Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem

DAZ DILLINJA'S OLD SCHOOL FOOL 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

CoknI Speaks: Saturday after DILLA DAY, young DJ Daz will be celebrating his culture cypher. For those who don't know Supreme Mathematics, culture cypher means 4 - 0. We add the 4 + 0 and get 4, which = culture. So we celebrating culture on Saturday the 11th. That's the good news. The kinda ill news which turns out to be TRILL news is that I, CoknI, found out about this party on Facebook! I was like thats hot but what the fug? The reason I was overlooked is not something I choose to meditate on, and thank G-D I didn't.

So what happen was ... after much deliberation a few of us, Jenny Noriega, White Ice, Destroyer and myself and Daz, of course, thought 'why don't we raise the funds and get CoknI's bitch ass out here?' Complaining about why it wasn't originally in the budget was irrelevant. The matter at hand was could we pull this off in a few days before the ticket price rose to 700 for a weekend flight from Dallas to LA.
Young Ice of Wilshire District Music stepped up and said he would put up $50 and if we could get 4 matches we could cop a flight from DFW - LAX for $2fiddy! One by one niggas started putting up halfs and dubs. Some blessed us with 5 on it. That same day we were able to get CoknI the ticket and Umoja (unity) was activated!

Mona Lisa has agreed to be a trustee to collect donations at Amoeba Records where all DJs meet eventually. I'm mad stoked that I'm gonna celebrate the birthday of the brother who when I met played the record that means the most to me. Some of y'all know it but if you don't, be there Feb 11 at the Alexandria (501 S. Spring St, Downtown LA) when Umoja, Soul Children, Soundations, Smokin Vinyl, Positive Riddim, Chocolate Bar and Root Down sounds combine to BLOW YOUR MIND JUST ONE MO TIME! -- King CoknI

My SOUND CLOUD

2012-01-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

KIngCOKNI Simpy listen to or download podcasts of my radio shows here! CLICK MY NAME CLICK MY NAME

I Love My Sound

2012-01-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

Peace! I just wanted to say that!

Umoja Hi-Fi & Ankh By Racquel Present Parlor

2012-01-14T22:21:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2012 is the kick off event plus pre-birthday bash for Racquel at PARLOR, a monthly lifestyle event with a retro salon theme, presented by Umoja Hi -Fi and Ankh By Racquel

The Parlour event series will incorporate curated music, festive New Orleans cuisine, film/visuals, spoken word and literary readings, games, fashion and a rotating pop-up marketplace.

The opening night line up includes:

Salonnière: Racquel Honoré
Music selections by Jun
Live acts/spoken word
Featuring a performance by Mataji Booker and Joshua Silverstein beat boxing
Card games
L'Amour Pop up boutique featuring ANKH, Shallow Fashion, Suite 11LA

Join us: 10:30 p.m. -1:30 a.m. at PARLOR at Nola's. Outdoor Patio. Late nite bites half/off. Free: No cover. Valet or street parking. Nola's 734 E. 3rd St, Downtown Arts District, LA, CA 90013

Destroyer Gigs In LA

2011-08-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

DJ Destroyer:

Playing Soul, R&B, Funk, House and More.

Representing Umoja Hi-Fi!

FastFWD is his Saturday residency in LA at Little Temple.

Rock Hard! On the first Tuesday of every month C Minus & Destroyer take you thru a Journey of all things Rock 'n' Roll, all nite. At the Falls Lounge, Spring Street, Downtown LA.

Cokni O Dire Mixshows: New Times & Days!

2011-08-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Umoja Hi-Fi's Dallas-based raggamuffin DJ and MC Cokni O Dire has new time slots and days for his popular mix streaming web broadcasts.

The Decent Something reggae show has moved to Thursdays 6PM EST and 3PM PST.

O Dire also has a new mixshow called The Song Likers Show on Mondays at 3PM EST and 12 Noon PST.

O invites all music fans to tune in for a broad selection of sounds as only he can swing it: "Please be there when we broadcast either on ya computers or selected devices."

For the past several years Cokni O Dire's mixshows we're streamed via New York's Beatminerz radio. That has changed now and here's what O has to say on the matter:

"You may already know that Beatminerz radio is not carrying my show by mutual agreement. It's overdue that I bust out doing what got me the props. What that all means is support me if you feel my style and I won't feel a way if its not your thing. I know I love it and I aint stoppin'"

DJ Jun – Blooming Beats In LA

2011-07-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Catch DJ Jun & Umoja Hi-Fi guests at Bloomfest, Saturday July 23 in downtown LA!

Also spinning will be Shakespeare and Aurelito from I&I Sound.

Expect the full spectrum of reggae, jazz, soul, funk and electronic sounds in an amazing Downtown LA setting.

2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

For more info visit:
Bloomfest Blog!

Also catch DJ Jun July 29 at Elastique at the King King in Hollywood.

Special guest from Paris: Art Bleek!

Arthur Pochon aka Art Bleek is the producer with a classically-trained jazz background who has released on labels such as Lounging Records, Rush Hour and Resopal Red. Art's sound has since mutated more and more in the direction of techno, minimal and deep house while still keeping a jazzy twist.

Umoja Runnings

2011-06-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

Umoja Hi-Fi Sound System was established in 1992, and we're still going strong! Members reside in LA, Dallas, San Francisco and Bali among other locations. Core members and DJs include Daz, Tomas, Culture D, Jun, King Cokni O Dire, Stevie G and Destroyer with affiliated members B-Love, Chris Vargas and Monalisa.

We operate like a family house party and spin everything from reggae, hip-hop, funk, jazz and soul to house, dubstep and drum & bass. Jamaican music is our root sound -- rocksteady, ska, reggae, dub -- but the crew has always represented musical diversity, so it's not uncommon to hear a classic track by Marvin Gaye or James Brown mixed into Gang Starr then over to Alton Ellis, Sugar Minott, Queen Ifrica and Mavado.

Pictured to the left is DJ Jun who hosts and spins weekly Fridays at Resonance, 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Amoeba Music Hollywood. It's always an amazing blend of new and classic dance music from across the spectrum.

Across the Pacific Ocean in Bali, Indonesia, Umoja member Stevie G has been bringing fresh beats to his island home for a decade. His latest event is Disko Afrika, which, as you can imagine, is brimming with music from the Motherland. The G Man started a bi-weekly reggae beach jammy in Bali called Yagga! and has been nicing it up at one-off gigs in Jakarta and Manila, Philippines.

Props as always have to be given to King Cokni, whose remained ever-steady with his two weekly Ustream live webcast mix programs (see and hear him live!). Decent Something airs Sundays 3-5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) -- see what you're missing -- while Live on Arrival airs Mondays 12 noon (PST). The latter show Cokni describes as "Good music and good vibes to kill de Monday blues and mek U dance off ya shoes!" And if you don't believe this man has skills, well, just check his Wikipedia entry for the 411!

DJ Daz just did his thing recently at Reggae Inna Tavern 'longside Holloway, Destroyer and Mario Caldato, Jr. Daz DJ gigs are a little bit more rare these days but always special.

Plus he's always dropping fresh gems on his podcast. If you haven't subscribed yet, then go here and do it! DJ Daz is constantly cited as an influence on today's hip-hop and jazz DJs and was an intregral part of the BRASS and B-Side club nights in LA. Bow down!

Meanwhile, up in SF, DJ Tomas (pictured right) has been holding down the monthly first Thursdays reggae night Culture Corner, co-hosting and spinning with the Friday Night Session radio crew (weekly show Fridays 10 p.m. - 12 a.m. on KUSF-In-Exile plus monthly happy hour first Fridays 6-10 p.m. at SOM Bar), as well as spinning inna punky-reggae vibe (The Clash, U-Roy, Derrick Harriot, The Adverts, The Specials, Big Youth etc.) at his latest monthly event, Soul Rebel, fourth Fridays at Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary Street in SF.

