Dujeous
Encyclopedia
Dujeous is a live hip-hop
band based in New York City
. Dujeous songs are a diverse mix of topics, but they often talk about life in New York City ("City Limits," New York Views"), post-millennial paranoia ("Sometimes,""It's..."), and sometimes, just having a good time ("Good Green," "Drowsy"). Their music has been featured on television (the theme to Crank Yankers, for example) and big screen
(scoring Universal Pictures
film Blue Crush). They've recently been promoting their weekly "No Clearance" free downloads, and leaks from their second album Day In Day Out.
Mojo the Cinematic, born Loren Hammonds: Born and raised in the East Harlem
neighborhood of Manhattan (as he says in the title track of City Limits). He has collaborated with Immortal Technique
, Akir, Delta, Aesop Rock
, Vast Aire
of Cannibal Ox
, producer Omen, and many others. He is also working on a solo album, titled Blackademic.
Rheturik, born Aaron Jones: Born and raised in Uptown Manhattan
, Rheturik is the group's second MC. He attended Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania
as an undergraduate, where he was roommates with R&B singer John Legend
and producer Devo Springsteen
. Rheturik also produced "Dominant Species" on Immortal Technique's
Revolutionary Vol. 1.
Mas D, born David Kupferstein: Also an Uptown Manhattan native, MasD is Dujeous' third MC and is the son of Jamaican and Jewish immigrants. Mas D is also a photographer and designer, and is responsible for much of the group's artwork, such as album covers, single covers, and flyers.
Taylormade, born Taylor Rivelli: Taylormade is the group's guitarist and its main producer. He was raised in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. He is the group's primary recording engineer
. As a producer, he has also worked with Saigon, Rhymefest, Nipsey Hussle, John Legend, Sharon Jones, MTV2, Kardinal Offishall
, Dip Set, Nas, Keith Murray
, HBO, BET and many more.
Dave Guy: Manhattan native Dave Guy is Dujeous' trumpeter. He toured with Amy Winehouse
. He is a member of Daptone Records
funk bands the Dap-Kings, Sugarman 3, Menahan Street Band, and Budos Band, and is first trumpeter in Charles Tolliver's Big Band
. He has also played for Mark Ronson
, Nancy Sinatra
, Wynton Marsalis, and Lily Allen
.
Tomek, born Tomek Gross: Tomek, is the group's drummer and one of its producers. He is also known for singing on certain Dujeous songs and onstage. He has also produced for NYC rapper Subconscious, and is a founding member of New York electronica group WIldlife.
Apex, born Alex Gale: Apex is the group's bassist and one of its producers. He has also produced for underground MCs Akir and Subconscious.
or LaGuardia School
for the Performing Arts
, both public high school
s located in Manhattan. The three vocalists attended elementary school
together, which is where they conceived the word Dujeous, which they have claimed is a "shape-shifting word" that means "all things good" in various interviews.
Dujeous got its start at high school talent shows and the moved on to small venues throughout the city. Their first show was at the Harlem School of the Arts
. Dujeous' first received radio airplay on the Stretch Armstrong
& Bobbito radio show
on 89.9 WKCR-FM.
, Common, Eminem, and many other notable rap groups to fame), Time Out New York, and Urb (which named the group one of the Top 100 new artists of the year.
2004 also saw Dujeous travel the globe in support of City Limits. They toured France and Poland, and also reached the West Coast and Midwest for the first time.
for MTV2's Crank Yankers with Chicago MC Rhymefest. Their music has also been featured in TNT's Saved, Universal Pictures film Blue Crush, and many other notable shows and movies. (See discography)
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
2006
2005
2003
1999
2006
2005
2003
2002
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1999
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
band based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Dujeous songs are a diverse mix of topics, but they often talk about life in New York City ("City Limits," New York Views"), post-millennial paranoia ("Sometimes,""It's..."), and sometimes, just having a good time ("Good Green," "Drowsy"). Their music has been featured on television (the theme to Crank Yankers, for example) and big screen
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
(scoring Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
film Blue Crush). They've recently been promoting their weekly "No Clearance" free downloads, and leaks from their second album Day In Day Out.
