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DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado - Rebel Without A Pause
Every
story has its beginning and in the case of Latin Hip Hop, or better yet,
Latinos in Hip Hop, it is no different. During the so-called Golden Era of
Hip Hop, Latinos started to move into the mainstream thanks to the doors
that had been opened by Run DMC in 1986. The Los Angeles based Kid Frost is
usually thought of as the first major Latino artist. While performers like
Cypress Hill (First Latin Group To Go Platinum), Big Pun (First Latin Solo
Act To Go Platinum) and Mellow Man Ace with "Mentirosa" later popularized
Latin Hip Hop in the United States and across the globe. But the truth is
that Hip Hip from its inception has had a significant connection to the
Latino community in New York. Years before Kid Frost and Mellow Man Ace, New
York had already given birth to one of the first Latino heroes in Recorded
Hip Hop. This is the story of DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado.
In 1987, Public Enemy released "Rebel Without A Pause" and changed the
direction of Hip Hop beats forever. A 17 year old Puerto Rican DJ, who
went by the name of DJ Johnny Juice, formed part of Public Enemy's Bomb
Squad production team, They pioneered new techniques in sampling and
scraching that resulted in denser, multi-layered sonic collages on albums
such as "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" and specifically, "It Takes A Nation Of
Millions To Hold Us Back". DJ Johnny Juice along side Public Enemy
pioneered a wave of hard edged politicized performers that would later come.
Rage Against The Machine's Zach De LaRocha called them "The Godfathers Of
Revolutionary Music In Our Time Period".
Johnny Juice was raised in los barrios of the Bronx, in New York City, and
witnessed the birth of Hip Hop right at his doorstep. He is a true Latin Hip
Hop hero in every sense of the word. A Turntablist, B-Boy, and Graffiti
writer who first displayed his break dancing skills at the age of 14 in the
mid '80s classic Hip Hop film Beat Street, and at 17 joined Public Enemy as
the group's studio DJ. Over the years he has also lent his production and
scratching skills to projects for legendary artists such as Slick Rick, Doug
E. Fresh, The Beastie Boys, DMC (Run DMC), LL Cool J, Leaders of the New
School (Busta Rhymes' Group), Ashanti, Vanessa Williams, C&C Music Factory
among many others.
Today, Juice is recognized as a legendary Strong Island DJ and Producer who
for over two decades has worked on countless records, TV and movies
soundtracks. Recently his work in The ESPN documentary "Ali Rap" earned him
an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Composition. His production spans genres,
from Hip Hop to Soul, Blues, Rock, Dance, R&B and even Latin Music. He is
not only a member of Public Enemy as DJ and Producer, but is now embarking
on a new, more personal mission together with Not4Prophet of Ricanstruction
to form the X-Vandals. In the X-Vandals Johnny Juice speaks with his hands
to say, of the injustices experienced by Latinos en los barrios de America
and in particular the colonial condition of Puerto Rico. Once again, Juice
is on the loose. He not only embodies the true spirit of Hip-Hop, but is a
hero for any Latino in Hip Hop, and continues to be a "Rebel Without A
Pause"!
Written by Danny of La Union for BrownPride.com
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