If you like advance planning, catch his upcoming reggae set Sunday July 17 10 p.m. at Dub Mission, with DJ Shockman.

For more check the DJ Tomas SF Facebook fanpage y'all.

The man like Destroyer has been active as hell with weekly soul nights like Strictly Social, FastFWD and Nu-Thursdays at Little Temple in LA and a brand new re-issue of his Teflon Dons house music productions on Lars B's respected Deeper Shades label. Wanna hear it? Check the previews here.

Here's what Destroyer had to say about this release:

"I released about 8 vinyl releases on the LA based deep house label Worldship Music from 1995 to about 2000. About a year ago Lars B. from Deeper Shades recordings reached out to me interested in the releases I put out on my imprint. This new digital single represents some of those tracks."

Check his podomatic mixes here.

Special shout out to our friends and supporters and loyal tweet army Chris Vargas, Monalisa and the original invisible, DJ B-Love!

King Cokni DJs Dallas Event

2011-04-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday April 16, 2011 Umoja Hi-Fi's DJ CoknI O'Dire will be at the South Dallas Cultural Center for for the spring edition of the Reciprocity Live! featuring a variety of music, performing and visual arts.

King CoknI opens the event at 9 p.m. and spins between performances by featured band Melody Memory, Exhibit Dance Collective's Fela-inspired dance project and Iv Amenti's performance poetry.

An open mic segment hosted by Black Page will be available to the first 10 people that sign up. See images of Black life projected on the big screen in the theater featuring the photography Saddi Khali plus hsort films by world traveler LaDonna Castro. This event is brought to you by Reciprocity and the South Dallas Cultural Center

Umoja Spins: Quick Updates From The Unity Crew

2011-04-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! Just a quick update, on the fly, Umoja style.

Nuff things a gwaan in Umoja land. First a shout to Umoja's crew: Daz, King Cokni, Jun, Culture D, Destroyer, Stevie G, Tomas, and our growing team of family and affiliates like Monalisa, B-Love and Chris Vargas. Catch us all on twitter @umojahifi, and check it on Follow Friday for links to individuals mentioned here. It's a unite ting!

In Umoja Hi-Fi news, King Cokni is fresh back from Jamaica. He caught Metro Media sound in session, chilled with friends and relatives and no doubt got laced with new tunes, so make sure you check his Ustream programs, Monday mornings Alive On Arrival and Sunday afternoons Decent Something. Check http://www.cokniodire.com for the details and links.

DJ Tomas started a new monthly, fourth Fridays at Koko Cocktails called Soul Rebel. The night is a distillation of what brother Bob Marley spoke of in his song "Punky Reggae Party" -- that what it is, and the night was inspired by DJ Boss Harmony's pioneering night in LA.

Soul Rebel features ska, reggae, punk, 2Tone, Oi!, NoWave and other rowdy dancehall music circa 1977-1987. The first three nights have been majorly packed, as it should be on April 22 when Boss Harmony comes north for his first session at this spot.

DJ Tomas is also still holding down his monthly slot at Culture Corner, going almost three years strong now, first Thursdays at Koko Cocktails. Tomas also DJs with the Friday Night Session radio show crew, both on the weekly broadcast, and the monthly FNS Happy Hour at SOM. Follow Tomas on twitter for the latest updates, @djtomasSF

DJ Daz continues his strong run of soul, jazz, hip-hop and reggae podcasts. They're free y'all! Several have clocked up to 4000 listens now, so obviously Daz is coming correct.

DJ Destroyer's soulful Saturday nights Fast FWD go down at Little Temple every week. Stop if you're in LA and hear the best soul, R&B, nu-jazz and rare groove classics. Get more info about Destroyer gigs via his Twitter feed.

We'll get you updated on Culture D and DJ Jun's runnings soon!

Umoja Update: Our Man In Bali Stevie G!

2011-04-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

Inna South East Asia stylee...Stevie G recently returned from the Motherland where he DJ’d a couple of gigs in the Philippines and discovered a small but thriving underground music scene in Metro Makati. He got the "play whatever you want" go ahead at the aptly named So What Thursday weekly held at M Cafe and took full advantage of this, dropping an eclectic mix of downbeat groovers, future funk, classics, mundo ritmo and the rest to a cosmopolitan crowd with a sophisticated ear.

Stevie was also a guest at the Irie Sunday reggae weekly at The Collective where he played strictly roots alongside selectors Red-I Sound, Big Answer Sound, Don P, and Papadom for a Ska Edition of this wicked party that also included local ska and mento bands CoffeeBreak Island and Count Kutu and The Balmers. Def check out B-Side if ever in Manila. They do everything from dubstep to northern soul nights to live dancehall in a tricked out warehouse space. Big ups to Stefan, Red, PJ, Takashi and Tatsuki for putting me on while in the Philippines.

On the Bali side, Stevie continues to play his weekly residency at Ku De Ta and The G-Spot monthly at Chandi every first Saturday of the month. In August 2010 he started another monthly roots party on Batu Belig Beach dedicated to music from the Mother Continent and Afro-Caribbean. Held on the Saturday closest to the full moon, Disko Afrika has gotten massive with 1000 people attending the last supermoon party in March, all getting down to Zouk, Soukous, and Afro-beat/house!

Coming up on April 16th is the next Disko Afrika jammy and then the following day Stevie will be playing a new reggae beach bi-weekly party Yagga Sundayz at a new rootsy spot called The Crystal Palace.

Disko Afrika
Zouk, Soukous, Afrobeat and more
Saturday night closest to the full moon
9pm-3am / Rp 20,000
Cozy Beach Bar
Batu Belig Beach, Batu Belig

Umoja Update! Podcast & Ting

2011-01-22T16:34:00.000-08:00

The Umoja crew has been busy on the club and mix tip. We've got nuff new podcast downloads to share and some new nights bubbling up!

DJ Culture D brings you regular dancehall and reggae explorations on his Roots And Culture podcast channel. His latest chapter "Inna Luv a Dub Stylee" focuses on classic roots and lovers selections from Gregory Isaacs, Ken Boothe, Gladiators, Burning Spear and more. Download it now! He's also got a sick 2010 Dancehall round-up podcast with all the best dancehall riddims from the past year!

Elsewhere in LA, Umoja's DJ Jun has a load of parties going on: Mondays at Strange Brew, Fridays at Amoeba Music 8 p.m., bi-weekly Wednesdays at the Standard and more! His new Strange Brew night kicked off last week with a great turn out. Strange Brew is new Monday night party at The Falls Lounge, 629 Spring Street, a beautiful new spot in Downtown LA, where DJs Amanda M (Flavorpill) and Jun spin strange tunes.

One of Umoja Hi-Fi sound's most prolific and respected mixers DJ Daz has dropped another podcast in his growing series of soul, jazz, new beats and reggae mixes. "The Good Groove" focuses on '80s soul flavors including Loose Joints, Teena Marie, Roy Ayers and more. Of course you can keep up with his club runnings via Twitter, follow @DeejayDaz

In addition to his annual New Years DJ visit to LA, Dallas-based King Cokni has been broadcasting two live Ustream programs weekly for the past two years. Decent Something airs every Sunday 5 - 7 PM EST and Alive On Arrival can be hear Mondays 2 - 4 PM EST. You can access both shows through the link above or better yet, tune in at Beatminerz.com for the full interactive and chat experience. Check King Cokni's podcast here and connect via Twitter: @KingCokni

LA's Destroyer, Umoja Hi-Fi's newest member has been very active on the club tip with his two monthly nights and other one-off events. His next major event is Soul Sessions Friday January 28 at Grand Star 943 Broadway in downtown LA. Destroyer joins residents Baby Bubba, The reMitch, Plann.B & B-Nasty on the decks spinning delicious vinyl cuts. Watch a video promo for the night. Also catch Destroyer Saturday nights at FAST FWD at Little Temple, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., 'longside Anthony Valdez, Jakova, KG Superstar and more.

