The Untouchable DJ Drastic

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Daniel M. Johnson known by his stage name “The Untouchable DJ Drastic”, is a Hisp[anic American DJ, radio personality, and music industry tastemaker from Brooklyn, New York. His ethnic heritage consists of Colombian, Puerto Rican and Scandanavian backgrounds. He was born on October 22, 1982 at 2:42 a.m. (EST). He is the official DJ for Capitol recording artist Mims and his company American King Music. The Untouchable DJ Drastic is affiliated with American King Music, AOL Music, Digiwaxx Media, Mims, MSpot, MySpace.com, Nextel, Scratch DJ Academy, Sprint, Swurv Radio, The BumSquad DJs, The Coalition Network, The Grind Kings, & WSIA. The Untouchable DJ Drastic attended P.S. 102, I.S. 259, and The High School of Telecommunications in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He has continued his education in Communication, Media, & Performing Arts at Kingsborough Community College & The College of Staten Island in New York.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The Untouchable DJ Drastic was born to a single mother in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. He was born into a family with no moral stability. He would be subject to a rough upbringing struggling with poverty and a lack of positive role models.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic overcame poverty statistics in his early teenage years as he began to engage in criminal activities. A wise decision was to use his time efficiently by engaging in community services. It was during this period that he would battle local emcees. After quickly establishing a name for himself as an emerging artist, his love for hip hop music changed as the culture began to take a commercial turn in 1997.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic originally acquired his alias from a group of neighborhood friends. He was first known as “Drastic” which would evolve into “DJ Danny Drastic” prior to his first nightclub appearance. His career began in the nightclubs of New York City with his first appearance being at The Limelight nightclub in 2001. A trend of New York City mega-club events would follow with The Untouchable DJ Drastic’s then alias being embraced on many extensive promotional campaigns. By 20 years of age, The Untouchable DJ Drastic had performed for 3000+ crowds on any given night as a newcomer to the nightlife circuit. This included New York City mega-clubs such as Exit², Roxy NYC, Sound Factory, Speeed, Tunnel (New York nightclub), & The World (WWE).

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would be dismissed from the nightlife circuit after parting ways with his promotional representatives. It would take him approximately one year to regroup. He would return to a smaller local scene with a new found professionalism. During his absence, The Untouchable DJ Drastic manufactured and distributed bi-monthly mix tape projects. He eventually decided to target radio as his next outlet to the mass public.

In 2003, The Untouchable DJ Drastic was introduced to a young hip hop purist that hosted a radio show in New York City & New Jersey on 88.9FM[1]. He would eventually be asked to join the broadcast on a weekly basis setting forth his career in radio. The Untouchable DJ Drastic then created his signature “Grind Session” mix show set. This would generate much attention for the show and radio station. The mix show set also inspired new generation camps.

He would resurface in the nightclubs of New York City landing a brief main floor residency at Sound Factory. The residency was an oddity and rare opportunity as Sound Factory is commonly known for it's large House Music following. He is the only known DJ to have set up his own external scratch mixer during his sets on the venue’s top of the line sound system designed specifically for DJ Jonathan Peters. The venue was to be shut down shortly after by the DEA for various violations.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would begin to receive notice from and began communicating frequently with major and independent record labels alike. The Untouchable DJ Drastic was contacted to air new material from an independent artist named Mims[2] that same year. The Untouchable DJ Drastic was impressed with the artist and began airing his single consistently. He would invite the artist to the radio station for an interview. The chemistry between the artist & The Untouchable DJ Drastic was intense with further communication to follow. After sharing goals and visions with the artist and his company, a bond was set into place. The Untouchable DJ Drastic began to advise, assist, collaborate, and tour with now American King Music/Capitol recording artist Mims[2]. He would become the most recognized and significant individual to have carried the artist and his company through their trials and tribulations up until finally releasing Music Is My Savior on a major record label in 2007[3].

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would become one of the first DJs to digitally provide extensive amounts of exclusive music to his peers on a weekly basis. He would utilize his solid relationships amongst every major record label to assist his peers and the music industry alike. The Untouchable DJ Drastic would be credited for introducing countless artists and their material on an underground level prior to the rapid growth of digital music outlets. He would become further embraced as an influential tastemaker within the music industry.

In 2004, The Untouchable DJ Drastic would re-emerge into the New York City nightlife circuit. He obtained an extensive amount of momentum and respect at a variety of upscale New York City lounges and nightclubs. The Untouchable DJ Drastic would also target colleges such as BMCC & SUNY Purchase as performance platforms. All while performing with then independent artist Mims on Method Man’s Tical 0: The Prequel tour & Lloyd Banks’ Hunger For More tour. The Untouchable DJ Drastic would also share the stage with the artist at all local performances.

He would become known for traveling with large amounts of vinyl records to every performance. The Untouchable DJ Drastic’s preservation of the culture caught the eye of a veteran in the nightlife business. An opportunity was soon presented for The Untouchable DJ Drastic to become the face and in-house resident DJ of Avalon Nightclub (formerly The Limelight). The venue was predominantly a House music based environment until The Untouchable DJ Drastic’s dominant arrival. For two years, he would entertain crowds of 2500+ weekly while freelancing in other NY/NJ Tri-State area mega-clubs such as Deep[4] (now known as Venue).

In 2005, The Untouchable DJ Drastic created The Coalition Network. He began to acquire talent locally in addition to overseas veterans to assist in the movement. The Untouchable DJ Drastic began to target the battle scene by competing in such competitions as DMC & Guitar Center. After winning preliminary battles, he decided to participate in competitions strictly for enjoyment. He has been scheduled to participate in battles every year since 2005 although conflicting schedules have prevented him from taking part in the events.

