DJ LABUGA

Music:

Member Since: 01/04/2007
Band Website: www.garifunaheritagefoundation.org
Band Members: PUNTA DIGEST The Best Garifuna DJ on the Planet Posted by: Jerry Castro on Apr 25, 05 | 5:00 pmHe is an experiment whom unlike Jose Canseco, his juice is real don’t require Garifuna Congressional hearings.The level of his game is so tight that it should be scripted as a manifesto. And if joy isn’t happy, he got one of the most attractive and baddest Garifuna woman on his side.Checkmate.Just like the NBA playoffs, DJ Labuga’s season has just begun. All over again, its about to rejuvenate.The man is booked. Despite of his ‘oval office’-type schedule, he found the time to give some love and allow us to shed some light on his persona. The Man. The mixter of the hottest Garifuna mixes in Cali.Just like the playoffs, his game is gifted like Kobe and chosen like Lebron. Legendary like Michael and historical like Pele.His big like Biggie and poetic like Tupac. His parties are like movie premieres – sell outs. Traditional like Pali and Punta Rock like Pen Cayetano.This is the interlude. The intro. The ‘dan-digui-dan’.Just in case you’ve never heard about him, DJ Labuga is the best Garifuna DJ on the planet. And just like the playoffs, he’s just warming up. Check mate.Punta Digest: Hello ‘abuti’, idabinya? There are plenty of young Garinagu who are not familiar nor have heard about you, can you briefly tell us who you are and what you do?DJ Labuga: I am a citizen of the world. And by that I mean that is a hybrid individual just like the garinagu. I come from a Chinese family from my father’s side. My grandpa came from a region of China called Canton. He migrated to Guatemala in the first half of the 1900’s and married my grandma, a Guatemalan lady from Spanish background. My father Juan Rafael Yee was born and married my mother Milagro Lopez. They had 3 children: Juan Jr., Rony and Tatania. I was born in Mazatenango, Suchitepequez in 1964 and earned marketing & advertising degree from colegio La Ilustracion at age 18. Migrated to the States in 1983 where I studied business administration at CSU, Dominguez Hills. In 1991 I obtained my B.S. degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems. What do I do? I work as a counselor in Los Angeles. I have owned 3 businesses, which I have sold as well. One was kaibil balam restaurant, the other miguatemalastore.com and concurrently dj labuga productions. I am a producer and a dj by trade. I started producing since 1993; however, in 1981, I got in the music business during the early days of my college days when I opened a closed-circuit-radio-station as a school project in San Antonio, Suchitepequez. Up-to-day, I have produced the following projects: co-produced the first Garifuna Stars Band. Produced Madness & Sound City Band, a project that was brought to me by Madness, lead singer for that band. Executive producer and co-sound engineer for Isanigu The Punta Rock Soul-jahs. In addition, Sopps Sanchez’s Forward album. Next, Inebesey Band which was fully managed and produced by labuga productions. Macako’s Punta Rebane was also another album that I started and was finished by Garinet.Punta Digest: April is probably one of the busiest months for the Garinagu, can you shed some light about the Los Angeles Garifuna Community Forum? And if you might, what lead you to become part of this event?DJ Labuga: First of all, here in Los Angeles, November is one of the busiest months due to the 19th celebration for all Garinagou Belizean and the 26th for all Guatemalan. The First Garifuna Community Forum L.A. 2005 was an idea that Cheryl Noralez shared with me about 6 weeks before it actually happened. Cheryl saw the vision and the need to have all Garinagou leaders from all places come together to share their knowledge and expertise in the issues affecting the Garifuna population in general. As you might know by now, we invited all from as far away as St. Vincent to the U.S. to Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Consulate Generals from these respective countries were notified by regular mail and only one responded by attending; the vice consul from Guatemala Honorable Milton E. Alvarez. What really led me to become part of this event was the energy and faith that Cheryl put into this project. Next, the dedication and the love that I feel for the Garifuna and the fact that Cheryl and I live together. I couldn’t help seeing Cheryl get all bogged down with so much work and contacts to make. I told her that public relations are my forte and that’s where I came in. We started contacting the many leaders from all over the Diaspora and the ones that were available to do compromise. Those other leaders that couldn’t commit will get a chance next time. The entire project was financed by the Noralez and Figueroa families which entailed renting Maabatuwa Cultural Center, buying the food and drinks as well as the cutlery. Moreover, we had to get pens, pencils, notebooks, mailing materials and certificates. Not including the countless hours that we spent glued to the computer and the telephone reaching out to the community in general to make this event as professional and effective as possible.Punta Digest: You have authored articles regarding the impact of Punta Rock and its effects, but …why do you believe that the 2000’s have seen a lack of young Punta Rockers compared to the 80’s with Labuga Boys, Sea Boys, and the 90’s Garifuna Kids, Legacy and Punta Rebels. Are young Garifunas distancing themselves from the Punta arena?DJ Labuga: Yes and No. Yes, I think that youth in general are distancing from Punta Rock as a medium to stay in touch with their ancestors and culture, but most importantly, youth are reacting to what is called Punta Rock-Evolution. They are bringing their own flavor and touch to it. We may not like it but in all honesty it