Also: Destroyer's popular Strictly Social night moves to third Thursdays in February. Look for the Social crew representing R&B, soul, nujazz, boogie, soul classics and more February 17 at Little Temple in LA. The event is presented in conjunction with Nu Soul Magazine's weekly Thursday live showcases, so expect some fresh guests regularly!

Umoja Hi-Fi Celebrate Umoja Dec 26 2010 With Webcast

2010-12-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem DJ crew will celebrate the first day of the Kwanzaa holiday with a live webcast from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. EST on Beatminerz Radio (http://www.dabeatminerz.com) via Ustream.

Umoja Hi-Fi DJs King Cokni (in Dallas) and DJ Tomas (in San Francisco) will link up on the web for a simultaneous dual-city broadcast where each DJ will play a half hour reggae set. This is the first time that Umoja DJs have collaborated on a multi-city back-to-back webcast mix.

Viewers can login at dabeatminerz.com to interact in the chat room with the DJs and other Umoja Hi-Fi members, DJ Daz, Jun, Destroyer and Culture D (all based in LA).

DJ Tomas said, "It's pretty amazing that we have the technology now where DJs can collaborate live in real time on the web."

He added that other Umoja members will play a crucial role in the event. "Over the past three years Umoja Hi-Fi has celebrated the first day of Kwanzaa, 'Umoja' or unity, with a collaborated club event, podcast or other type of gathering. This just carries on the tradition."

Umoja Hi-Fi sound system was founded in 1992 in Los Angeles with members Daz, Tomas, Culture D, Jun, King Cokni, Stevie G, Destroyer and affiliate members B-Love and Chris Vargas. Umoja Hi-Fi is the unity sound, and plays a wide variety of music from reggae, rare groove and hip-hop to dubstep, house and electronic beats.

Umoja Hi-Fi At Sunset Junction LA 2010

2010-08-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Umoja Hi-Fi sound system DJ crew spun at Sunset Junction 2010 in Silverlake, Los Angeles, CA. Representing were DJs Jun, Tomas, Culture D and Daz.

This clip features some out-takes from Culture D's mid-day set. Watch how the girls dem dancing!

Big up to Aurelito and Shakespeare of I&I Sound System for inviting us!

Destroyer's New Mix

2010-08-19T23:34:00.000-07:00

Umoja Hi-Fi's DJ Destroyer has a new mix!

Get it: http://www.zshare.net/download/79462583dfe3e7f8/

Umoja Hi-Fi In Session: LA

2010-08-15T16:17:00.001-07:00

DJ Jun & Culture D Set At Big It Up

2010-07-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

UMOJA HI-Fi pres.."Big It Up" JUN & CULTURE D by junbug9

Umoja Update Part 4: Stevie G

2010-07-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

It’s been ten years since his first visit to Bali and six years since his induction into Umoja Hi-Fi. And since moving to Bali from The Chocolate City five years ago, Stevie G has been effectively off the grid. Living a reclusive island life in the Far East where he eschews social networking sites and ekes out his existence playing music and writing words.

Stevie has been a resident at upmarket beachfront bar/restaurant Ku De Ta in Seminyak, Bali since August 2002 where he has been steady rockin’ subversive sunset soundtracks underneath the coconut trees and facing the Indian Ocean for 9 years. His eclectic “Bali Balearic” sound represents the diverse influence of his upbringing and his tenure at Ku De Ta allows him flex a wide range of soulful downbeat selections that sound just right under the sun.

Since the demise of his successful yearlong reggae and classics weeklies (Bam Bam and Hipshaker) at F Lounge in Bali, Stevie has been promoting the monthly parties he plays with DJ partner Matt “Golddigger” Hudders, Blackpool, UK native and long-time Bali resident. Their Dark Moon monthly is an underground beachfront shindig where they drop the best in cosmic slop, Jupiter beats, motor booty muzik, and other funky conspiracies, while every first Saturday of the month the two DJs throw The G-Spot boogie down revival blowout that features “the music you forgot you loved” to an always up for it crowd.

Last year, Stevie played as part of The Junction 5th Annual House Music Festival in Bali that featured Osunlade, Karizma, and Simon Dunmore among others and will also be a supporting DJ for this year’s festival to be held from July 29th – August 1st, 2010.

Regionally, Stevie has played in Bandung, Makassar, Gili Trawangan and several times in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, a city that definitely has one of the most knowledgeable and deepest underground scenes in South East Asia. Under the Umoja Hi-Fi banner, he DJ’d at a Quirk It! loft party last year, one of the illest left field music events in the country.

Besides playing music, Stevie is the managing editor of Time Out Bali (part of the London franchise) that is currently a supplement to Time Out Jakarta and he also produces the 2-hour Ku De Ta sunset radio show that streams online as well as airing locally 3 times weekly and on the Koffee digital network in Australia where it runs on Sunday mornings.

While he isn’t planning on returning to America anytime soon, he does encourage everyone to check out Bali.

Stevie G sez: Raucous welcome to DJ Destroyer and big ups to the rest of the Umoja Hi-Fi crew. Sorry I haven’t been in the mix too much, fellas. It’s a little tricky coordinating from across the Pacific. Nuff respect and hope to see you on my shores soon…

DJ STEVIE G CURRENT RESIDENCIES
BALI, INDONESIA

KU DE TA
Playing eclectic lunch, sunset, dinner or late sets
2-4 times weekly as scheduled / Free
Jl. Laksmana No. 9
Seminyak, Bali

THE G-SPOT
Dropping classics galore
First Saturday of each month
11pm till late / Free
Chandi Restaurant
Jl. Laksmana No. 72
Seminyak, Bali

DARK MOON
House, tech, soul, classics and the rest
Every Saturday closest to the dark/new moon
11pm till late / Free
Sol Restaurant
Jl. Pura Batu Mejan,
Echo Beach, Canggu

Previous Umoja DJ Updates:

Part 1: Tomas

Part 2: Daz

Part 3: Jun

Cokni O Dire Meets Deadly Dragon in NYC!

2010-07-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

CoknI O Dire made a trip to New York over Memorial Day weekend. Here are his impressions from his gig with Deadly Dragon sound. Read the full post and other details at the I-ficial Cokni O Dire website.

CoknI seh:

Every Thursday in Lower East Side Manhattan my peoples Deadly Dragon Sound do a thing called Downtown Top Rankin. On the 27th of May I was graced to rock with them the night I hit NY.

My cousin Phil [Twitter him at @MrArchersNYC] came with and caught about three trains from Queens to get to the Lower East Side [LES].

The night was beautiful and the crowd was diverse as me nuh know wha. I reunited with my bredren J Debeck [@jDeadlyDragon], my man Scratch Famous [@deadlydragon], my boy Mr. K and my sista Queen Majesty [@thequeenmajesty].

Big up my man Ademola [@molarola] and Select came through there people making it a One Love Jamdown.

Umoja In Session: NYC, LA, SF!

2010-05-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

COKNI O DIRE IN NYC!

King CoknI of Decent Somthing radio and Umoja Hi-Fi Dallas will be in New York City this Memorial Day Weekend.

First he'll be joining the Deadly Dragon crew at Downtown Top Ranking Thursday May 27 at Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome Street (between Forsyth/Eldridge).

Cokni joins selectors Queen Majesty, Scratch Famous, Mr. K, & JD for a night of Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Roots, Rub-A-Dub styles.

Then he'll be joining the Beatminerz at Sutra (16 First Ave. between First and Second Street) on Saturday May 29 at 6 p.m. Cokni spins 'longside legends Breakbeat Lou and DMC champ DJ Dummy!

DAZ, DESTROYER, CULTURE D & JUN IN LA!

Coming Wednesday June 23, The Umoja Hi-Fi Sound crew is in session again in Los Angeles!

UMOJA SOUNDSYSTEM presents: BIG IT UP!

A night of musical madness featuring the Umoja Hi Fi DJ's

Jun, Destroyer, Culture D and Daz bringing you the best in reggae, dancehall, hip hop, soul, and electronic music culture. Located at the world famous Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Boulevard. $3 cover all night | 9 pm - 2 am |21 w/ I.D.

