The Originators Store LA welcomes DJ Disco Wiz with a book launch event for "It's Just Begun" on Thursday, August 20 from 7 to 10pm. Hosted by Frankie Needles (host of The Top Twenty Latin-Urban Countdown and One Nation Under Hip-Hop) with performances by Mellow Man Ace (an original Cypress Hill member and creator of the song "Mentirosa"), DJ Disco Wiz himself and many others. This event is presented by The Originators in association with PowerHouse Books, Fusicology, and Pura Casta Tequila. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
About DJ Disco Wiz: Half-Cuban, half-Puerto Rican, Luis "DJ Disco Wiz" Cedeño is 100 percent Boogie Down Bronx. Born in the 60s, Wiz struggled in a turbulent and violent relationship with his alcoholic father while trying to protect his mother who was suffering from breast cancer. Raised in the 70s, Wiz learned the code of the streets while hustling with his crew, the East Side Boys. In 1975, Wiz discovered salvation when he hooked up with the legendary Grandmaster Caz to form the Mighty Force Crew, waging some of the biggest DJ battles in the Bronx during hip hop's earliest years.
When Hip Hop first hit, the DJ was king. Rockin' the party on two turntables for the b-boys and fly girls on the dance floor, DJs like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash pioneered an art form that has come to define our times. The first Latino DJ in the game, Wiz, along with Caz, went on to make a "mixed plate" in 1977 which combined sound bites, special effects, and paused beats. An innovator, originator, and a battle-style DJ with no fear, Wiz swept through the Bronx like a tornado.
But the streets wouldn't leave him in peace. After being convicted on an attempted murder charge, sentenced to nine years in prison, and forced to leave his baby daughter, Wiz was incarcerated upstate at the tender age of 17, where he learned the true meaning of desperation. But as time went on and he overcame his struggles with violence, drugs and alcohol, and women, Wiz eventually liberated himself from the path of self-destruction through love, self-respect, and self-determination.
DJ Disco Wiz, the first Latino DJ, has been an influential force in educating the world about the early years of hip-hop. Wiz was a major contributor in the opening of the Experience Music Project in Seattle in 2000, and was instrumental in the making of Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn's Yes Yes Y'all (Da Capo Press, 2002). He was also featured in the Emmy-nominated VH1 Rock Doc NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell, and is the creator and founder of the Hip-Hop Meets Spoken Wordz series.
Featuring over 50 never-before-seen photos, It's Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop's First Latino DJ is a gritty and gripping tale of one man's struggles to not only survive, but to triumph over adversity and abuse that will make your blood run cold. By conquering unimaginable obstacles, Wiz offers inspiration to anyone who has ever wondered, "Why me?"
About The Originators: The Originators is the original clothing line committed to the education of the early years of hip-hop; honoring the DJs, MCs, Graffiti Artists, and B-Boys that helped pave its way. Founder Adam Bach started the line in 2004 in a small one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. The line honors such greats as The Cold Crush Brothers, The Rock Steady Crew, Kurtis Blow, and DJ Disco Wiz amongst others. The Originators is sold at retailers worldwide and can also be found online. For more information please visit www.TheOriginators.com
What: "It's Just Begun" Book Launch Event
When: Thursday, August 20, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Where: The Originators Store LA (map)
142 N Hayworth
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 935-5516
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