- 歌曲
- 时长
简介
Divine Verbal Dialect, a/k/a DVD since way before the disc, began his career as a battle rapper at age 13. From parks to schoolyards, he and his life-long friend Phase Trilla would bring a powerful presence that amazed impromptu audiences all over Los Angeles, the city they called home. Raised in south central LA, they were always thought to be transplants because their rap style was unlike any LA rappers of that time. DVD and Phase came up listening to the ground-breaking hip-hop radio station 1580 KDAY, which played rap from all over the country at a time when rap was still very regional. Because of this early exposure to rap from all over the country, their influences included Eric B. & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions, The Jungle Brothers, Public Enemy, Run DMC, The Geto Boys, and NWA, to name a few. By the age of 16, DVD was becoming more and more politically conscious, as was hip-hop music. His music began reflecting this change, though his original battle roots teemed just beneath the surface of this socially aware teenager, and he was still eager to snap on an MC at the drop of a dime should they doubt his fierce tongue and sharp mind. They connected with like minds like Dedan Skills, Klockwise, Queen Nefertiti, and others in a crew called the Microphone Mafia, which was spearheaded by LA legend DJ Bobcat. At 18, DVD and Phase left for college at Hampton University in Virginia, where as they grew and changed, their rhyme styles grew and changed too. These times saw the duo developing deeper concepts. Life lessons began to emerge through the words that these two griots would project into the minds of a growing number of followers. They began having an influence on the hip hop underground in Virginia through WHOV, their college radio station where they worked during the school year. By the time DVD was 20, Dedan lured he and Phase to Atlanta, where he was in school, and with good reason. Dedan had assembled a formidable crew under the name Microphone Mafia, but they needed something that was more fitting of such a diverse crew. Klockwise, now known as Jade Tiger, came up with the name 'S.O.L.A.R.', which stood for Sons Of Light, Allah's Reflection, and DVD added 'Panel' to represent the network that Dedan Skills, DVD and Phase had extended to Boston, Oakland, New York, Memphis, Atlanta, and Chicago. During this time, these three childhood partners collaborated to host a socially and politically motivated hip-hop talkshow on Atlanta's WRFG 89.3 FM, dubbed the 'Panther Power Hour' by Dedan Skills' long-time associate, Tupac Shakur. Pac and Dedan had been friends through family ties for years, and the crew actually made unreleased songs with this incredible MC and his brother Mopreme. DVD decided to leave Atlanta after 6 years of hosting the show and interviewing people such as Chuck D, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Too Short, Coolio, Bootcamp Click, and many others. Back in Los Angeles with his family which now included a wife and two beautiful daughters, DVD stepped his game up. He and Dedan Skills teamed up to form SOLAR Panel Entertainment, which released DVD's 2002 underground classic The Natural. The song was played on LA's Power 106, 100.3 The Beat, as well as countless other P-1, college, and independent stations all over the country. DVD has appeared on other SOLAR Panel Projects like The SOLAR Panel's 2001 compilation Underground Platinum, Amad Jamal's 2003 release La City, as well as a 2002 compilation put together by political prisoner Dr. Mutulu Shakur entitled Dare To Struggle. These days DVD's focus has sharpened. His philosophy is that hip-hop is evolving and the hip-hop generation is getting older, wiser, and wanting more meaningful music to match their ever growing wisdom. This prompted the change of the name to Sons Of Light All Reflections. He is targeting the smaller underground audience which frequents performance clubs. Armed with beats from SOLAR Panelist and Trill City President Phase Trilla, SOLAR Panelist and Aftermath Producer DJ Khalil, Lower East Side Manhattan's Manorail Productions, and SOLAR Panelist Jade Tiger, DVD is once again illuminating stages, mics, and cd and mp3 players with complex concepts that he makes plain with his clear, fierce delivery.