Paradise Gray was raised in The South Bronx during the days of Reaganomics, the trickle down theory was in full effect. With live entertainment being financially inaccessible, the young people began to create their own forms of entertainment.This raw, new music scene crafted in the inner cities of New York is now affectionately known as "Hip-hop". The voice of the ghetto that has grown to become a Multi-Billion Dollar industry that has in recent years out-sold all other forms of music in America. Paradise was a young street D.J. mentored by some of Hip-hop's founding DJ's: Disco King Mario (R.I.P.), Pete DJ Jones, The Grand Imperial J.C., and D.J. C.C. Howard. Paradise earned street credibility as a D.J., Rapper and Breakdancer. Paradise jokes: "I never liked getting paint on my hands and clothes, so I was a horrible Graffiti artist".Paradise is also a writer and photographer with articles and photographs appearing in The Source, XXL, Right On!, YO!, Wax Poetics, The Big Red News, VH1's 30 Years Of Hip-hop History, "It's Like That" (Run-DMC's Autobiography) by Bill Adler and many early Hip-hop magazines including The Hip-hop Hit-list and Rap Masters.A archivist with a great Hip-hop memorabilia collection: (The Paradise Collection), Paradise has been a photographer, writer, producer, promoter, artist, activist, and manager of entertainment for The Legendary Hip-hop Club " The Latin Quarters ".The Latin Quarters was the incubator of "The Golden Era" Of Hip-hop where Over 80% of the legendary artists honed their skills and made their connections. Some of those artists include: Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS 1, Salt & Pepa, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, EPMD X-Clan and many others.. In 1987-88 Paradise helped Lumumba Carson form The BlackWatch Movement that spawned the groups: The X-Clan , ISIS , Queen Mother Rage, Unique & Dashan and Professor X himself as an artist. The BlackWatch Movement was critical to the grassroots consciousness of New York City's youth and was instrumental in changing the face of Hip-hop to one of Black Pride in the late 80's to early 90's. Both of The X-Clan's albums: "To The East Blackwards" and "XODUS" are considered Classics and are a must listen to for anyone into Black Conscious music. Dubbed "The Grand Arkitech Traxtitioner Paradise" Mr. Gray was a member of the groups production team that included Jason Hunter (The Grand Verbalizer Funkin-Lesson Brother J), Anthony Hardin (The Rhythm Provider Sugar Shaft) , And Lumumba Carson (Professor X The Overseer). The X-Clan were nominated for an NAACP Image Award.From 1999-2003 Paradise Gray was the executive in charge of urban music at the infamous Internet music company MP3.COM, the company that invented the Online Music Revolution and was last big IPO in the dot.com boom era. MP3.COM was the precursor to all the music downloading companies and controversy. Paradise currently owns and operates two small businesses in Pittsburgh PA: "Pyramid Recording Studios" and " The UndaGround Lounge " (A Hip-hop Art Gallery, local music, custom t-shirt retailer and live performance/party rental space). A community activist with a deep love for people, Paradise is the Director of a program for young people "Almost Home" that feeds 60 kids twice a week and offers mentor programs, free internet usage, home work assistance and guitar, voice and drum lessons, "we allow children to play video games and socialize, learn and have fun all in the same place, it at least keeps them out of the streets during a critical time of day". - ParadiseParadise was recently asked to work with the "Ministry Of Art's And Sciences" for The Millions More Movement Pittsburgh LOC. He also works with The National Hip-hop political Convention's Pittsburgh LOC. Mr. Gray's community service does not end there, as he as serves on the board of a newly formed coalition formed by Blackmen who head community service programs in Pittsburgh " One Hood ". One Hood was created to promote unity amoung young men, to strengthen and support each individual members programs and to promote peace in local Pittsburgh neighborhoods and across America. One Hood Putting the Neighbor Back In The Hood"Breakdown FM; Hip Hop Responds to the Ongoing War on Terror-Police Terror"
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