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During the school year of 1990 two local deejays, I, who at the time was known as "Dj Caesar The Lady Pleaser", and Khaled who was known as "Double KK", thought of organizing a party for the Christmas holidays in our hometown Orlando, FL. Our goal was to uplift the Hip-Hop, House, and Reggae scene that were lingering locally. However, we were struggling with the idea that this was going to be our first major party (as deejays) and we were unsure as to whether or not we had enough music to successfully "rock" the party. So we looked to a local "DJ" that Khaled and I recognized as the Guru of Hip-Hop, Dj Nasty - better known as "The Groovin Cuban".
Considering that I knew him personally through mutual friends and purchasing of his mix tapes while being classmates I decided to give him a call and ask if he would help us with our party. He agreed and we moved on to rent out the hall at a local Marriott. The title of the party was "Hip-Hop Junkies." As you can see this is a name of a song that was big during the time of the party. We got in touch with a local graffiti artist by the name of Neal (Neal 4 Real). He has done past album covers for local artist such as Dj Magic Mike and many more. We had the hottest local Hip-Hop deejay, Khaled and I were very popular and knew mad people, and we had a flyer that was designed in a true graffiti format. We passed out flyers on the streets, posted them up at phone booths, and distributed them throughout the local high schools. Most of all, we vowed not use the commercial radio stations! It was all about the streets.
The party was 'off da hook!' Over 600 people came and truly enjoyed the party. The music selection included R&B, Hip-Hop, Ol Skool, House, & Reggae ...
The following day we decided to meet up at a friends crib, who happened to be associated with Nasty, and we sat down, the four of us and Sherman, and discussed the party while enjoying some barbeque chicken! It was then that we decided to form a name for the four (after the first couple parties became three officially) of us that could be used for future parties - Hitmen Productions. Then we called Neal and asked him to draw a logo that we had in mind and that became our trademark.
We decided to set up some dates for other parties and continue using the same formula that we used for our first party. Strictly graffiti flyers, drawn by Neal, with the titles of the hottest Hip-Hop or Reggae joints as the theme were the essential ingredients. Along with this we decided that in order too keep it real with the streets and the local Hip-Hop culture we must stay in the scene regardless of what status we might have obtained. We realized that there was a need for something different in the Central Florida area; something that had an east coast vibe to it; so we gave them Hitmen Productions!
It was time to give a Re-Birth to the culture of Hip-Hop in the Orlando area. I say re-birth because after Tony Touch left and DJ's Twice as Nice (Rich & Ray's) drastic efforts to hold it down for the streets while playing on the newly erected 102Jamz it was left too the seeds and foundations that they laid too represent. (Anything before that I am not aware of, credit to whomever was doing it before my time!)
The reign of Hitmen Productions continued while we assisted other crews such as, The Rude Boys (Yogi, Garfield, Damian, R.I.P. to their DJ - 'BreakitDown'), Gangsta Bytches, The Missin Lynx (formerly known as the Warheadz), Native Souls. We also worked building a foundation with DJ's such as Prostyle, DJ Desire, Jay-Storm, DJ Chino, and Twok, giving them different ideas on how to get started. The whole concept was not to be concerned with the competition 'per say' but to help promote the Hip-Hop culture in Orlando, Fl. We also had a live mix show on 91.5 WPRK, a local college radio station based in Winter Park, FL. Initially the late night mix show was pioneered by the D.I.M. Concept (also introduced us to the Lebanese Club) which happened to include one of our deejays - DJ Nasty. Alongside Nasty there was DJ Cano who played deep house and 'School Boy' who played Reggae/Dancehall. Not only did these three rip the live mix show but they also played at an underground nightclub called '317'. Then the rest of the crew (Hitmen) became DJ's and we joined the family with Nap Nitti (came out of Philly with his DJ's KMR & KMX) who hosted a Friday mix show live on 91.5!
