Nations in recognition of his contributions in the field of music.
-In June 2003 Red Alert was inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame (with the likes of Colin Powell)

DJ RED ALERT - AUGUST 1989