DJ TOMAS IN SF!

Also taking place on Wednesday June 23 San Francisco, Umoja Hi-Fi's DJ Tomas meets Revival Sound.

Celebrating Jamaican music from 1960-2010! We'll be spinning styles from ska to dancehall all night. Live ska and rocksteady by Franco Nero at 9 p.m. Music and dancing afterward.

Taking place at Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero at Fell in San Francisco. $5 cover | 21 w/ID

Umoja Inducts New Member: DJ Destroyer

2010-04-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

Umoja Hi-Fi, a.k.a. The Unity Sound was established in 1993 by DJ Daz and DJ Tomas. Soon after Culture D, CoknI O' Dire and Jun were asked to join the crew. In 2004 Stevie G, originally from Washington DC, lately of Bali, was inducted into the crew. Other long-time Umoja Hi-Fi affiliates include San Francisco's B-Love and Chris Vargas.

Recently the crew voted to bring in a new member. But as it turns out, Aaron Paar's dealings with the crew go back over a decade. Paar, a.k.a. DJ Destroyer of Strictly Social club nights fame, has DJ'd alongside Umoja crew members for years in Los Angeles, has represented at our events and been a vocal promoter of the crew's music and aesthetic. Nottingham, UK native Paar is also a versatile DJ and producer in his own right, with multiple releases to his credit. He spins as well as creates house, soul, hip-hop and other jazzy flavors, and also happens to be one of the maddest futbol heads you'll ever meet.

DJ Daz first met Paar at the BRASS club night when the rare groove and acid jazz hotspot was still at its original Melrose and Larchmont location. At the time Paar was DJing house music a weekly night called Shaolin Temple (before Wu Tang Clan adopted the identity). From 1992-94 Paar spun on "Stomping Ground," a mix show on KXLU-FM radio station. DJ Tomas and CoknI O' Dire have also hosted shows there. Parr was a seminal figure in the early-90s rave/loft scene in Los Angeles and made his mark as part of house music production duo Teflon Dons (Worldship Records).

Paar’s current DJ residencies include Fast FWD at Little Temple, Bounce Rock Skate and one of LA's signature eclectic soul nights, Strictly Social.

When it came to inducting DJ Destroyer into Umoja, he received a unanimous vote from each of the crew members. Here's some of their reactions:

Tomas: "I say welcome to the crew DJ Destroyer. Destroy dem bonds of oppression and ignorance with the Umoja sound. We continue to be an untouchable music entity, representing all skills, styles, emotions and music."

Cokni: "Aaron is a day-one rider. He was involved in the scene before he knew any of us and getting busier than us! He's shown-and-proved in production. Always comes through when he's capable. Always offers love and never begs favors or friends."

Jun: "Word. Got my vote."

Culture D: "He gets a forward from me!"

Daz: "He shoulda been here 10 years ago."

So Destroyer is official Umoja fam now. Welcome to the crew. He's going to be a great addition to the unity sound, which keeps pushing the best music for the massive 'dem year to year.

Umoja Hi-Fi crew will DJ a special event in Los Angeles Wednesday June 23 at Little Temple in Los Angeles with DJ Destroyer, Daz and other members of the crew.

Destroyer will be up in San Francisco at PST at Eve Lounge on May 13 and and at Fat Stacks at Koko Cocktails May 14. Stay tuned!

Follow DJ Destroyer on Twitter.

Listen to DJ Destroyer mixes.

Umoja Update Part 3: DJ Jun

2010-02-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

DJ Jun is the spiritual enigma of Umoja Hi-Fi. His work with the crew goes back to the mid-90s when he and DJ Tomas met up at Arons Records in Hollywood. DJ Jun was part of the legendary Goa Dub after-hours night at Nova Express cafe and held long-time residencies at drum 'n' bass weekly Science, Bossanova in Santa Monica and Bokaos restaurant in Beverly Hills. This versatile DJ can play almost any style, from broken beat and techno to disco, dubstep and classics.

These days DJ Jun is as busy as ever. He's a resident DJ Friday nights at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, does on-going events with Project Butterfly and at the summertime Hollywood Forever movie nights. Jun is the go-to man for interesting music recommendations and atmospheric sound installations. Follow him on Twitter: @junbug9
[photos by ChristineRenee.net]

DJ JUN CURRENT RESIDENCIES:

The Standard Downtown
Saturdays

DJ Jun spins mixed emotions
9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

550 South Flower at Sixth Street | Free

Sunset Standard Hollywood

Thursdays

DJ Jun spins lobby leisure

7 p.m.-11 p.m.

8300 Sunset Boulevard | Free

Resonance @ Amoeba Music

Weekly Fridays

8:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

DJ Jun spins esoteric eclectic beats

Special guests monthly

6400 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles

Umoja Update Part 2: DJ Daz

2010-02-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

DJ Daz is the ranking "General" for Umoja Hi-Fi sound system. An original member and co-founder of the crew, Daz has made an immeasurable impact on the Los Angeles music scene via his club nights, radio shows, music knowledge and bringing folks together.

You can find his mixes and podcasts on Podomatic, and he's always got a new video or music scoop at his What's Good? blog. Follow Daz on Twitter too! @DeejayDaz

It's been a busy few months for DJ Daz after organizing the Umoja Hi-Fi Kwanzaa event in December, he's started two residencies and has been posting new mixes almost weekly.

DJ DAZ CURRENT RESIDENCIES:

DOOINIT

Weekly Fridays

DJ Daz spins Soul, Hip Hop Reggae

Carbon 9300 Venice Blvd LA

21 w/ID | 10 pm - 2 am

PURE VYBZ

Monthly

DJ Daz spins

Dancehall, Lovers Rock, Rock Steady, Roots

With DJ's JFX, Shinehead, Byze One

Seven Bar Lounge 555 W. 7th Street, LA

10 pm - 2 am | 21 w/ID

And if you are still unfamiliar with DJ Daz's club tenure -- peep the flier wall of fame.

Umoja Update Part 1: DJ Tomas

2010-02-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

DJ Tomas represents Umoja Hi-Fi in San Francisco, California. Tomas also runs the Voltage Music label and records music as Double Identity and Dub I.D.

DJ Tomas has two residencies at Koko Cocktails in San Francisco, and is a frequent guest at Dub Mission and Surefire Sound club nights.

You can download DJ Tomas mixes at his Podomatic site and check his writing and blog posts at ForwardEver. Tomas recently interviewed Jamaican reggae star Chuck Fenda for the SF Weekly and dancehall diva Natalie Storm for XLR8R Magazine.

DJ Tomas co-hosts The Friday Night Session radio program Fridays at 10 p.m. on KUSF 90.3 FM.

DJ TOMAS CURRENT RESIDENCIES:

ROOTS ROADBLOCK

First Thursdays Monthly

Roots | Dub | Classic Dancehall | Rocksteady

DJ Tomas + guests monthly

dominoes | reggae videos | drink specials

10 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. | Free | 21 w/ID | Koko Cocktails

1060 Geary at Van Ness San Francisco.

FAT STACKS

Second Fridays Monthly

Funk | Soul | Afrobeat | Boogaloo | Classic Hip-Hop

Resident DJ Tomas from Umoja Hi-Fi in the mix

9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. | Free | 21 w/ID | Koko Cocktails

1060 Geary at Van Ness San Francisco.

Successful Umoja Gathering in L.A.

2009-12-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

On December 27 the Umoja Hi-Fi DJ crew gathered for a session called “5 The Hard Way – The Umoja Posse Rides Again”. The title of the night was inspired by popular Jamaican dancehall posters and albums, which reflect a Jamaican love of American Western movies. But more than that, the event showcased five veteran DJs from across the musical spectrum, gathered from two states and three cities to celebrate Kwanzaa as Umoja Hi-Fi's pioneering role in LA sound system events.