As time progressed we continued rocking parties at the Syrian-American 'Lebanese Club', Rotary Club, Heroes Nightclub, Breakfast Club, Dekko's, and many more. To gain a better understanding of the Hip-Hop industry we tried to attend any and every music seminar available. However, most commonly we attended The New Music Seminar and Jack The Rapper music convention (yes we attended the one in Atlanta, 1993, when Luke Records & Death Row Records went at it around 2:30 in da morning while waiting for Run D.M.C. to perform in the Marriott). After doing footwork with the Jack The Rapper family, who was based out of Orlando, FL, we learned the importance of seminars and the business aspect of the industry.
Still committed to the parties and the college radio show, we linked up with H.Ringer Productions, who opened many big doors for us! From DJ's Red Alert, Ron G, Jazzy Joyce, Kid Capri, Clark Kent, to artist like KRS-1, Gangstaar, The Illmatic Nas (at the time), Notorious B.I.G. (before the lawsuit), and the Homecoming parties of Howard University. What ever happened to the damn Source Vans/Trucks by the way? They use to be the jointz ... they made an event official!
Soon we had Central Florida locked down along with 8-Ball Productions (Formerly Disco & The City Boyz/Rottweiler Ent. /407 Boys) holdin it down on da Dirty South tip and Mr. CeCe the Reggae Ambassador holdin it down with the Caribbean phlavas !
Around 1995
Dj Khaled
moved with his family to New Orleans to help them with their family business and continued deejaying at the House of Blues and other clubs in the area. While I,
Dj Caesar, went into the Air Force to network and try and take the name Hitmen Productions on the road with me. Dj Nasty stayed in the Orlando area and continued to hold it down. However, with us leaving the local area many thought we left on bad terms and therefore the Hitmen split up, this was not the case. Shortly after Khaled moved to New Orleans he made his way back down south to Miami, FL, more specifically South Beach. It was then that Khaled picked up the name Dj Khaled "The Arab Attack". Still representing for Hitmen Productions he grew to be the hottest Reggae & Hip Hop selector on the underground radio shows as well as the clubs. He currently resides and is a resident DJ in South Beach/Miami, FL. Dj Khaled is also a member of The Terror Squad and was recently signed to 'SRC', Steve Rifkins (LOUD Records) new record label. During this time Dj Nasty became a mix show DJ for 102Jamz and started his own 'beat making' production company currently known as Nasty Beat Maker Productions. "Da Groovin Cuban" - Dj Nasty is also a official member of The Terror Squad. He plays at the hottest nightclubs in Orlando along with his newfound partner Dj Prostyle (also a protégé of Hitmen Productions). I finished out my Air Force contract and went on tour with LL Cool J/LFO/N-Sync at the end of which I became a full-time student at Tuskegee University pursuing a degree in Political Science in short of becoming an Entertainment Lawyer. Although we all have gone different routes we still carry the name Hitmen Productions and represent Orlando, FL. Nevertheless, look out there are more Hitmen Reunions to come!
After enrolling at Tuskegee University, Fall of 1998, and realizing that there were some of the signs of Hip-Hop among the students, just no outlet,
Dj Caesar
teamed up with rapper/breaker
Adverbs
of Chicago. IL, and Vizion of Atlanta, GA, to bring Hitmen Productions too Tuskegee. At the turn of the 'millennium' we kicked off our first annual party at the 'Complex' titled "Throw Ya Hands Up" (from Jay-Z). It was then that we realized our presence was long awaited. Following the party we added
Dj $cream, Engineering major out of Atlanta, GA. During the summer/fall of 2000
Quest, from Connecticut. While
Intellect, from Pittsburgh came on board Spring 2003 and was added as official members and we continued to host parties that represented the East & West Coast, Dirty South, Mid-West, and the Caribbean's. Hitmen Productions, in Tuskegee, currently has 15 street team members as well as the above mentioned. The deejays for Hitmen Productions are as follows: Dj Caesar - Orlando, FL., Dj Scream - Atlanta, GA., Dj Roadblock - Texas, Dj Illusion - Texas, Dj 7-UP - Detroit,
Dj Chino
- Orlando, FL 102Jamz
and more upcoming deejays on da horizon...
" ...Rap Is Something You Do, Hip-Hop Is Something You Live... " - KRS-1
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