In the fall of 1982 Afrika Bambaata, Rammelzee, Rocksteady Crew, DST, Fab 5 Freddy, and Phaze 2 played their first show in Paris. At the time, funk music was the soundtrack of the projects in cities across France. When tracks like "Rappers Delight" and "The Message" by Grand Master Flash were released, they were immediately embraced in suburban areas where social and racial conditions were similar to those in the US. Dee Nasty was there to experience this musical & cultural revolution and was kicked into b-boy action.

He started DJ-ing in 1981 on a pirate radio station and by 1985 was throwing regular block parties in the suburbs of Paris (the first of their kind). As a result of the growing success of these underground parties, club promoters started approaching him and by 1987 his DJ-ing had moved overground with a residency at Globo 'Chez Roger Boite Funk' (the equivalent of 'the Roxy' back in the days).

This gave him the power and money to bring over such luminaries as Public Enemy, Trouble Funk, Cash Money, Spoonie Gee, LL Cool J, Red Alert & Bambaata. By 1987 his own DJ skills were internationallsy recognized in the World DMC championships (he came 5th); he was European DMC champion in 1990 and DMC champion of France 1986-88 before disqualification for monopolizing the contest. By 1992 he was allowed to reenter the national French competition and capped his number one position once again.

As a radio DJ, he pioneered the first hip hop show on the hugely influential Paris Radio Nova in 1987 (where he continues to have a weekly show spinning underground US hip hop) and from 1988-89 MC Solaar & NTM were regulars on his show. International DJ performance highlights include Japan with Maceo Parker, Senegal with Supernatural & Positive Black Soul and the first ever hip hop festival in the former Soviet capital, Moscow in 1994. In the coming weeks he will DJ alongside Naomi Campbell, Grace Jones & Marianne Faithful in Monte Carlo in an exhibition that celebrates the last 5 decades of popular music.

His recording career is equally impressive. He is credited with producing the first ever French hip hop record in 1984 and was signed to Polydor in the early 90's after a series of independent releases. In 1994 he put out his 3rd full length album "Deenastyle" (the last for Polydor).

From this album, he launched the careers of several of the most important DJ/producers in French hip hop - Cut Killer & Abdel. 1987 marked the release of two successful compilations of beat mixed classic funk for MCA/Universal. Last year he produced two compilations of French hip hop - Colletif Rap (Sony Small) & Le Diamant Est Eternel (Distance).

Rufus Thomas and The Last Poets are among the most notable of his collaborations .

In the forthcoming months he will release three battlebreaks albums for DMC Europe and a bilingual 12" on Guidance Recordings.

As a result of a high French language quota imposed on radio play lists, homegrown hip hop is currently enjoying unprecedented commercial success in France. Dee Nasty just create a bilingual album featuring top French MC's along with some of his favorite underground US lyricists -Antipop Apani Scienz of life- the ones he's been playing and the records he's been breaking in France for years. His notoriety as "Godfather Of European Hip Hop", a title given by Bambaataa , can help give the thoughts, experiences and politics of young urban youth in the US a voice in France. Shauna Slevin 1999

The album NASTYNESS, out march 2001 on Dee Nasty's label Funkzilla Rec, is being funded by ALKI, an independent structure in Paris. Distribution in France : Chronowax.

 

About the '01 release of "Nastyness":

France is the second largest hip-hop market in the world. Agreed, this may be a load of bollocks if you can't parlez français, but be prepared to give it a chance. For a start, it's actually bilingual, so appearences by the likes of Anti Pop Consortium, Apani and Scienz of Life improve its chances ten-fold. Dee Nasty has been kicking about on the french since day one so there is a definite old skool feel to things. That's if you consider some guest verses by Grand Master Caz, a sample of Rammelzee & K-Rob 's mighty "Beat Bop" and heavy electro production worthy components. Saïan Supa Crew are perhaps the only french artists familiar on this side of the Channel, and if you can stomach their foreign ramblings you're halfway to liking this. Forced to choose between the two, French rap beats German any day.

Source : Tom Dartneil (Hip Hop Connexion)

 

About the ' 99 release of "'TOURNEZ LA PAGE" with Scienz of Life :

Dee Nasty is the reigning turntable technician on hip hop's 3rd coast, France. Over the past 15, Dee has exposed France to the delights of underground hip hop through his many club appearances and his Dr. Old Skool show on Radio Nova. This transatlantic experiment is Dee's effort to further unite the nation of hip hop. The same backing track provides the backdrop for both the French and English songs. Man of the people, Red One delivers a powerful punch with his "Tournez La Page". Red's delivery is reminiscent of East Coast Mc's with a French twist. Meanwhile, New Jersey's futuristic crew Scienz of Life slams the flipside with their signature rapid fire lyrics. With previous releases on Bobbito's Fondle 'Em, "Divine Connection" will launch their hyperbolic, street-hipppie vibe into the spotlight. This is a true collaboration in the spirit of independent hip hop.

Magazine Reviews:
Dee Nasty & Scienz of LIfe "Divine Connection" Parisian producer Dee Nasty and New Jersey's Scienz of Life rendez-vous for a bouncy bit of international flavor. With a peace pound to Gangstarr, Nasty borrows a kick-drum and high-hat from DJ Premiere while graceful poetics are provided by Scienz-tists ID 4 Windz, Inspectah Willabe, and Lil' Scienz. The flipside, "Tournez Les Pages" featruing francaphone Red One adds a dollop of Gaulle spice combined with more punchy percussion.
Source: Flyer NYC - DC
Date: Nov-1999

Dee Nasty 'Divine Connection'
Dee Nasty supplies a beat distinguished by full deep bass, fazed guitar sample and a beautiful little chord change in the middle. On top you get two versions Scienz of Life in Amer-English and Red One in French. Both work more than adequately.
Source: Muzik Magazine-Will Ashton
Date: Dec-1999

Dee Nasty and Scienz of Life
The connection is no question a transatlantic one featuring vocal powerful gallic emcee Red One and New Jersey's future looking crowd ID 4 Winds, Inspectah Willabe, and Lil Scienz who together make up Scienz of Life, all presided over by the pre-emminent Parisian producer, turntablist and Radio Nova DJ Dee Nasty. Its a handsome get together with Scienz of Life's rapid fire poetics eruting over Dee's graceful space funk, heavy on sub-bass and psychadelic FX. The French Connection' showcases Red's exotic Rhythmical Flow, not a word of which I can make out, but thats not the point is it-a touch of continental on the mike just, well sounds cool. Thats the point.
Source: DJ Magazine-Alex Griffiths
Date: Dec-1999

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