The night was held at Chinatown’s classy Grand Star Jazz Club and featured LA's DJ Daz, Jun, Culture D, San Francisco's Tomas and UK/NY/Dallas emcee and selector CoknI O’ Dire along with Umoja Experience Quartet jazz band.

The Umoja Quartet opened things up in the downstairs room and the band featured original members Josh Koslow (trumpet) and Emile Poree (guitar) from their 1993 line-up. The group was rounded out by drummer Ivan Cotton and upright bassist Ardum Belton. These jazz cats swung heavily, playing straight-head bop and jazz-funk numbers that recalled their formative years at Gaslight Bar on Cosmo Alley in Hollywood.

Upstairs, Culture D and CoknI O' Dire warmed things up with rub-a-dub reggae and foundation cuts before Daz (pictured above with Boss Harmony) took the helm spinning ‘ardcore hip-hop and rare groove as only he can. Downstairs DJ Tomas, who flew down from San Francisco blended downtempo beats by Mr. Scruff and Rich Medina with new funk cuts by Breakestra and The Lions in the mix.

After Tomas, DJ Jun (pictured above right) took to the decks spinning an all-vinyl set of rare '80s electro-soul and underground house cuts. It was a beautiful, spiritual start to the evening that got dancers shuffling on the floor.

In the upstairs room, CoknI (pictured above) and Culture D heated it up with dancehall burners that had the crowd singing along in approval. With CoknI on the mic and Culture D rocking Serato viciously, the "forwards" and shouts were numerous. Later, the Umoja Quartet played a second hour-long set downstairs at midnight while upstairs it was big reggae and drum 'n' bass tunes from CoknI and then Tomas.

More than anything, the night was memorable for the attendance of heavyweight DJs and personalities galore. Just a few that were spotted include: Jason Deadly Dragon, Black Shakespeare, Charlie B, Adam 12, Stan Endo, Marvski, Monalisa, Boss Harmony (David Orlando), Aaron Parr a.k.a., DJ Destroyer, DJ Higher, DJ Alphabet and many more I’m sure we’re missing.

Thank you from the bottom of our DJ crates for making this a fantastic night – celebrating Kwanzaa to the fullest as only the Umoja Hi-Fi crew and friends can.

Live at Umoja Session in LA Dec 27 2009

2009-12-29T23:34:00.001-08:00

Umoja Hi-Fi In Session Sunday. Dec. 27!

2009-12-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY DEC 27 2009 IN LA!
A Night Called...

"Five The Hard Way!"

The Umoja Hi-Fi Posse Rides Again!

On Sunday December 27, 2009
Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem (a.k.a. The Unity Sound)
will play a special session in Los Angeles!

DJs on the night include:
Daz (UK/LA)
Tomas (SF)
Jun (LA)
Culture D (LA)
Cokni O' Dire (UK/NY/Dallas)

5 Outlaw Selectas Spinning

Reggae – Dancehall – Hip-Hop – Funk
Dubstep – House – D&B – Classics

Celebrate Kwanzaa with Umoja Hi-Fi’s
biggest session of 2009!

Featuring live jazz by:
The Umoja Quintet

Grand Star 943 N. Broadway Downtown LA
10 p.m. – 2 a.m. / 21 w/ID / $5 before 10:30 p.m.

Click Going link to RSVP for discount admission!

Roots Roadblock Thurs July 2 In SF!

2009-06-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

DJ TOMAS
LUD DUB
$3 RED STRIPE + GUINNESS!
KOKO 1060 GEARY/VAN NESS SF
DUB-ROOTS-ROCKSTEADY-CLASSIC DANCEHALL

Cokni O' Dire: More Than Decent

2009-05-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

It's good to know that the PRESS (download article) is starting to stand up and take notice of all that the gentleman rudebwoy Cokni O' Dire has been up to in Dallas, TX.

Haven't got the 411? You can keep up with Cokni on Twitter, of course. But the true "O" experience can really be felt, heard and SEEN each and every Sunday afternoon from 3 - 5 p.m. P.S.T.

That's when you catch Cokni O' Dire innovative live streaming video DJ mix program, DECENT SOMETHING.

And no doubt -- the ting deh a' live up to it name! Reggae, rocksteady, hip-hop, soul -- whatever music is nice and decent, it's in the mix -- expertly -- all live hosted and mixed by O.

SeeItDeh!

DJ Tomas: Gigz & Thangs

2009-05-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

DJ Tomas Da T-cha, live and direct in a Umoja stylee.

Catch DJ Tomas spinning roots, dub, rocksteady and rub-a-dub reggae first Thursdays each month at Roadblock, at the space called Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary Street at Van Ness in San Francisco. No cover!

Also -- do remember, each and every Friday 10 p.m. - 12 a.m., it's The Friday Night Session radio show on KUSF, 90.3 FM. Hosts Andrew Jervis, Tomas, Mike Bee and Cez bring you the best in new club vibez, jazz business, galactic funk, classics and more.

DJ Daz: Live on Radio and In Da Clubz

2009-05-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

BOOM! There it is -- DJ Daz a.k.a Daz Dillinjah, the UK Teecha, the Vibez Bringer and the Brass ringer -- he's been up in the mix on radio and in the clubs. You can keep up with the dAz via his podcasts and also pon "I-Space" -- don't forget to tweet dAz on that Twitter thang too.

Daz and Higher did a little thing called ILL VIBE at Vice (formerly Star Shoes) on Hollywood Blvd.

But now catch the "D" pon di radio, each and every Saturday night/Sunday morning, 1.am. - 3 a.m. on KPFK 90.7 F.M.

TRUTH SEEKERS RADIO:

Kwanzaa Podcast Series Is Live!

2008-12-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Umoja Hi-Fi DJs have united again to commemorate the Kwanzaa holiday (Dec 26-Jan 1).

The seven DJs in Umoja Hi-Fi -- Daz, Tomas, Cokni O'Dire, Jun, Culture D, Stevie G and B-Love -- will each post their own 1-hour mix to honor the seven principals of Kwanzaa:

* Umoja (Unity)
* Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
* Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
* Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
* Nia (Purpose)
* Kuumba (Creativity)
* Imani (Faith)

The downloadable/streaming podcast mix series features reggae, jazz, hip-hop, soul, roots, dub, dancehall and more.

The series launched on December 26, the first day of Kwanzaa, and new mixes will be added through January 1. Click the player below to hear mixes now, or visit Umoja Hi-Fi's Pocast Page.

Umoja 15 Year Anniversary Photos & Interview!

2008-11-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Daz and photographer Kelly Koehler for taking some great pics at the Umoja Hi-Fi 15 Year Anniversary event in San Francisco.

See selected images below or view the full set at Kelly's Flickr page.

Also, scroll down to listen to a 20-minute interview with Umoja Hi-Fi on KUSF-FM's Friday Night Session program.

Cokni O'Dire on the mic

Cokni & Culture D

DJ Daz in the mix

DJ Jun in the basement

Tomas and MC Cokni O' Dire

Umoja on Friday Night Session Radio
Umoja KUSF Interview - Umoja Hi-Fi

Umoja 15-Year Anniversary This Saturday Oct 25 in SF!

2008-10-23T21:33:00.001-07:00

SURYA DUB
Global Dubwize Vibes & Dread Bass Culture

Saturday Oct 25th 2008 @ Club Six
Get in For $5 before 10:30pm by signing up at Going.com
Check out videos below!

The Umoja Hi-Fi Sound System unites to celebrate their 15th year as a DJ crew. Umoja Hi-Fi was co-founded by DJ Daz and DJ Tomas in 1993. They were soon joined by DJ Culture D, DJ Jun and Cokni O' Dire. The crew's last member, Washington DC's Stevie G, joined in 2000. At breakout LA club nights like Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge, B-Side and Chocolate Bar, the Umoja DJs established an eclectic blueprint for the LA club sound, one that included diverse but connected sounds from dancehall and hip-hop, to electronic beats, rare groove and house that typified the name Umoja, a Swahili word for unity.

