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Dj Rasta Root travelled the world for the first 23 years of his life. He was exposed to various languages and cultures. Having lived in countries such as Canada, Guatemala, Brazil, England, Holland, Abu Dhabi, Spain and Japan; he experienced musical instruments such as the japanese taiko drum and the brazilian war drum. The instrument that peaked his interest the most was the Technics 1200 turntable. Even though he is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and conversational in Japanese, the language he loves the most is music. And it is with the 1200 that he has the ability to seamlessly mix and deliver an aural soundscape that truly touches peoples’ souls.

Rasta Root often says that his method of mixing is simple arithmetic with a touch of soul. Being able to count bars and execute the most impossible mixes with laser-like precision, is what sets him apart form the other turntable linguists. His dj technique is a style-less style or a hybrid of turntablism merged with club mixing.

His formidable global experience growing up has helped him in his dj travels thus far. Whether it’s rockin’ for 10,000 screaming Bogota hip hop fans at Rap Al Parque or playin’ a cavi New Years party in Makati, Philippines, you are sure to experience something special and like no other.

Rasta Root counts being selected for the 2004 Redbull Academy in Rome as the turning point in his career. He was one of sixty handpicked djs and producers, from a pool of 2500 applicants worldwide, to travel to Europe for a two week music seminar/workshop. There, he met legends in the music business as well as future legends.

Rasta Root has been able parlay his International Business degree into a burgeoning artist management firm. Clients such as A Tribe Called Quest, Phife, and Dwele are on his roster. His newest client, Aleesha Barber, is a very promising olympian, who competed for Trinidad & Tobago in the Beijing 2008 Olympiad.

He is the founder of Smokin’ Needles Records, which he co-owns with Phife from A Tribe Called Quest. They are gearing up to release Phife’s second solo album under the Smokin’ Needles label. He has also tried his inventor/entrepreneur side by inventing and founding Smokin Shells, his high end chrome finish turntable head shell.

Rasta Root dove deep into music production in the 90s and started As Soul Studios once he was moved and settled in Atlanta. He currently scores music for ABC tv, ESPN, Midway Games and 2k Sports as well as handling production duties for Phife and a battalion of talented singers and mcs.

Career Highlights at a Glance:

23 year dj career
18 year production career
– Co-Manager of A Tribe Called Quest
Manager of Phife of A Tribe Called Quest
2012 Who’s Who in Black Atlanta Honoree
Road manager for Dwele
Dj for Phife
Dj for Dwele
Dj for Anthony David
Founder and CEO of Smokin Shells
Founder of Smokin’ Needles Records
Co-founder of Riddim Kidz Productions
Owner of As Soul Studios
Music Producer for ABC, ESPN, 2K Sports, and Midway Games
Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese
Conversational Japanese
Participated in the 2004 Redbull Music Academy in Roma, Italy
Dj Produce Specialist for Berlin base software developer, Native Instruments
91.1, 88.5, 89.3
Classic Example on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio

Veteran hip-hop producer Diamond D has helped out with several of rap music’s most acclaimed LPs, including A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory and the Fugees’ The Score. In 1992, he recorded his first solo album, the underground classic Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop (which was released as by Diamond & the Psychotic Neurotics). Although it never sold very many copies, it increased his status, and he worked with Illegal, House of Pain, KRS-One, and the Pharcyde during the mid-’90s. A host of top-flight rappers returned the favor for his sophomore album, Hatred, Passion & Infidelity, including Busta Rhymes, Phife Dawg (A Tribe Called Quest), and Pete Rock.

DJ Nabs is a native of Durham N.C. who began his career in Atlanta as a mix show DJ for WVEE. After hearing Nabs’ skill on the turntables, upcoming producer Jermaine Dupri quickly teamed up DJ Nabs with the teen rap group Kris Kross and was featured on the group’s second album release Da Bomb with a solo turntable performance called “DJ Nabs Break”. Nabs would eventually become So So Def’s exclusive DJ backing up Da Brat, Xscape, Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow. After years of touring, Nabs returned to Atlanta radio as a full time on air personality/mixer on Hot 97.5 (now Hot 107.9). During his three year stint at Hot, “In The Lab With DJ Nabs” became a household name in Atlanta along with his weeklyparty showcase “Old School Sundays” which was held at a trendy club in Midtown called Kaya . In 1998, Nabs produced his first commercially released mixtape/album for Columbia Records entitled “In The Lab With DJ Nabs: The Live Album”.This project featured the live performances of Kurtis Blow, Big Daddy Kane and Wyclef from “Old School Sunday” and studio tracks from Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri and a then unknown Ludacris. In 1999, Nabs began touring again with Kenan Thompson and Nick Cannon for Nickolodeon’s “All That Music and More Festival” and later with Mariah Carey’s “Rainbow Tour” in 2001, performing with longtime friend Da Brat. In 2002 Nabs produced the remix for Trick Daddy’s ” In The Wind” featuring Ceelo and Big Boi from Outkast. 2003 became the year that DJ Nabs returned to Hot 107.9 and also ventured into television with Bryant Reid’s “B.St Live” on Turner South, a half hour performance driven dance show with Dj Nabs spinning the tunes and co hosting. In 2005, DJ Nabs released “The Product & The Power” mixtape compilation and XM radio show on channel 67 The City.

