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Defari

 
Artist: Defari
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Defari

Similar Artists:

Rasco, Xzibit, Tha Alkaholiks, King Tee, Dudley Perkins, Dilated Peoples, Declaime, DJ Pooh, DJ Quik, The Pharcyde

Formal Connection With:

Madlib
  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Focused Daily," "Street Music," "Odds & Evens"

Biography

A member of the Likwit Crew alongside King T, tha Alkaholiks, and Xzibit, rapper Defari was born Duane Johnson, Jr. in Santa Monica, CA. He began DJing in 1982, moving on to MCing five years later; music remained only a hobby, however, and after earning a sociology degree at the University of California at Berkeley he went on to receive a master's degree in history and education at Colombia, accepting a high school teaching position upon graduating. In 1994, Defari recorded his first demo, soon after meeting Alkholiks producer E-Swift; together they recorded the track "Big Up," which appeared on the 1995 compilation Next Chapter: Strictly Underground. A single, "Bionic," followed a year later before Defari signed with Tommy Boy Records to issue his full-length debut Focused Daily in 1999. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Defari
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Defari
Birth name D.A. Johnson Jr.
Also known as Heru or Ruby
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres Hip hop
Occupations musician
Instruments Voice
Years active 1995 - present
Labels Tommy Boy, High Times, ABB Records
Associated acts Westcoast Kings, Likwit MCs, Dilated Peoples, Dr. Dre, KPL ALLSTARS Deejay Crew

D.A. Johnson Jr., also known as Defari, is a West Coast hip hop artist. Primarily, he is a solo artist, additionally he is a member of the Likwit Junkies, a rap duo with DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples. He was born at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley. He began DJing as a young kid in 1982. He was more focused on emceeing, and by 1995, released his first single "Bionic" on Oakland based ABB Records. With the help of E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks, by 1999, Defari recorded his first album, released on Tommy Boy Records. [1]

Defari taught world history and geography at Inglewood High School in Inglewood, California, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. and a master's degree from Columbia University [2] in New York City. He stopped teaching in 1998 and he currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.[citation needed]


Contents

Discography

Solo

Album information
Focused Daily
  • Released: February 9, 1999
  • Record Label: Tommy Boy Records
  • Singles: "Bionic"/Change & Switch", "People's Choice"/"Bottom Line", "Never Lose Touch"/"People's Choice", "Likwit Connection"/"Keep It on the Rise"
Odds & Evens
  • Released: July 15, 2003
  • Record Label: High Times Records
  • Singles: "Spell My Name", "Behold My Life (Remix)"/"Extra Thump"
Street Music
  • Released: August 8, 2006
  • Record Label: ABB Records
  • Singles: "The Bizness","Make My Own", "We've Been Doin' This"

With Likwit Junkies

Album information
The L.J.'s
  • Released: March 22, 2005
  • Record Label: ABB Records
  • Singles: "Keep Doin It"/"S.C.A.N.S.", "One Day Away"/"Strength in Numbers", "The Hop"/"Dark Ends"

References

  1. ^ **Defari.Net**
  2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=defari+columbia&source=web&ots=UFWIF7PiIR&sig=2LA6H93msMYDeuBPDL2oUxbrHbY

External links

v • d • e
Likwit Crew
Groups
Barbershop MCs · Lootpack · Tha Alkaholiks
Members
Chuck Hustle · Declaime · Defari · E-Swift · J. Wells · J-Ro · King Tee · Montageone · Phil Da Agony  · Styliztik Jones · Tash · The Barber Kiz · Xzibit
Releases
Act a Fool · At Your Own Risk · Tha Triflin' Album · 21 & Over · Coast II Coast · IV Life · At the Speed of Life · Likwidation · 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz · Ruff Rhymes: Greatest Hits Collection · Soundpieces: Da Antidote · Rap Life · Focused Daily · Restless · Andsoitissaid · X.O. Experience · The Kingdom Come · Blunted in the Bomb Shelter Mix · Secondary Protocol · Shades of Blue · Odds & Evens · People Person · Aromatic · Conversations With Dudley · The Ruthless Chronicles · Firewater · Street Music

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
The Next Chapter: Strictly Underground (1995 Album by Various Artists)
Joe Chavez (Rap Artist, '90s, 2000s)
Focused Daily (1999 Album by Defari)

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Defari".  Read more

 

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