The various members remain active in San Francisco (Tomas) and Dallas (Cokni O' Dire) and LA (Daz, Culture D and Jun) and continue to rock key parties such as Speaker Boxx at Carbon, Uprock 77, Sunset Junction, Coachella, The Standard, Firecracker and Do-Over. Umoja DJs have also opened for and shared stages with Shabba Ranks, Supercat, David Bowie, Tricky, Jamiriquoi, The Pharcyde, Lennie Kravitz, Freestyle Fellowship and Blood & Fire Soundsystem.

The Umoja 15-Year Anniversary gig in San Francisco will be a groundbreaking gathering. It's only the second appearance in San Francisco in 10 years for the entire DJ crew, and the first to feature founding members Daz and Culture D. Additionally, MC/DJ Cokni O' Dire ñ a radio and club DJ with Brooklyn, Jamaican and London roots ñ will emcee in two separate rooms throughout the night and spin a vintage reggae set. DJ Jun and Tomas will perform a two-hour tag-team dubstep and global bass set in Surya Dub'sbasement chamber. Expect a big night, boom tunes and DJs who live for their art. Pure vibes!

Sub Hz Den: Dubstep, Dread Bass Breaks & D'n'B, Ragga
Special Guests:
Umoja Hi-Fi (SF/LA/TX)
Plus Residents:
Maneesh the Twister (Surya Dub, Dhamaal, Dub Mission - Best Club DJ SF Guardian) & Kid Kameleon (xlr8r, Surya Dub),
Visuals by CONTACT (Surya Dub)
MC Daddy Frank pon da mic

Inna Yard: Reggae, Dancehall, Bhangra, Global Beats
Special Guest:
Umoja Hi-Fi (SF/LA/TX)
Plus Residents:
Jimmy Love (Non Stop Bhangra, Surya Dub)
DJ Amar Electric vardo, Surya Dub)
Ripley (havoc sound, Surya Dub

Club Six
Saturday, Oct 25th, 2008
60 6th St b/w Mission & Market
Reduced admission b4 10:30pm at www.going.com/suryadubOct25
$10 door | 10:00pm-3:00am | 21 + | 415.863.1221

www.myspace.com/suryadub - FRIEND US!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57106180653

Check out Surya Dub's feature in the SF Bay Guardian

info@suryadub.com
www.suryadub.com
www.myspace.com/suryadub
http://tribes.tribe.net/suryadub

Cokni Freestyle For Umoja 15 Year Anv Oct 25 in SF!

2008-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

Emcee and DJ Cokni O'Dire does an impromptu freestyle to prep you for the Umoja 15 Year Anniversary at Surya Dub, October 25, 2008 at Club Six in San Francisco!

Umoja Hi-Fi History Video

2008-10-16T00:58:00.000-07:00

Check out this historical look at Umoja Hi-Fi. Then join us Saturday October 25 at Surya Dub in SF!

Video: 15 Year Anniversary- Sat Oct 25 in SF!

2008-10-08T23:59:00.001-07:00

Umoja Sound: Know Bout' We

2008-10-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

To get everyone up to speed with where we've been and what we've done in the last 15 years, here's a quick fact sheet. Just a few of the crew's many accomplishments and DJ endeavors.

Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem Fact Sheet

• Umoja Hi-Fi Sound DJ crew, est. 1993, Los Angeles, CA.
• Now based in LA, Dallas, SF and Bali.
• Motto: The Unity Sound
• Music styles: reggae, hip-hop, dubstep, house, funk and soulful electronic beats.

DJ Daz
• Birthplace: Blackpool, UK, Resides: Los Angeles, CA
• Original Brass DJ -- LA’s first rare groove night 1991-1995
• Delicious Vinyl staff, worked with The Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Brand New Heavies
• Co-founded Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge club night in Hollywood 1993
• Co-founded B-Side club night with Tomas, Cut Chemist Marvski and Sean Perry
• Annual Chicago DJ gigs with Jesse DeLa Pena
• Residencies at Speakerboxx (Carbon, LA), The Do-Over and many industry parties

Cokni O’Dire
• Born: London, UK, Resides: Dallas, TX
• DJ and MC’d Brooklyn block parties and beat-boxed for LL Cool J
• Part of hip-hop group Scheme Team with Divine Styler
• Toured with House of Pain
• A mainstay at LA hip-hop night Lava Caro, home to Freestyle Fellowship
• Opening DJ on Born Jamericans Japan tour
• Founder of the Out Ta Order radio show on KXLU-FM.
• Resident at Science drum & bass night with Jun and Raymond Roker (URB)
• MC and guest artists with The Angel/60 Channels
• Owner of Decent Music Service and Genzu Design

DJ Jun
• Born: Naples, Italy, Resides: Hollywood, CA
• Major past residencies include Goa Dub all-ages afterhours with DJ Tomas (ambient, drum & bass), Bossanova with Jason Bentley (house, downtempo) Science with Urb’s Raymond Roker and MC Question Marc (Drum & Bass), B-Side (hip-hop, funk)
• Co-founded ReBoot underground soulful techno parties
• Major current residencies include ), Hollywood Forever (house, techno, electro), Amoeba Resonance (techno, dubstep, electronic), Soundlessons (hip-hop, electro, downtempo), The Standard Hotel Hollywood (electronic, house)
• Amoeba Hollywood electronic music section buyer

DJ Tomas
• Born: Mountain View, CA, Resides: San Francisco, CA
• Founder of URB Magazine reggae column
• KXLU Reggae Music Forward radio host 1988–1995
• LA residencies: Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge with Daz, Culture D and the Umoja Quintet, Bokaos Restaurant, Goa Dub (all-ages afterhours ambient drum & bass weekly), B-Side with Daz, Cut Chemist, Marvski, Cokni O Dire.
• Profiled in Rolling Stone, Mixmag US and Option.
• Compiled Dubmission Vol.’s 1 & 2 for Quango records.
• Relocates to SF in 1995. SF residencies at Mosaic (at Joypad) Phusion, Global Warming (monthly at Club 6), Sushi Groove South.
• Forms the production/remix team Live & Direkt with Andrew Smith, releases tracks on Ubiquity’s No Categories compilation and Sunburn’s Wish FM 98.1 comp.
• XLR8R Magazine as managing editor 1999-2005.
• Host of Friday Night Session on KUSF 90.3 FM (Fridays 10pm-12) with Mike Bataglia and Andrew Jervis (Ubiquity)
• Owner of Voltage Music label, releases music as Double Identity and Dub ID.

DJ Culture D
• Born: Los Angeles, CA, Resides: Sun Valley, CA
• Resident at Flavor, Reggae Hi-Fi, Rudplpho’s and other LA dancehall hospots.
• Toured Japan as a DJ, selected for dancehall legends Nicodemus, Jr. Demus
• DJs at annual Sunset Junction street festival
• Frequent guest at Dub Club LA

Other facts:
• Jazz bassist Marcus Shelby was originally part of the Uomja Quintet, the house band at UJRL.
• Umoja DJs have each played Coachella Music Festival, Sunset Junction Street Fair and LA’s biggest warehouse and underground parties.

October 25, 2008 Flier!

2008-09-18T22:37:00.001-07:00

Umoja 15 Year Anniversary Oct 25 2008 in SF!

2008-09-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release:
UMOJA HI-FI SOUNDSYSTEM 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
HITS SAN FRANCISCO SATURDAY OCTOBER 25 2008

Legendary DJ crew unites for a special one-off gig.

What: Umoja 15-year Anniversary gig.
When: Saturday October 25, 2008, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Where: Surya Dub at Club Six, 60 Sixth Street, San Francisco

The Umoja Hi-Fi unites to celebrate their 15th year as a DJ crew.

