I&I Vibration

Born and raised Bay Area Selecta/Promoter, Niko “Beatnok” Pavkovic is I-Vibe’s Jack of all trades… Spanning his music passion since a tender youth, Beatnok’s influence started early with community radio, live shows and music festivals… With an American Mother and a Montenegrin/Serb Father, he carries an old-world philosophy with innovative influence to his musical expression… As Ying is to Yang, Treble is to Bass…

After serving a healthy addiction to live music for years as a teenager, Beatnok picked up a set of needles and some headphones to gain a new addiction to vinyl wax… Hittin’ the scene runnin’ in 2001, Beatnok first dedicated himself to rocking the parties of Isla Vista (2001-2003)… You could find Beatnok rocking Del Playa from a balcony for countless 40 zone installments… From 2001 – 2004 Beatnok produced the “Beatnok Show”, a underground Hip Hop and Reggae culture program on KCSB Santa Barbara, with Ricky Flip… In 2003 Beatnok held his first three residencies at two venues downtown Santa Barbara, CA (Omaley’s & Zelo’s) and the Study Hall (Isla Vista, CA).  At the end of 2003, Beatnok headed back to SF to wrap up a degree in broadcasting and at the same time, solidifying a foundation back home in the bay… In 2004 he started his first SF residency “Inna Da Light” which ran 4years strong alongside Joe-L, Green B, Mr Lucky, Irie 1, Lumba and many other Bay Area favorites… In 2005, Beatnok joined up with San Francisco based Hip Hop Crew, Writerz Guild as resident DJ for all performances and shows. In 2006 Beatnok founded the now prevalent San Francisco based I&I Vibration (I-Vibe)… A like-minded crew dedicated to the up-lift of the masses through the guidance of music… In 2007, I&I Vibration founded “Skylarking” a Monday night vinyl dance specializing in Roots, Dub and Dancehall Reggae, which is running strong today. In the past two years, in addition to residencies, Beatnok has traveled all over the US playing dances, festivals and shows… Known for bassie tracks, rare licks, big tunes and dope grooves, Beatnok is dedicated to riddim like a lizard to a limb… From sharing the bill and stage with artists like Ranking Joe, Al Pancho, Fantan Mojah, The Mighty Diamonds, Don Carlos, Culture, Steel Pulse, The Meditations, Rocker T, King Jah, Nayas, Lion Face, Rebelution and more… To linking up with some of the most noted and best sound systems, DJ’s and MC’s from all 4 courners of the globe… From weekly, bi-weekly and monthly residencies in San Francisco, to festivals in Humbolt and Michigan, to clubs in Washington D.C., Beatnok makes way across the land with music in hand… Check the vibes…

Mixes:

- (2006) Inity Step Vol. 1 & 2 – Dancehall Riddim Jugglin’
- (2007) Homage Vol. 1 - Roots, Dub & Dancehall Reggae Classics
- (2008) X-Amount Vol. 1 – Reggae, Dancehall & Remixes
- (2008) I-Fidelity Vol. 1 – Dub Muzik

www.ivibesound.com
www.myspace.com/ivibesoundsystem
www.myspace.com/beatnok

I&I Vibration

Mr. Lucky aka Diego Herrera has been a DJ and reggae selector since 2002, but his musical journey begins in his childhood.  Born in Costa Rica and raised in California, he was exposed to a spectrum of music that helped shape the sonic palette he incorporates today.  His head was filled with sounds from Latin America and the U.S., as well as the island sounds from Jamaica that were ubiquitous in Costa Rica.  His passion for music first manifested itself in live performance, as both a vocalist and multi instrumentalist.  He enjoyed an 8-year career playing in The Reef Band, a band with a blend of musical influences heavily accented by reggae.  It was during this time that he discovered his passion for Reggae Sound System culture, fueling his interest to DJ.  After purchasing his first records and turntables he was hooked and he eventually focused on his juggling and studio production.  He is currently a member of Bay Area Sound System I&I Vibration (I-Vibe), and continues to expand and apply those varied musical interests that help him feverishly move crowds.

