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The Long Island Music Hall of Fame DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is organized, comes together and is dedicated to the idea that their local Long Island musical heritage is an important part of the community's culture. It celebrates, it inspires, it entertains, it educates and it preserves it's local musical hero's for future generations.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame has done an excellent job in it's acknowledgment of talents individuals who have not only helped preserve their local culture, but have also had a significant impact to the rest of the world as well. The artists come of a wide range of musical backgrounds, from pop to rock, from jazz to rap and everything in between and beyond.
The 2008 ceremony which was held at the Garden City Hotel, in Garden City on October 30th was of special interest to BrownPride.com. This year's celebration introduces DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado and Public Enemy to their long list of legends who from now on will be forever remembered and honored by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. We would like to congratulate Johnny Juice for all the work and time he has put into the Hip-Hop culture. Not only does Hip-Hop need more artists like Juice and Public Enemy, but we as Latinos need more legends like DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado.
Biography
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 world. 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 scratching 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 B
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