Umoja Hi-Fi was co-founded by DJ Daz (Darren Blackburn) and DJ Tomas (Tomas Palermo) in 1993, and was soon joined by DJ Culture D (Damon Arnone), DJ Jun (Jun Antazo) and Cokni O’ Dire (O Williams). The crew’s last member, Washington DC’s Stevie G (Steve Gamboa), joined in 2000.

At breakout LA club nights like Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge, B-Side and Chocolate Bar, the Umoja DJs established an eclectic blueprint for the LA club sound, one that included diverse but connected sounds from dancehall and hip-hop, to electronic beats, rare groove and house that typified the name Umoja, a Swahili word for unity.

The various members remain active in San Francisco (Tomas) and Dallas (Cokni O’ Dire) and LA (Daz, Culture D and Jun) and continue to rock key parties such as Speaker Boxx at Carbon, Uprock 77, Sunset Junction, Coachella, The Standard, Firecracker and Do-Over. Umoja DJs have also opened for and shared stages with Shabba Ranks, Supercat, David Bowie, Tricky, Jamiriquoi, The Pharcyde, Lennie Kravitz, Freestyle Fellowship and Blood & Fire Soundsystem.

The Umoja 15-Year Anniversary gig in San Francisco will be a groundbreaking gathering. It’s only the second appearance in San Francisco in 10 years for the entire DJ crew, and the first to feature founding members Daz and Culture D. Additionally, MC/DJ Cokni O’ Dire –- a radio and club DJ with Brooklyn, Jamaican and London roots –- will emcee in two separate rooms throughout the night and spin a vintage reggae set. DJ Jun and Tomas will perform a two-hour tag-team dubstep and global bass set in Surya Dub’s basement chamber.

Expect a big night, boom tunes and DJs who live for their art. Pure vibes!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION, SPECIAL DOWNLOADS, MIXS AND ADVANCE PRESS!

Sat April 19: Umoja Meets Chocolate Bar!

2008-04-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

UPROCK 45

“A night of Reggae, Roots, Dancehall, Lover’s Rock and more.”

Brought to you by dj dAz (Umoja Soundsystem) and cAry Sullivan (Afro Funke’)

Saturday April 19, 2008

Featuring Very Special Guests

UMOJA SOUNDSYSTEM featuring COKNI O’DIRE (live & direct from Dallas, TX)
plus DJs DAZ, JUN & CULTURE D!

'longside the mighty...

CHOCOLATE BAR MASSIVE featuring
I & I Sound's AURELITO, SHAKESPEARE with
DJ HIGHER & T-LEE

LATE NIGHT: 10PM TO 5AM!
$10

RSVP & DIRECTIONS: INFO LINE: 213 995 4550
Uprock77@yahoo.com

Check Us: (Daz) (Cary Sullivan)

Supported by: Fusicology & Universal Rhythm.

Umoja Hi-Fi News

2008-04-17T22:12:00.001-07:00

Newsflash!

Umoja crew been busy y'all!

This dynamic 6-man DJ outfit now spans the globe, from Bali to Texas...smoother than a Lexus, to quote Wu Tang.

But check it: DJ Daz is resident Fridays at West L.A.'s Carbon, and the mastermind behind Downtown LA's Uprock party series. That doesn't even begin to sum up all the music related (ArtDon'tSleep, Afrofunke, private Hollywood joints, etc.) activities this man is always involved in. Needless to say, Daz run LA.

The always versatile DJ Jun can be found every Friday at Amoeba Hollywood's weekly Resonance DJ event. Jun also spins all over Los Angeles, at the popular Hollywood Cemetery gigs, at monthly Sound Lessons and at Art Don't Sleep events downtown.

Silverlake's own DJ Culture D continues to stay busy and be LA's most incognito and talented reggae DJ. He appears out of thin air at Reggae Gold and other hot parties when you least expect it but never fails to rock the spot with top ragga, dancehall and roots joints.

Speaking of rocking non-stop, Umoja Hi-Fi's premier combination selector & DJ Mr. Cokni O' Dire is holding down multiple events in Dallas, TX. Check the ill videos, music and commentary on his MySpace.

DJ Tomas a.k.a. Dub I.D. came down from his SF home for two LA gigs in January '08 (reespekt to Uprock 77 and Punky Reggae Party), and plays in SF at various gigs. Catch him at one-offs, and at upcoming nights like White Label (at Madrone, with XLR8R's Toph-One), in May at Dub Mission SF, at the monthly Grime City and other hot spots.

Big up to our manz Stevie G in Bali. You can catch him DJing almost daily on the beach!

Umoja Photo Ting! (Part One)

2007-06-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

Umoja Soundsystem DJs in Action!

clockwise from top left:
Daz, Cokni, Culture D, Jun, Tomas, Stevie G

DJ Jun Update

2007-06-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

DJ Jun–expert knob twiddler...

DJ Jun is a resident at Sunset Standard Hotel
Location: 8300 Sunset Blvd. & Sweetzer Ave., Hollywood.
When? Various nights.
Time:10pm-2am in lobby or purple bar.

He's also resident at Cinespia @ Hollywood Forever.
(Summer cemetery movie screenings)
Dates: Saturdays
Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. & Gordon St., Los Angeles.

Catch him monthly at: Soundlessons @ The Echo
When? 4th Saturdays.
Location: 1822 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park.
Time: 10 p.m.-2a.m.

Jun was a long-time resident at Bossa:Nova, but that event is currently on hold.

Hear Jun DJ on Fridays at Amoeba Music Hollywood
Time: 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Location: 6400 Sunset Blvd. @ Cahuenga Blvd.

Jun also spins at ProjectButterfly events.

For bookings please email: junbug9 AT gmail DOT com

DJ Daz Update

2007-06-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

DJ Daz in deep concentration...

DJ Daz's Recent Top 5!
1. Bitty McLean - The Real Thing
2. Tony Matterhorn - Goddas Fi Dem
3. Stephen Marley - Traffic Jam
4. Tony Rebel - Never Let Go
5. Al Green - Let's Stay Together

For bookings click here.
Name of latest mix or podcast: Roy Ayers vs. Sly Stone

Catch him at: Speakerboxxx (Fridays)
Venue: Carbon
Address: 9300 Venice Blvd, Culver City, Ca
Styles of music: funkypunkyreggaerap 'ting

DJ Daz News: Currently putting together a DJ system and recording equipment to donate to The Mar Vista Family Center...a Non-Profit Youth Center... first supported by DJ Dusk (Root Down/ Zulu Nation)... In memory of DJ Dusk!

Jun interviewed on Get Underground

2007-06-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

There's an excellent interview with Umoja Sound's DJ Jun on Get Underground.

Here in the postmodern metropolis there are so many great places to hear music. LA's underground is a multi-layered texture of flavor. With so many people and places you need a DJ who reflects the cultural mosaic of Los Angeles. DJ Jun is such a man. His rich musical sets offer something for every audience whether it's underground scenesters or the glamorous set. He can be found spinning everywhere from Bossanova in Santa Monica to Firecracker in Chinatown to the Standard on the Sunset Strip. The music he plays depends on where he is. His styles are as diverse as Los Angeles...

Read the full text.

Umoja Update!

2005-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

A listing of Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem's recent activities and recommended music! Forward!

Cokni O Dire (Dallas)
Top Five:
Floetry–DanceHall–JD (2010 Riddim)
Vybz Kartel–Realist Ting–In Time Music (Jump Off Riddim)
Juelz Santana ft. Young Jeezy–Mic Check (Remix)–(Def Jam)
Laffy Taffy–D4L –Asylum/Atlantic
LIl' Brother–The Minstrel Show–ABB/Atlantic

Recent Projects:
In production and doing a couple of songs with a cat named Skin out here in Dallas who is in cahoots with Bastard Jazz outta NY. 2nd mix CD in production with hopes of releasing October 3rd on [my daughter] Genesis fifth b-day. It's my understanding that at five a person becomes who they are, and your course to gain what you need to rep that begins.

