Around 1994, the late, great DJ Rob One took Dusk under his wing, showed him around underground L.A., and introduced him into the Afrika Bambaataa-founded Universal Zulu Nation (which Dusk would help to revive 10 years later). In 1996, Dusk met Tackett, and the pair formed a trio with T-Love for a quick series of shows. Shortly after that, Dusk became the DJ for Lady Copper and Medusa's "Nappy at the Roots," still a monthly event, every second Friday at Fais Do-Do.
By 1997, Tackett and Loslito had asked Dusk to join the Root Down, which over the last decade has been a vital incubator for a brilliant movement, hosting or nurturing such stellar West Coast hip-hop acts as J-5, Dilated Peoples, Black Eyed Peas, the Visionaries, Crown City Rockers, Breakestra, and the Rebirth. Dusk's personality and brilliant timing made him the club's heart and soul as he effortlessly mixed hip-hop, funk, house, reggae, cumbia, and the unexpected.
"Very few DJs have Dusk's full spectrum of musical knowledge," says Loslito. "He knew how to keep people dancing and still take chances." That shows on Dusk's two internationally praised mix-CDs, Top Ranking Volume 1 (a tribute to Jamaican roots, dub, and dancehall) and the salsa-filled La Musica, meticulous productions loaded with rare global party-rockers shaped into carefully crafted musical journeys.
Around L.A., Dusk "was always in the mix," says Z-Trip. "He was a diehard ... lugging crates, digging, making the party live." Dusk maintained an iron-man schedule of mixing around town several days a week, and, in addition to the Root Down and Nappy at the Roots, he was a resident at numerous other clubs. In a sadly ironic twist, his brilliant tribute mix to recently passed rapper/producer J Dilla aired on KCRW and BBC Radio a few weeks before Dusk's own demise.
He was expanding beyond his beloved L.A., performing at Root Down New York City, with hip-hop soul DJ Sake 1 in the Bay Area, and at the Sundance Film Festival, along with high-profile shows on the rooftop of L.A.'s downtown Standard, at the El Rey with Z-Trip, and in the pavilion at the Getty.
Dusk's fingerprints were even on his own memorials: Events in New York City, San Francisco, and L.A. (which included appearances by Bambaataa and hip-hop pioneer Kool Herc) were organized by the DJ's latest venture, Prima Lux. This trio of Dusk and partners Andrew Lojero and Pablo Like Picasso had over the last year been throwing roving parties and after-hours rooftop affairs that just got bigger and bigger. Indeed, Dusk himself had masterminded these three events, two months before his death, intending them as hip-hop history lessons. "Even his tribute party was about teaching and educating," says Kooyman.
More than 500 people attended his funeral service, at Rose Hills in Whittier, among them members of J-5, the Beat Junkies, the Visionaries, and Dilated Peoples. Sixty white doves were released from his plot high on a hilltop and disappeared into the eastern sky - reminding those assembled of the bright light he shone on countless lives.
"Dusk was always about family," says Loslito. "When Jurassic 5, Breakestra, Rebirth, Cut Chemist, or any local homey would travel the world, Dusk would always say, 'Go handle it and let the world know about L.A. I'll be here, holding L.A. down.' He's now world famous because he held L.A. down so strong."
2nd Annual Sights & Sounds of DJ Dusk Art & Music Festival
Where: Mar Vista Family Center
Location: 5075 South Slauson Avenue
Culver City, CA 90230
DIRECTIONS
When: Sunday April 27th, 2008
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Contact: Joey Bravo, Event Coordinator: bravoj@marvistafc.org
More Information Visit: www. marvistafc. org
and www. byfy. org
Los Angeles, CA – The By Youth For Youth (BYFY) group of Mar Vista Family Center (MVFC) will be hosting its 2nd Annual Sights and Sounds of DJ Dusk Art and Music Festival on Sunday April 27th, 2008.
The event will take place from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Mar Vista Family Center, 5075 South Slauson Avenue Del Rey, CA 90230
Last April, in its inaugural year, the Sights and Sounds of DJ Dusk Festival celebrated the life of long-time Mar Vista Family Center employee and youth leader, Tarek "DJ Dusk" Captan. On April 29, 2006, Tarek tragically lost his life and his absence has been felt citywide, especially at Mar Vista Family Center. Through art and music, Tarek was able to reach wide audiences across the Los Angeles landscape and beyond.
During his ten years of service here at Mar Vista, he was able to empower youth with the tools to seek higher education and social justice
This celebration, and each one thereafter, will combine Tarek's passion for music and art with his devotion to youth activism by exposing aspiring artists to veteran performers who believe in using art and music to create positive social change. With a new youth center under construction, MVFC will be able to serve three times the amount of current youth.
Aside from offering leadership workshops and building communication skills, the new youth center will provide programs in the creative arts, such as dance, music, deejaying, art, video, and photography; an accomplishment Tarek would appreciate
Since the festival coincides with the much anticipated creative arts programs, the celebration is being utilized to establish a foundation for these programs by raising funds for materials, equipment, software, etc..., and accepting monetary and/or equipment donations
Featured artists include DJ's Expo, Sake 1 (SF), Daz, Jeremy Sole, Lady Sha, Music Man Miles; live performances by Ray Ricky Rivera, and Raquel Rodriguez; keynote speaker Garth Trinidad (Chocolate City, KCRW) and graciously hosted by Azul 213.
There will be many more dj's, artists, and attractions such as a DJ workshop in addition to a youth and veteran art exhibit
The Mar Vista Family Center is a nationally recognized program that creates positive changes through dozens of community programs including By Youth For Youth which promotes individual and social responsibility among youth. The BYFY program provides positive role models and important leadership development tools for 65 underprivileged youths, ranging in age from 13 to 21.
These youths, in turn, supervise enriching activities for 600 children and preteens who attend programs at MVFC year-round
"None of us are as strong as ALL of us" – DJ Dusk
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