Members
The band consists of seven main members:Mojo the Cinematic, born Loren Hammonds: Born and raised in the East Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
neighborhood of Manhattan (as he says in the title track of City Limits). He has collaborated with Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
, Akir, Delta, Aesop Rock
Aesop Rock
Ian Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
, Vast Aire
Vast Aire
Vast Aire is a rapper from New York City. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family...
of Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
, producer Omen, and many others. He is also working on a solo album, titled Blackademic.
Rheturik, born Aaron Jones: Born and raised in Uptown Manhattan
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street...
, Rheturik is the group's second MC. He attended Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
as an undergraduate, where he was roommates with R&B singer John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
and producer Devo Springsteen
Devo Springsteen
Devon Harris , better known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter. Springsteen launched the career of multi-platinum selling recording artist John Legend by signing him to Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2003...
. Rheturik also produced "Dominant Species" on Immortal Technique's
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
Revolutionary Vol. 1.
Mas D, born David Kupferstein: Also an Uptown Manhattan native, MasD is Dujeous' third MC and is the son of Jamaican and Jewish immigrants. Mas D is also a photographer and designer, and is responsible for much of the group's artwork, such as album covers, single covers, and flyers.
Taylormade, born Taylor Rivelli: Taylormade is the group's guitarist and its main producer. He was raised in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. He is the group's primary recording engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
. As a producer, he has also worked with Saigon, Rhymefest, Nipsey Hussle, John Legend, Sharon Jones, MTV2, Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall
Jason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
, Dip Set, Nas, Keith Murray
Keith Murray (rapper)
Keith Murray is an American rapper and a member of the rap trio Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and Erick Sermon.-Music career:...
, HBO, BET and many more.
Dave Guy: Manhattan native Dave Guy is Dujeous' trumpeter. He toured with Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
. He is a member of Daptone Records
Daptone Records
Daptone Records is a funk and soul independent record label formed by Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman and based in Brooklyn, New York.After the demise of the Desco label Gabriel Roth teamed up with Neal Sugarman to create a new label, Daptone Records...
funk bands the Dap-Kings, Sugarman 3, Menahan Street Band, and Budos Band, and is first trumpeter in Charles Tolliver's Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
. He has also played for Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
, Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
, Wynton Marsalis, and Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
.
Tomek, born Tomek Gross: Tomek, is the group's drummer and one of its producers. He is also known for singing on certain Dujeous songs and onstage. He has also produced for NYC rapper Subconscious, and is a founding member of New York electronica group WIldlife.
Apex, born Alex Gale: Apex is the group's bassist and one of its producers. He has also produced for underground MCs Akir and Subconscious.
Early years
Dujeous first came together in its current lineup in the late 90s, while the members were in high school. All of the members attended either Hunter College High SchoolHunter College High School
Hunter College High School is a New York City secondary school for intellectually gifted students located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. It is administered by Hunter College, a senior college of the City University of New York. Although it is not operated by the New York City Department of...
or LaGuardia School
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
for the Performing Arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, both public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s located in Manhattan. The three vocalists attended elementary school
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
together, which is where they conceived the word Dujeous, which they have claimed is a "shape-shifting word" that means "all things good" in various interviews.
Dujeous got its start at high school talent shows and the moved on to small venues throughout the city. Their first show was at the Harlem School of the Arts
The Harlem School of the Arts
The Harlem School of the Arts is a school in Harlem, New York. It was founded in 1964 by the soprano Dorothy Maynor, and offers its programs to students of all ages. Mezzo-soprano Betty Allen succeeded Maynor as director in 1979. Other directors include Camille Akeju, Kakuna Karina and DeeDee...
. Dujeous' first received radio airplay on the Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong was a large, gel-filled action figure first introduced in 1976 by Kenner.-History:Stretch Armstrong was in the shape of a well-muscled blonde man wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Its most notable feature was that the doll could be stretched from its original size to four or...
