DJ Lethal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| DJ Lethal | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Leor DiMant | |
| Born | December 18, 1972 Riga, Latvia |
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| Genre(s) | Hip hop | |
| Occupation(s) | Turntablist, producer | |
| Instrument(s) | Turntable, sampler | |
| Years active | 1989 – present | |
| Label(s) | Past: Tommy Boy, Atlantic, Interscope, Geffen | |
| Associated acts |
Everlast House of Pain Limp Bizkit La Coka Nostra |
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Leor DiMant (born December 18, 1972 in Riga, Latvia), known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer, best known as a member of the band Limp Bizkit, and formerly a member of the Irish-American-influenced hip hop group House of Pain.
He is now helping other artists, co-producing their work in his Hollywood based studio, recently working with up and coming artists such as Scott Harris of the SHP. He is currently the main producer for the hiphop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which includes his former House of Pain mates Everlast and Danny Boy.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
Leor DiMant first got interested in music through his father, who, along with several friends, would learn various rock music, and then perform it in Russia, where there was a demand for it, as it was outlawed by the government. They played a mix of original music, and covers of artists such as The Who and Stevie Wonder, as people there had never heard it before. DiMant recalls that his father was even chased by the KGB.
In 1979, at the age of seven, Leor and his parents moved to Italy, where they remained for a year until they obtained a visa. They were then allowed to go to either Toronto, Los Angeles, or New York City. His parents chose New York. There, DiMant's father performed in various Russian clubs and restaurants mostly in Brighton Beach.
DiMant and his parents lived in Jersey City for a time, but moved to Los Angeles in 1987 when his father got a job at a new Russian restaurant there.
DiMant's first introduction to hip hop was in Jersey City. His school held a talent show, and several students performed a rap song, to which he was amazed. Once he moved to Los Angeles, he quickly became interested in hip hop culture, including breakdancing and graffiti. Before learning to DJ, he actually started off as a beatboxer. He later practiced DJing using his friend's turntables and mixer.
[edit] Everlast and House of Pain
Several years later, he became friends with a female rapper who happened to be dating Everlast. When Everlast was about to go on tour with Ice T and Rhyme Syndicate, he mentioned that he'd like to hear DiMant beatbox. DiMant then met and befriended Everlast, who initially was impressed because of his beatboxing skills, but needed someone to go on the tour with, and hired DiMant as a DJ. DiMant, who was only 16 at the time, dropped out of school, and went on the tour to Europe.
After the tour, Everlast's first solo record, including a was released to both critical and commercial failure. The two later decided to form their own group, and with the addition of Everlast's high school friend Danny Boy, they formed House of Pain. The group's 1992 self-titled debut album went multi-platinum off the DJ Muggs produced hit single "Jump Around".
By the group's third album, produced by Everlast and DiMant, things began to go sour. DiMant claims it started to become a hassle, and simply wasn't fun anymore. Soon after, the group broke up.
[edit] Limp Bizkit
On House of Pain's final tour, they booked an up-and-coming band from Jacksonville, Florida called Limp Bizkit as an opener. They became friends, and later, Limp Bizkit hired DiMant to do some work on several tracks, eventually asking him if he wanted to join the band. DiMant accepted, and together the group became one of the most popular groups in the world during the late 90s and early 2000s, selling over 33 million records worldwide.
As a DJ, DiMant wanted his contributions to be more original than typical DJs in bands at the time. "There are a couple of other rock bands that have DJs and they’re just like, [mimics a chirp scratch] “Hey, what’s going on? Let me spin around a couple of times and show off that I can spin two records.” So I definitely knew I didn’t want to be just another DJ in a rock band. I wanted to be another instrument—a part of the band, like another guitar player." [1]
[edit] Selected discography
- For House of Pain records, see the group's main article.
- For Limp Bizkit records, see the group's main article.
- Everlast - Forever Everlasting (1989)
- Sugar Ray - Lemonade and Brownies (1995)
- Sepultura - Roots (1997)
- Tura Satana (band) (aka Manhole) - All Is Not Well (1998)
- Rob Zombie - American Made Music to Strip By (1999)
- Rob Zombie - The Sinister Urge (2001)
- Kurupt - Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey (2001)
- Shihad - Pacifier (2002)
- Evanescence - The Open Door (2006)
[edit] References
| Limp Bizkit |
| Fred Durst - Sam Rivers - John Otto - DJ Lethal |
| Former Members: Wes Borland - Mike Smith - Rob Waters - Scott Borland - Terry Balsamo |
| Discography |
| Albums and demos: Mental Aquaducts - Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ - Significant Other - Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water - New Old Songs - Results May Vary - The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) - Greatest Hitz - The Unquestionable Truth (Part 2) |
| Singles: Counterfeit - Faith - Nookie - Re-Arranged - N 2 Gether Now - Break Stuff - My Generation - Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle) - Take A Look Around - Boiler - My Way - Eat You Alive - Behind Blue Eyes - Home Sweet Home-Bittersweet Symphony |
| Related articles |
|---|
| Black Light Burns |
| House of Pain |
| Everlast | DJ Lethal | Danny Boy |
| Albums: House of Pain | Same As It Ever Was | Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again |
| Compilations: Shamrocks & Shenanigans - The Best Of House Of Pain and Everlast |
| See also: La Coka Nostra |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | DiMant, Leor |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | DJ Lethal |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Disc jockey |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 18, 1972 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Riga, Latvia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
