The Cipher Show Podcast: Paradise Grey

[Deltron]

Paradise Gray began his career in hip-hop under the tutelage of masters like Pete DJ Jones and Disco King Mario. However, he really hit his stride when he began booking hip-hop acts and hosting in 1986 at a nightclub in the heart of Times Square called the Latin Quarter. While at the club, he would have a front row seat to the introduction of a new generation of hip-hop artists—the key acts in what would come to be called the genre’s Golden Age.

After the club closed in 1988, Paradise would form the group X-Clan with some friends, and deliver some of the most powerful, conscious rap records of all time.

Paradise has a new book about his time at the LQ called No Half Steppin’: An Oral and Pictorial History of New York City Club the Latin Quarter and the Birth of Hip-Hop’s Golden Era.

 

[Unknown Poster]

I actually met this dude back in Pittsburgh around 2008 when I was DJing at the Shadow Lounge and Ava as an inhouse DJ for happy hours and had Tuesday night residencies.

Cool cat. Showed me some uber rare pics. One he had of Keith Haring and JamMaster Jay at the Latin Quarter stood out the most to me...