DJ Jun (Los Angeles)
In Session:
Wednesday at The Standard Hotel–8300 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood
Fridays–Bossa:Novaat Zanzibar–1301 5th Street Santa Monica
4th Saturdays–Soundlessonsat The Echo–1822 Sunset Blvd Echo Park

Top Five:
Vex'd–Degenerate–Planet Mu
Boards Of Canada–Campfire Headphase–Warp
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas–Prins Thomas & Lindstrom–Eskimo
London Elektricity–Power Ballads–Hospital
Greg Wilson–Credit To The Edit–Tirk

Culture D (Los Angeles)
Top Five:
Turbulence-Notorious–THC
Buju Banton-Ova Me–Legends (Giggy Throwback Riddim)
Norrisman–Put Down Your Guns
Gyptian-Serious–Frenz
Various–Twice My Age Riddim– Steelie & Cleevie

Big gig Oct 15 with Live & Love Soundsystem. Scroll down for details!

DJ Daz (Los Angeles)
In Session:
Friday Nights/Saturday Morning–Truth Seekas Radio, 1-3AM on KPFK 90.7FM
Saturdays at Chocolate Bar–4658 Melrose (at Normandie) 323-860-8873
Tuesdays (((Steppin Out)))@ The Red Buddha Lounge–6423 Yucca Street at Cahuenga, Hollywood, No Cover, 21 w/ I.D., $5, Patio

DJ Tomas (San Francisco)
In Session:
Saturday Oct. 22 1-6PM Adidas store opening in downtown, Berkeley, CA.
Friday Oct. 28 at Pink–2925 16th Street at South Van Ness (415) 431-8889 10PM
Saturday Nov. 12 at Hang Gallery–556 Sutter St–415-434-4264 9PM
Friday Nov. 25 at Grime City at Nickies–424 Haight St at Filmore. 10PM

Top Five:
Scuba–Timba–Hotflush
Various–Roy Ayers Remixes–BBE
DJ Marky & XRS–Distant Lover–Inner Ground
Various–The Electric Institute–New Religion
Marlon Asher–Ganja Farmer (Caribbean Underground)

Word From Stevie G In Bali

2005-10-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

As some Umoja Hi-Fi fans may know, Washington DC's Stevie G (Umoja inductee in '99/2000) recently moved to Bali, Indonesia, where he's built a successful DJ career. He also moved in protest to W's disputed 2nd term election, and all the implications for the world that it brings. Here's his account of the most recent (the second in 2 years) bombing in Bali.

Apologies for not responding individually and for being inccommunicado
for so long. It's been crazy hectic getting settled, DJing, and
writing for two magazines. And apologies for the late reply to your
safety concerns. We do not have internet access at home and as you
might imagine, the internet spots have been rammed since the bomb with
tourists writing home.

The 3 bombs were in the areas of Kuta and Jimbaran, and while they are
all relatively close by and around the same municipality (within 20 -
30 minutes drive from where we reside/work), we seldom frequent these
areas. The general area where we do work (Seminyak environs and in
particular, Ku De Ta) has been bolstered with extra elite security and
bomb sniffing dogs. We remain vigilant and have been avoiding any
travel within heavy tourist areas, but at the same time we are
carrying on with our lives to show support for Bali and it's people,
many of whom comprised most of the casualties.

It was extremely fortunate that the carnage, although terrrible, was
not as bad as it potentially could have been. We went to the hospital
on the Saturday night to donate blood, but were turned away because
they had enough to treat the injured, a good sign we suppose. We also
attended a ecumenical (Muslim/Christian/Hindu) prayer vigil at the
Raja bomb site in Kuta to show support and were shocked at the
destruction there blown out glass, burned out buildings. Wack.

All said, this tragedy and the potential of similar future events
does not affect our decision to continue a life here. And likewise,
we hope that this does not dissuade any one of you who were planning
to visit us in Bali. We have a huge staffed house surrounded by
bamboo trees and rice paddies with an extra room that we planned for
in anticipation of guests. Please come and visit, you will not regret
it. We are, without a doubt in the right place, and in today's
uncertain world where bombs have become an omnipresent reality no
matter where you are, you might as well live where you love.

Upcoming Gigs Part 1

2005-09-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

All LA Massive!

Umoja Soundsystem DJ Culture D spins alongside Brooklyn/Orange County's deepest roots reggae sound Live & Love.

Friday Oct 14 at Boardners, 1652 Cherokee in Hollywood. Free before 11PM!

Check Live & Love's seriously deep two-riddim new compilation "Reggae For Humanity" release on Manila Jeepney.

Coming Soon: Pictures

2005-03-29T22:49:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to the more than 300 people who came to Little Temple Saturday March 12 for an incredibly memorable reunion night.

An update on the night and photos is coming. So watch this space.

best regards,

Umoja Hi-Fi Crew

Umoja Hi-Fi Reunion--Saturday March 12 at Little Temple, LA

2005-02-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

Saturday March 12, 2005

One Night Only, The Return Of...
Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge

Reuniting the entire Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem crew
for the first time in 4 years:

DJ Daz (Truthseekers Radio-KPFK, Brass, Speakerboxx) LA
DJ Tomas (Crucial, XLR8R, Voltage Music) SF
DJ Jun (ReBoot, Bossanova, Amoeba) LA
DJ Culture D (Reggae Hi-Fi) LA
DJ/MC Cokni O'Dire (OTO, B-Side, original Scheme Team) Dallas
DJ Stevie G (Sahara, Vinylicious) Wash DC

A night of vibes, scribes, tribes and strictly good music in 2 rooms:
Hip-hop, reggae, soul, house, jazz, Afrobeat, Latin and other euphonic flavors.

From the DJs who gave you B-Side, Flavor, Goa Dub, Chocolate Bar and more.

Saturday March 12, 2005 at Little Temple 4519 Santa Monica Blvd at Virgil
--–-Doors: 9PM----21 w/ID----$10----Umoja Hotline: 213 8912767

Sponsored By XLR8R Magazine, Ubiquity Records, Fabric8, Amoeba Music.

Umoja Photos Below!

(left to right: Jun, Cokni, Tomas, Daz)

The Umoja Soundsystem, a DJ collective, was established in 1993 in Los Angeles by DJ's Tomas and Daz originally as a club night called Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge, and later as a conglomeration of likeminded DJs including Culture D, DJ Jun, MC/DJ Cokni O’ Dire and later Stevie G.

Culture D, at Reggae Hi-Fi, Japantown, LA

Every Monday night, from its original home at Martini Lounge on Melrose Avenue at Larchmont (previous home to the legendary LA club night Brass), resident selectors Tomas and Daz's newly christened night Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge featured guest DJs including Mark Farmer and Al Jackson (of Juju), and presented the roots of hip-hop music in the form of original jazz and funk DJ sets, augmented with classic reggae jams. In addition, poets and fledgling jazz musicians were invited to participate. Eventually, a regular band, who dubbed themselves the Umoja Quintet (headed by accomplished Black Note jazz bassist Marcus Shelby) became a regularly performing act at the night.

DJ Tomas at 111 Minna St Gallery, SF

After a few months, it was decided to move the night to the former Gaslight (now the Opium Den) bar on Ivar street near Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood. The night ran successfully for almost two years every Monday, and featured guests including Funkmaster Flex and DJ Stretch Armstrong. The synergy spawned future club nights from the Umoja crew including B-Side, Goa Dub and the still-running Chocolate Bar with DJs Daz, Higher,T-Lee, Shakespeare and Auerltio.

Cokni O Dire on the mic and the mix, Dallas

Although now scattered througout the United States, each member continues to represent in clubs, on the radio and internet and underground DJ events-–Tomas in San Francisco, Cokni in Dallas, Daz and Jun in LA, newest member Stevie G in Washington DC and Bali. Umoja (Swahili for “unity”) reflects the diverse array of music styles the soundsystem plays (abstract house, downtempo, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, electronic, drum & bass), unified in the spirit of dub, experimental and beat driven music.
DJ Jun at Re-Boot in LA

Stevie G DJing in Bali, Summer 2004