& Bobbito radio show
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
on 89.9 WKCR-FM.
City Limits
After playing shows in the NYC area and releasing products independently, Dujeous released City Limits, their first internationally distributed full-length release. The album garnered attention in the New York Daily News, The Source magazine (in which they were featured in the Unsigned Hype column, which also brought Biggie SmallsThe Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, Common, Eminem, and many other notable rap groups to fame), Time Out New York, and Urb (which named the group one of the Top 100 new artists of the year.
2004 also saw Dujeous travel the globe in support of City Limits. They toured France and Poland, and also reached the West Coast and Midwest for the first time.
TV and Movies
Dujeous music has been featured in many television shows and movies. They produced and cowrote the theme songTheme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for MTV2's Crank Yankers with Chicago MC Rhymefest. Their music has also been featured in TNT's Saved, Universal Pictures film Blue Crush, and many other notable shows and movies. (See discography)
Discography (partial)
For full discography, see external links.2009
- No Clearance (mixtape)
2008
- "Break Bread" b/w "Research" (digital single release)
2007
- Game 7 (mixtape)
- album, TBA, forthcoming
2006
- Live at Southpaw (CD, live album)
- Half Nelson Soundtrack (“Sometimes”)
- Mojo, The Cinematic Advances (mixtape)
2005
- AOL mixtape
- Live in Warsaw (CD, live album)
2004
- City Limits (CD, 2xLP)
- Sometimes b/w The Rules (12)
- Good Green b/w City Limits & The Wrench & The Chain
2003
- Heavy TrafficHeavy TrafficHeavy Traffic is a 1973 American animated film written and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film, which begins, ends, and occasionally combines with live-action, explores the often surreal fantasies of a young New York cartoonist named Michael Corleone, using pinball imagery as a metaphor for...
Mix TapesMixtapeA Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
I and II (CD) - The Bastard EP (EP)
- As Promised (CD)
2002
- Spilt Milk b/w All MCs (12")
1999
- Breathtaking? b/w Epic Proportions & Cinematics (12)
1998
- Wax Pos Greatest Hits (tape)
1997
- Live in the Studio (tape)
1996
- Leading by Example (tape)
1995
- "New York Views" b/w "Expo" (exclusive)
Dujeous Featured Recordings
2007- Lily Allen, “Smile” (Mark Ronson RMX) feat. Mojo & Dave Guy
2006
- Akir, Legacy, "Legacy," feat. Mas D & Mojo
- Akir, Legacy, No Longer My Home, feat. Mojo,
- Akir, Legacy, Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
, feat. Mojo - Delta, The Lostralian, The Greater Good, feat. Mojo
2005
- EQ f. Mojo, "Follow Through"
- EQ f. Mojo, "Groupie"
2003
- Rob Swift, Sound Event, Salsa Scratch feat. D-Styles & Bob JamesBob James (musician)Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
, Dave Guy (trumpet) - Rob Swift, Sound Event, The Caper, Dujeous
- Rob Swift, Sound Event, The Ghetto, Dujeous
1999
- Mr. Len feat. Dujeous, Hidden Jewels, Sightlines
- Rob Swift, The Ablist, All That Scratching
- Rob Swift, The Ablist, Modern Day Music
Dujeous Production/Songwriting
2007- Mark Ronson, Versions, several songs co-written by Dave Guy & Apex
2006
- Akir, Legacy, "Legacy," prod. by Apex
2005
- Nas feat.Saigon, War Remix, co-prod. by Taylormade, featured in HBOs Entourage
- Purple City, "Gun Go" feat. Jim JonesJim JonesJames Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in...
& Juelz SantanaJuelz SantanaLaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
, prod. by Taylormade & Dujeous - Keith Murray, "Swagger Back", He's Keith Murray, co-written by Taylormade
- Beetroot, 13, co-written by Apex
2003
- Immortal Technique, Revolutionary Vol. 1Revolutionary Vol. 1Revolutionary Vol. 1 is the debut album by rapper Immortal Technique in 2001, and re-pressed in 2004. The first edition had no distribution and no bar code; it was sold by the artist on the streets and at his shows. The album re-press was manufactured with a bar code and is being distributed...