Today, as the president of Jermaine Dupri’s DJ collective “The Def DJs “, Nabs continues to work the turntables at various industry events but combines all of his various experiences to helping build artists and songwriter’s careers thru his company In The Lab Productions, working alongside Michael Mauldin as an Artist Development Manager and Music Publisher at Mauldin Brand Agency (Scream Tour, Bow Wow, Anthony Hamilton, Common, Kandi Burrus) and A&R of Scream Star Entertainment/Atlantic Records.

Tony Hayes III p.k.a; 4-IZE

Well recognized for his animated character & incredible rhyme flow, 4-IZE stands out from the plethora of rap artists. Through his marketing & promotional campaigns he’s branded himself as one of the most entertaining hip-hop artists in Atlanta. With most notoriety coming from being featured on two 3x platinum Ludacris albums, 4-IZE bridges the gap between the mainstream & the underground artists everywhere. Not only an emcee but a writer, director, producer, A&R, 
promoter, actor and personality.

Content, Delivery, and Showmanship are the three core values for Atlanta emcee Señor Kaos, an emerging lyricist whos unique approach to hip hop has sent him around the Globe. As an Emcee, Marketer, and Blogger, this artist’s persona and work ethic makes it hard to disagree with his self-proclaimed title as “Cultural Influencer.”

Señor Kaos emerges from a dissolving Hip Hop world where who you know, means more than what you do, representing what Hip Hop was and what it should be today.

With Hip Hop culture changing across the board and becoming over – saturated with the same stories of poverty, violence, and ignorance, the opportunity for a new voice to be heard is evident. “What you are all witnessing is the metamorphosis from a young hopeful to the leader of the new school. Señor Kaos is a true undergound monarch.” – Performer Magazine

Kaos got his start in the music business at just 15 years old where he would sneak into local nightclub’s, and enter MC battles, open mics, etc. At 20 years old Kaos was able to finance, secure distribution and release his own record independently. “I worked a telemarketing job to finance my first project. After securing distribution for it’s release, it went on to sell 2,000 copies with no major radio play, no video, and no press. “

By the age of 22 with clever content and a great stage show, Kaos’ music has allowed him to see crowds all over, from the U.S., Australia, and Japan.

Over the years Señor Kaos has shared the stage with artists and DJ’s such as:

MF DOOM, Jazzy Jeff, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Clipse, Little Brother, Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline, Maskpyke, Maseo(De La Soul), Pete Rock, Biz Markie, Raekwon and Ghostface (Wu-Tang), Ali Shaheed Muhammed(ATCQ), Termanology, Prince Paul, Tony Touch, Dj Premier, Questlove, Mad Skillz, Akrobatik, Jeru The Damaja, Del The Funky Homosapien and many others.

In 2003 as Kaos became more frustrated with the stagnant state of the music industry, his passion for promotion and coordinating led him to create Vintage Imperial Marketing and Promotion a lifestyle marketing company that specializes in Branding, Consulting, Sampling, and Guerilla Marketing.

At 25 years of age this young self -made businessman shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

“I have a passion for being around good music and good people, and I’m lucky enough to make a living being around both.”

Señor Kaos’ advice to other aspiring artist: “You have to define what you own definition of success is. For some artist selling a million records defines success, for others touring the world is success. You have to figure out what works for you. My goal as an emcee is to share my perspective of life through musical poetry that will appeal to all open minds. Making a living doing what I Love, that’s success to me.”

“Learn the name. Remember the face. This man deserves respect.” – The Smoking Section

“This is music made by someone who really believes in music, and the results are astonishing.” – The Signal Newspaper

“The music grabbed me as soon as it came on.” – Southeasthiphop.com

“Kaos offers a strong single that fits into the best of hip hop traditions of good beats and good rhymes.” – Urbansmarts.com

“One of the most complete joints I’ve heard this year.”Undergroundhiphop.com

“Remember those Kellogg’s cereal variety packs back in the day? Well…this record is sort of like those, no matter what you are looking for, it’s got it.” – Manhunt.com

“He rhymes like he’s still in the park and rap never made it to Madison Square Garden.” – Southeast Performer Magazine

“Maybe someday he’ll help lead a revolution of artistic integrity in Hip Hop, but for now he’s an explosive and eclectic force to be reckoned with.” – Southeast Performer Magazine

“This young man has put in too much work to not get put on.” – Dj Booth.net