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DSL aka 'ICEBURG
BLACK', is a Veteran Soul & Hip Hop DJ, whose career began
in the mid 1980's as a close affiliate of South London Soul Sound, "Magic
Touch". Aside from Soul & Hip Hop, DSL's interest was always
in Jazz, Funk, Real Rhythm & Blues and African (Beats) Jazz. His major
influences as a youth growing up were Legendary DJ's such as Kiss F.M.'s
Bobby & Steve (Zoo Experience), The Cold Cut Brother's, LWR's DJ Elaine
& Faze One FM's Fabio, who played classic cuts from artists such as:
Roy Ayers, Fela Kuti and James Brown.
After the disbandment of Magic Touch, DSL got his real DJ experience as
"Soul Selector" for Baby Phonic, later renamed Stereo Phonic
Reggae Sound System. During
his time in Stereo Phonic, DSL became acquainted with Reggae/Revival DJ,
Mr Fox, where the two formed
a close friendship, and would go onto to establish one of the most successful
Soul & Reggae Partnerships during the late eighties, playing in House
Parties & Clubs, with numerous DJ's and Sound Systems such as: Commander
B, Desi G &
Barry White, and King Tuby's
High Power.
DSL has had a long career in Radio Broadcasting and was one of the original
line up on Power Jam F.M., when it first went on air which included DJ's:
Booker
T, and Sugar Dread at the time. Later he joined Vibes F.M. where he
hosted a Rare Groove and Jazz show, which attracted a mixed response from
listeners at the time. Whilst at Vibes F.M. he also discovered a very
talented DJ named Cookie, who he immediately incorporated into the DSL
family, which included at the time DJ Mighty, After Dark, Mix Master 'Supremo'
DJ Zak, and Ladies Luxury, who would later go onto become part of SOULUNIQUE
UK.
During the
early 90s DSL & Mr Fox, were most noted for their Sunday afternoon
"Bad Boy" Combination show on Lightning
F.M., which attracted large audiences for its sharp humor and infectious
grooves.
The DSL & Mr Fox partnership lasted until the mid 1990's when DSL
decided to focus his attentions more towards the Hip Hop & Swing Beat
(early RnB), scene rather than the antiquated so-called "Rare Groove"
and Reggae Blues dance raves, the two were most noted for. What followed
was a period of relative success on the Hip Hop & Swing Beat circuit
working with DJ's and Sounds such as Rampage,
Boogie Bunch, Tim Westwood, Mark Ross, as well as Russian Hip Hop Producer;
DJ Vadim.
Unfortunately, a series of cancellations of his House Parties, and other
Sabotages by Jealous rivals in the mid nineties severely damaged DSL's
credibility, as a Promoter/DJ, coupled with a loss of interest in the
popular dance music scene, eventually caused him to retire in 1994.
Around late 1995 DSL briefly hosted an alternative Soul & Rare Groove
show on Genesis F.M., however this temporary return to the airwaves ended
when he decided to travel to work abroad to Banjul, the Gambia, West Africa
on Radio One F.M., then under the auspices of George
Christensen.
Now after over a Ten year Hiatus of Traveling and Studying,
DSL has been encouraged to return back to his musical DJ roots, prompted
in part by the high standard of real Soul, and Jazz instrument based music
currently being produced by artists such as: Gill Scott, Erykah Badu,
Alicia Keys and Musiq Soul Child.
DSL, is Creative Driving force behind what he calls "Urban Jazz",
because he feels that Jazz & Blues are together the most important
forms of music created in modern history. The increasing commercialization
of Hip Hop/RnB, will eventually lead to their demise like Disco during
the 70's, therefore DSL feels it is now time for Jazz and 'Real' Rythm
& Blues to be rediscovered and embraced by the Urban Youth, in order
for real Black music to survive the relentless onslaught of Commercialism.
DSL is Founder & CEO of The Urban
Jazz Network, which promotes real music, for the purpose of bridging
the gap between Old and Young listeners.
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