sounds deep and in tune with the signs of the times. It sounds more hip-hopish, it sounds more profound with a mixture of electronic garaoun-like sounds found in the top-of-the-line drum machines. The public in general like it and I have experienced with my own eyes how even black Americans quickly adapt to it by just the beat of the song. The only ones that are hard to break into are the elderly and the middle aged Garinagou. They tend to be more critical and least accepting of this important trend in the Punta Rock music business. And No because youth find it that by keeping this music alive they still are in tune with their ancestors. They feel the connection and that’s the reason you hear Punta or Paranda songs being flavored with phrases and sentences in Garifuna but the message is mostly spoken in English. The new millennium is not over yet and the up and coming young talented artists are soon to hit the music scene once again. It is very important to mention though that, we need the proper media to play this music for more people to listen to it and to support it. I am talking about a radio station that caters to all Garinagu and not only to Belizeans as in the case of Ciego’s Heaven radio on the net. I love Ciego’s station and I commend the guy for such an innovating project, but his musical selection is too limited to certain artists. If I could change something at Ciego’s, it would be to be more inclusive. And if Ciego doesn’t have the music, well it is time for people to reach out to him and give him copies or for Ciego to reach out to the musicians all over. The ultimate goal here is to showcase what’s been recorded and to give the proper credit to the authors and musicians who have left their legacy through Uremu.Punta Digest: As a young man, you attended parties back in the days. Who was the hottest group in your time? And do you Punta or Soudigui? – (Laughs)DJ Labuga: They used to call me the Punta Police. I would not only attend parties but I used to make it happen. I got involved with every event that had to do with Punta Music. Do I Punta or Soudigui? Yes my brother. I shake and bake - like a crazy Chinaman dancing Punta. As far as my favorite group or the hottest band back in the days have been many but just to name a few: Kaligar Band, Estrellas Ubou, La Buga Boys, Black Fever, Rene Crisanto, Grupo H, Mando & Eduardo Ballesteros, Melvin Augustine, Chico Ramos, Andy Palacio, Jeff Zuñiga, Titiman & Mohobub Flores, Jr. Aranda, Paul Nabor, Mime, La Gran Tribu Garifuna and Guwie Possie, etc.Punta Digest: If you were in a band today, what instruments would you play? I love playing keyboard. I am into percussion but most definitely I would love to play the drum set (trap set).Punta Digest: What motivates your passion to be active within the Garifuna American community?DJ Labuga: Culture and survival. I have my son who was born to Cheryl and I; his name is Isani Rony Figueroa. Isani is only 6 years old and he is culturally aware of who he is. He loves his hybrid Culture of being Chinese, Spanish and Garifuna (African, Arawak, Carib). I am committed to give him the chance to know his culture; he will choose to live it.Punta Digest: There have been legendary DJs from Labuga such as Afenga, Rababa and Batman, Do you see yourself in that class, plus, what motivated you to name yourself Dj Labuga?DJ Labuga: I am in my own category. I can’t compete with a DJ who relies on high-tech equipment to mix. When I mix, I do it the old fashion way, by feeling the beat and by single-handedly slowing or fast-forwarding the pitch control on the turntables. I study each and every song in the new albums and I classify them according to beat, style and speed. I mark the songs that I feel are going to be the next number one hits and I number them with marker on the CD face. Around 1990-1991, I was introduced to Flavio Alvarez of Livingston in L.A. The name DJ LABUGA was basically a term of endearment given to me by the La Bugana people in Los Angeles. I used to be and I will always be their DJ for any occasion. Every time I played for either Union Livingston or Hermandad Livingsteña, they would call me: Le’ts get the DJ that plays La Bugana music; therefore, the term DJ LABUGA.Punta Digest: No one thought Punta Rock will survive 27 years, where do you see Garifuna music 10 years from now?DJ Labuga: Garifuna Music has a beat of its own. It has an identity of its own and a life of its own. But we are so close-minded that we don’t realize that Punta rhythm has been recognized as a music pattern even in Japan. Have you noticed the musical pattern or beat section of a keyboard sold at music stores?. The Beat for Punta is one of the choices if you want to hear a sample of what Punta sounds like so you can play with your own fingers a tune of Punta with a Punta beat. Some Garifuna musicians have taken Punta Rock for granted to the point that they don’t realize what they have nor appreciate the power of music and how much people out there know about Punta Rock. The richness and colorful sounds that come out of the drums alone are enough for people to want to get on the dance floor and grove. I want to see Garifuna Music being played in the mainstream radio stations from the East Coast to the West, and from St. Vincent to Nicaragua just like Reggaeton or Merengue.Punta Digest: What is your favorite Garifuna dish?DJ Labuga: Hudutu! Tapou! Ereba! Dessert: Dabuledu! Drink: Duna
Influences: Mohubob Flores, Titiman - Poots Flores, Aurelio Martinez, Grupo H, Paula Castillo, Andy Palacio, Nuru, Aziatic, Punta Rebels, Rio Tinto Stars Band
Sounds Like: Dr. Joseph Palacio & Me
INEBESEY BAND: Marlon Zairo, Glen Sampson, Pappy Martinez, Chukupen, Tachu Martinez, D-Bone (Dayton) Bernardez - Circa 2000 - 2001TITIMAN FLORES - DJ LABUGA - DONKEY MAN - MIME KING KEROB

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