Monday, November 27, 2017

HAPPY 61TH BIRTHDAY, to… KOOL DJ RED ALERT!

Frederick Crute – born 11/27/56 in Antiqua, West Indies & grew up in Harlem, NY – is an American disc jockey, manager, promoter, & one of the founding fathers of radio Hip-Hop.


Raised in Harlem, attending school in the same neighborhood of the iconic Rucker Park, his 1st love was basketball.  Due to his natural reddish hair & “alert” sense when playing defense, he was given the nickname “Red Alert”.  After graduating DeWitt Clinton high school in the Bronx, he began attending Thursday/Friday night parties in downtown NYC.  Influenced by seeing the likes of DJ pioneers like Grandmaster Flowers, The Together Brothers, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, & Afrika Bambaataa; Red Alert began assembling his own record collection & equipment.  Athletically, a top-ranked hoops prospect, he earned a full scholarship to play at Hampton University in 1976.  After 3 semesters, Red Alert quit school & returned to Harlem, now as a full-time DJ working for Afrika Bambaataa.  During the late 1970s, when cassette tapes gained popularity, DJ Red Alert was the 1st DJ to record full mix compilations of non-live performances, in which he dubbed the name “Mixtapes”.  Traveling to venues throughout NYC, Long Island, Jersey, Connecticutt, & Philly - during the early 1980s, both Bambaataa & Red Alert became weekly guests at the legendary NY nightclubs – Danceteria, Negril, & The Roxy.  In 1982, While spinning at the Roxy, Red Alert met Barry Mayo, KISS 98.7’s Program Director, who gave him a job to inaugurate the station’s “Master Mix Party” showcase.  The Universal Zulu Nation selected Red Alert as their 1st official DJ at this time, and he’d later be named a member of the Rock Steady Crew.  KISS 98.7 hired 1 other DJ & fellow friend of Red Alert’s, Chuck Chillout - and for 11 years straight the duo ran the Master Mix Party, introducing the radio airwaves to new Hip-Hop music weekly from 1983-1994.  The 1994 corporate sale of KISS-FM caused it’s rebranding to a R&B/Classic Soul-only format - so Kool DJ Red Alert joined budding hip-hop station Hot 97.  He would historically hold down the same 2 DJ timeslots for the next 7 years.  Concerned with the station’s new direction, he made the move over to Power 105.1FM where he DJed for a 5-year stint.  In 2006, KISS-98.7 FM was rebranded back to include hip-hop again, and he was hired – where he’d finish out his radio career until his final mix on April 29th, 2012; when the station was sold again & converted to a sports-talk ESPN Radio NY station.

In 1986 Red Alert played a vital role in The Bridge Wars; being the 1st DJ nationally to break “South Bronx” by Boogie Down Productions.  In the late 1980s, he established his own small management & promotional company Red Alert Production.  He was instrumental in first breaking & promoting acts like Boogie Down Productions, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, & Jazzy B.  His company later discovered & began managing Monie Love, Black Sheep, Chi-Ali, & his nephew Mike Gee’s group The Jungle Brothers.  Red Alert was also integral in helping increase exposure getting Funkmaster Flex onto radio, even hiring him as his regular fill-in while at KISS-FM.  He’s received many awards – including the 1st lifetime achievement recipient during VH1's annual Hip Hop Honors; his own star on the Bronx Walk of Fame 2003; is the only DJ enshrined within the radio section at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio; & was previously appointed an honorary Music Ambassador seat by the U.N.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Official Video for Snow Tha Product's new Spanish crossover single "Nuestra Cancion Pt. 2"

As if Snow Tha Product wasn't already making waves as one of the rare young lyrical female emcees of today, here's her brand new video for her 1st Spanish crossover single "Nuestra Cancion Pt. 2" (ft. Arcangel).  Directed by Jon J., together they turn Paterson, NJ into a hot Latin dance paradise.  Adding the catchy touch of the Arcangel feature, helps make this record a legit potential reggaeton club hit.  Snow's been currently using this single as a closer on her 35-date Vibe Higher Tour across the US trying to showcase her multi-dimensional & multi-genre skill set.  Check it out & Enjoy...




Thursday, October 19, 2017

DOC'S MIND: GRAND RE-OPENING!!! (Welcome Back)




WELCOME BACK family & friends...
Announcing the grand re-opening of "DOC'S MIND".  After a 6-year break; I'm happy to say I'm officially reviving my blog again as a soapbox where I'll be sharing my mind, opinions, articles, rants, music, music reviews, music biz stories, and anything that interests me.  Due to my excitement, I'll also be kicking off new weekly posts & activities to keep this blog poppin' again & more interesting.  Hopefully we'll keep you coming back!!


New Activities:


*DAILY DOWNLOADS*

*WEEKLY URBAN RADIO SPIN CHARTS*

*WEEKLY BUMP IT OR DUMP IT REVIEWS*

*ARTIST BIRTHDAYS*

*MUSIC VIDEOS*


*PODCAST EPISODE NOTES & PHOTOS*



Additionally - to save myself the hassle of over-loading traffic, constant copyright infringement allegations, and to make it easier for yall to get your FREE MUSIC, please like/follow our (2) Facebook groups:  The Twisted Critics Podcast (Hosted by Tony G & Doc J) and Doc J Music & Entertainment.

Remember, if you are an artist/producer yourself, send music our way so we can check it out. Feel free to leave comments, and please follow/bookmark this blog if you like it... And tell a friend to tell a friend.  The more traffic I get here, the more downloads I will put up.  Enjoy & Stay tuned!