AOL Music[5] was the next outlet to embrace The Untouchable DJ Drastic enabling him to broadcast to over 2 million listeners daily. He would become one of the first mix show DJs to broadcast daily on Radio @ AOL[5].

In 2006, The Untouchable DJ Drastic would structure a professional alliance between The BumSquad DJs Worldwide[6] and himself. This would place him alongside a global collective of industry elite artists, DJs, and executives such as Lupe Fiasco[7], Paul Wall[8], Trey Songz[9], and many more.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would utilize his professionalism and talents to assist others as he briefly began to instruct as a guest of Scratch DJ Academy[10]. He would embrace new opportunities that included MSpot enabling him to broadcast mix show sets via Sprint & Nextel cellular phones. The Untouchable DJ Drastic has obtained features in multiple periodicals and publications worldwide such as United Kingdom based Blues & Soul magazine[11]. A forthcoming feature in New York based YRB magazine[12] is currently being structured to hit stands early 2008.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would find new opportunities as he became further demanded nationwide in areas such as California, Florida, The Hamptons, Missouri, & Texas to name a few. He has been requested to speak on panels for events such as OG Ron C's Houston Music Conference. He was scheduled to appear on stage with MIMS at WLLD’s The Last Damn Show but did not show up due to conflicting flight arrangements following San Francisco area performances. The Untouchable DJ Drastic has received acknowledgement from various internet outlets receiving multiple award nominations for his craft in areas such as Boston[13] & Los Angeles.

In 2007, The Untouchable DJ Drastic would open up the year by headlining an extensive ski weekend in New York's Hunter Mountain[14] which was heavily promoted on commercial radio. The Untouchable DJ Drastic would be selected to represent MySpace.com as their official DJ[15]. He would then be appointed United States National Director of Artist Relations for The BumSquad DJs Worldwide. A position created specifically for The Untouchable DJ Drastic amongst the industry collective and company.

He would respectively not be required to participate in Mims' 2007 Music Is My Savior promotional tour which was partially sponsored by Microsoft Zune. During the tour, he would continue to make appearances with the artist across the country on off-days and sporadically when there was no schedule conflict between the two.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would continue to target new outlets expanding his "Grind Session" mix show to air in syndication on multiple internet radio stations. He would be asked to provide holiday mix shows for commercial stations such as WDRE-FM & WESE-FM to name a few. The Untouchable DJ Drastic has also signed on as the front man for the Las Vegas based internet radio station Swurv Radio[16] providing exclusive weekly mix show sets.

The Untouchable DJ Drastic would be selected to headline intimate showcases alongside artists such as Emily King[17] amongst others. He would also be chosen to perform for multifaceted corporations such as New York based Yellow rat bastard[18].

The Untouchable DJ Drastic has structured a professional affiliation and alliance amongst the first ever Million DJ March[19] scheduled to take place in August of 2008.

As stated on his official MySpace page, he is currently working on four new mixtape projects scheduled for release before the end of the year. He is also currently in discussion with So So Def DJs to finalize an alliance between the collective and himself.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Mixtapes (Popular Titles)

  • The Afterparty (Remix Essentials)
    • Release: 2002
    • Label: N/A
  • The Afterparty Volume II (Summer Essentials)
    • Release: 2003
    • Label: N/A
  • The Afterparty Volume III
    • Release: 2003
    • Label: N/A
  • The Afterparty Three Point One
    • Release: 2003
    • Label: N/A
  • DJ Drastic: Live @ Sound Factory, NYC
    • Release: 2003
    • Label: N/A
  • DJ Drastic: Live @ Centro-Fly, NYC
    • Release: 2004
    • Label: N/A
  • Empire State Studios & The Coalition Network Presents Who Is Jay Kwest?
    • Release: 2004
    • Label: N/A
  • The Coalition Network Presents DJ Drastic For Mayor / DJ Drastic For Mayor Version 1.1
    • Release: 2005
    • Label: The Coalition Network
  • The Coalition Network Presents DJ Drastic's Bag of Tricks
    • Released: TBA
    • Label: The Coalition Network
  • The Coalition Network Presents The Untouchable DJ Drastic: The Real New York MIMS
    • Released: TBA
    • Label: The Coalition Network / American King Music


[edit] References

  1. ^ WSIA Staten Island, 88.9 FM - WSIA Staten Island's Only FM
  2. ^ a b MIMS
  3. ^ [See album liner notes from “Mims - Music Is My Savior”]
  4. ^ Standard Saturdays @ Deep, Mar 25
  5. ^ a b The Untouchable DJ Drastic - AOL Music
  6. ^ Bum Squad Djs - Bumsquaddjz.com - Version 4.0
  7. ^ Bum Squad Djs - Bumsquaddjz.com - Version 4.0
  8. ^ Bum Squad Djs - Bumsquaddjz.com - Version 4.0
  9. ^ Bum Squad Djs - Bumsquaddjz.com - Version 4.0
  10. ^ Scratch DJ Academy
  11. ^ Blues and Soul Music Magazine
  12. ^ Yrb Magazine
  13. ^ Urban Music Awards
  14. ^ NightClubWiz.com - Slopes (21+) DJ Drastic
  15. ^ MySpace.com - MySpace.com DJs - Rock / Hip Hop / Soul - www.myspace.com/dj
  16. ^ Untitled Document
  17. ^ http://www.joespub.com/caltool/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&performanceID=3337
  18. ^ YRB Magazine w/ DJ Drastic & Gym Class Heroes
  19. ^ The Million Dj March

[edit] External links