DJ Green Lantern also known as The Evil Genius, is an American DJ and hip hop musician. Green Lantern was born in Rochester, New York and he is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. In 2002, Green Lantern was signed by Eminem to become the official DJ for Shady Records after DJ Head stepped down for undisclosed reasons. Green Lantern left the label in 2005 due to a dispute with Shady Records rapper 50 Cent.

Rise to fame

Green Lantern then came to prominence with his Invasion! mixtape series, the first set of officially sponsored mixtapes from Eminem's Shady Records. On the series, spanning three mixtapes (later to be spun off into the Armageddon series), the DJ broke several diss records, furthering the issues between Eminem and Benzino/The Source as well as the entire Shady camp and Ja Rule/Murder Inc.

He is also recognized as a producer, featuring on his own mixtapes several "Green Remixes," including, most notably, a remix of the Nas and Tupac Shakur's collaboration "Thugz Mansion." He also produced D-Block's "2 Guns Up", an acclaimed street single, which originated as a freestyle rap on his Hot 97 radio show, "In the Lab" (the most memorable of which has also appeared as a mixtape, "The Best of In the Lab"). "In the Lab" is formatted as a one-hour (with commercials) mix show, in which DJ Green Lantern blends a cappella and instrumental tracks from various artists, as well as breaking new and underground music (such as the Ghostface Killah and El-Producto collaboration HideYaFace).

With the Shady Records family

As a member of the Shady Records family, DJ Green Lantern also hosted a show on Eminem's Sirius Satellite Radio channel, Shade 45 (along with an accompanying mixtape released in the fall of 2004). As Eminem's own DJ, Green Lantern was responsible for touring with him and spinning at shows such as the Shady National Convention and The Game's album release party. DJ Green Lantern's much anticipated album Armageddon was set to be released under Shady Records, but controversy and an eventual parting would put the release in limbo.

Problems with Shady Records

In late spring/early summer 2005, an independently distributed street DVD was released showing Jadakiss apparently discussing the over-hyped 50 Cent/Jadakiss/Fat Joe quarrel begun by remarks made by 50 Cent in his song "Piggy Bank," off his second album, The Massacre. Supposedly, Green Lantern leaked information to Jadakiss about the G-Unit camp's tactics, and was advising the D-Block rapper as to his next move. In the conversation Green Lantern said that Jadakiss diss to 50 Cent "Checkmate" was a left jab and he's waiting on the knockout. After this footage was released to the streets, Green Lantern left Shady Records. The conversation between Jadakiss and Green Lantern can be seen here. Reports conflict as to the status of Green Lantern's departure from Shady — 50 Cent has said in interviews that he was fired, while Green Lantern has stated that he stepped down, not wanting to create tension between 50 Cent and Eminem. He also left the Shade 45 Sirius radio channel, as well as leaving the label. The Alchemist (Mobb Deep's affiliate) replaced Green Lantern for the Shady Records 2005 Anger Management Tour. In early 2008 a video appeared on 50 Cent's official fansite ThisIs50.com with 50 cent, Tony Yayo, Prodigy (rapper) and DJ Green Lantern together after ending the feud with 50 Cent.

Recent news

• Green Lantern is now working with his newly signed artist Uncle Murder, an up and comer from East New York, Brooklyn.

• Green Lantern is present in background of music video of late Notorious B.I.G.'s "Nasty Girl", even though music was produced by Jazze Pha.

• Green Lantern served as DJ for Jay-Z during several of his tours. He was known to be present in I Declare War concert held in Madison Square Garden and served as DJ for the United Nations/MTV/Jay-Z Water for Life World Tour and Jay-Z's Hangar Tour (7 shows in 17 hours) to promote Hov's studio album, Kingdom Come.

• Green Lantern did Fort Minor's official mixtape, which has achieved popularity.

• In 2003 he was present at the Chappelle Show behind the decks.

• As of November 23, 2005 Green Lantern has signed to RSMG (Russell Simmons Music Group) which is under Def Jam Recordings. Def Jam will be home to his long anticipated album The Invasion set for release in 2007.

• Green Lantern was also asked to do a special exclusive Mixtape for the PlayStation 2/Xbox video game, AND 1 Streetball.

• Green Lantern produced the official And1 Streetball mixtape in conjunction with Big Jay from Invasion Marketing and David Gene Oh from Ubisoft. The official And1 Mixtape for the videogame was one of the most sold streetball games developed in the US.

• His new album was scheduled for release on April 7, 2007, in his hometown of Rochester, New York, at the Water Street Music Hall. (It wasn't released at that date, and no new information has been released as of yet.)

• In 2008 a video appeared on 50 Cent's official fansite ThisIs50.com with 50 cent, Tony Yayo, Prodigy (rapper) and DJ Green Lantern together after ending the feud with 50 Cent.
  
  

» BECOME A WRITER
» DISCUSS THIS TOPIC