, Dominant Species, prod. by Rheturik
2002
- Mojo & Subconscious, "The Angel & The Insect," prod. by Apex
Dujeous Session Work
2007- Mark Ronson, Versions, several songs, Dave Guy (trumpet) & Apex (bass)
- Amy Winehouse, Back to Black, several songs, Dave Guy (trumpet)
- Charles Tolliver, With Love, Dave Guy (trumpet)
2006
- Rhymefest, Sista, produced by Mark Ronson, Apex (bass)
- Mark Ronson, untitled forthcoming album, Apex (bass) & Dave Guy (trumpet)
- Akir, Legacy, Homeward Bound," Dave Guy (trumpet)
- Akir, Legacy, This Is Your Life," Apex (bass)
2005
- Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Naturally, Dave Guy (trumpet)
- Ladybug Mecca, Trip The Light Fantastic, Children Say, Oh Poor You, You Never Get It, Apex (bass)
2004
- Immortal Technique, Revolutionary Vol. 2, Cause of Death, Taylormade (guitar, bass)
- Immortal Technique, Revolutionary Vol. 2, Internally Bleeding, Dave Guy (trumpet)
2003
- Rob Swift, Sound Event, Salsa Scratch feat. D-Styles Dave Guy & Bob James (trumpet)
- Rob Swift, Sound Event, The Caper, (bass, guitar, trumpet, co-writing)
- Rob Swift, Sound Event, The Ghetto, (bass, trumpet, co-writing)
2002
- Lil Stef, "Misdemeanor," prod. by Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, (bass, guitar, trumpet)
Film, Television, and Multimedia
2007- Crank Yankers (TV series, MTV 2), theme song
- Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, (documentary, PBS), several songs featured in score
2006
- Final Fight: StreetwiseFinal Fight: StreetwiseFinal Fight: Streetwise is a 3D beat-'em-up produced by Capcom, released in North America and the PAL region for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in . It is a spin-off of the original Final Fight developed by the American team of Capcom Production Studio 8...
, video gameComputer and video gamesA video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device, but following popularization of the term "video game", it now implies any type of...
, Capcom: City Limits, Its, and First/Last featured in score, album image featured in game - Half Nelson, feature film, Hunting Lane/Think Films: Sometimes featured in score and soundtrack
- Andy Milonakis: Season 1, TV series on DVD, MTV: Good Green, Sometimes, and Its featured in score
- Entourage, TV series, HBO: Nas feat. Saigon War Remix featured in score
2005
- Ultimate HustlerUltimate HustlerUltimate Hustler was an American reality show broadcast on Black Entertainment Television. The show featured Damon Dash training 16 ordinary people to become a "hustler" and make money. Based on its premise, the show has been described as a hip-hop version of The Apprentice. People claim that the...
, TV series, BET: background scoring - Kings & Queen, feature film, Wellspring Films: Spilt Milk featured in score
2004
- Soul Purpose, feature film, Teton Gravity: Good Green featured in score
2003
- The Life, TV series, ESPN: background scoring
- Just Another Story, feature film, Showtime: Spilt Milk featured in score
2002
- Blue CrushBlue CrushBlue Crush is a 2002 surfer film directed by John Stockwell and based on the Outside magazine article "Life's Swell" by Susan Orlean. Starring Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake, and Mika Boorem, it tells the story of three friends who have one passion: living the ultimate dream of...
, feature film, Universal Films: Move and Sightlines featured in score
2001
- Lift, feature film Showtime Networks: All MCs featured in score
- PSA, Partnership for a Drug-Free America/MTV: scoring
- Paper Soldiers, feature film, Roc-a-Fella Films: scoring
1999
- Song for Celia, feature film: scoring
- Featured band, www.levis.com Web Launch