Divine Sounds

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Divine Sounds was an old school rap group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, featuring Disco Ritchie, Shelton D & DJ Mike Music. The name "Divine Sounds" was inspired by DJ Mike Music's cousin's involvement with the "5 Percenters".

History:

DJ Mike Music began DJ'ing in the mid-70s during his high-school years. His brother, Disco Ritchie, and he had written the song What People Do For Money, but Disco Ritchie decided that he needed a partner. One day at a rap contest at 309 Park, Disco Ritchie competed and came in first place, but even more importantly, he noticed Shelton D (who was in a group named "The Bugouts" with Brian Love) and liked his voice. He also felt that they would look good together, and so he gave Shelton the lyrics. They both felt Shelton sounded good on the song and that they made a good fit.

The group went to many record companies pushing the song, but it was at Streetwise that the suggestion would be made to have some females sing the hook of the chorus instead of Ritchie. The girls that did backing vocals for Kool and the Gang ended up being singing the hook and it pushed the song into popularity with 6 months of airplay in New York.

Releases:

What People Do For Money (12")

Changes (We Go Through) (12")

How Fast Money Goes (12")

Me & My Posse (12")

My Mother (12")

Random Facts:

- Ritchie claims that DJ Mike Music was the first DJ to rap on a record.

External Links:

A 2005 interview with Ritchie and Mike of Divine Sounds: http://www.jayquan.com/divinesnds.htm