Mixes:
- (2008) Trill Out – Reggae, Dancehall, Remixes & Mash Ups

www.ivibesound.com
www.myspace.com/ivibesoundsystem
www.myspace.com/mrluckykfjc

Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi

“Gotta go with Jah Yzer on this one. The bearded Miami export pretty much has the whole Bay Area dancehall scene on lock. He's known for his residencies at Frisco clubs such as Club Dread and Storyville, but has been fairly busy on this side of the bridge as well the past few years, rotating in and out of the mix at Oasis' Lion Rock on Wednesdays and the Down Low Lounge's King of Kings on Sunday. Yzer is always equipped with a fresh stack of criss 45s straight from yard, and his crates hold 'nuff history, as far as roots reggae or classic dancehall goes. If you're lucky, you might even catch Yzer spinning breakbeats as if he was born to do that, too, vamping to Lowell Fulson's "Tramp" as fluidly as the latest Sizzla or Bushman dubplate.”
– East Bay Express

www.jahwarriorshelter.com
www.myspace.com/yzerebel

Galang

DJ Stepwise (Andres Octavio) is a reggae / dancehall selector and producer from San Francisco, California. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Stepwise came to the U.S. at a very young age, and now has been living in San Francisco since 1997. With over 12 years in the mix, Stepwise has played in places around the world (as the USA, Australia, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, and more ...) and has shared the stage with artists as large as Barrington Levy, Capleton, Midnite, Chuck Fender, Lutan Fyah, Yellowman, Alika (turning into her DJ), Groundation, Eek-a-Mouse, Pato Banton, The Meditations, The Melodians, Army, Abja, Ras Attitude , Batch, Prezident Brown, Fidel Nadal, Rocker T, Heavyweight Dub Champion, Al Pancho, and many of the most recognized sound systems in the world. Since 2006, Stepwise has been actively the resident DJ for all Audio Pharmacy (SF based Hip Hop crew) works. Stepwise is also renowned for his Mixtapes: FULL CONFIDENCE Vol.1 (hosted by NiyoRah), THE SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR 2008 OFFICIAL MIX (hosted by Mr Vegas), GHETTO YOUTHS (hosted by Ster-Lion), and several more. In addition, in June 2008 Stepwise mixed the new disc from Alika & Nueva Alianza ("Educate Yourself"), which was presented as a mixtape. A great remixer/Producer, Stepwise also has released several of his reggae / dancehall remixes for his own label SPR…

Stepwise today can be found playing at reggae, dancehall and hip-hop at various festivals, in San Francisco clubs and around the world, performing in different countries of Latin America several times a year. Stepwise is also heard over the air with his radio show Galang Radio. Galang is heard over the Internet every Tuesday on Superestacion.fm of Colombia (in the Ethiopian Radio channel) and also FM radio stations in different cities across Latin America. In addition, Stepwise runs his own reggae channel Vibes in Spanish, which is transmitted on the Move Radio station. This radio station specializing in mobile and can be heard by several cell phone companies around the world.

www.stepwisedj.com
www.myspace.com/stepwisedj

Coo-Yah

A.K.A. Beverly, got her start through a love for the music...and a selfish desire to hear her favorite tunes… haha! Her crew in Boston -- where she lived for 10 years before landing in S.F. -- were deep into reggae music. She’d see them perform on the regular: The Joint Chiefs, a dope roots band, and her absolute favorite, The Pressure Cooker, an amazing rocksteady/ska band. Her boys collected all the hot 7-inches coming out of JA...which kept her wanting more! Anything from Digital B, Jammys, or the Taxi Gang...It was the release of Buju Banton's 'Til Shiloh that sealed the deal. By the late 90's she was enamored: collecting records, scoring mix CDs, and hitting all the stage shows and festivals in Boston, NY, & Miami. The thought of being a DJ wasn't quite on the radar...but when she moved out to SF in 02, she was lent a pair of  Technics & a two-channel Vestax, and well,.. there ya have it.

-"I love DJing anywhere with a good sound system!  Every time the bass is bumping and the crowd is moving, I am in heaven. Il Pirata on Sundays..BOOM SOUND." – Green B
An avid new tune collector, Green B is known for drop the new tunes heavy on the masses…

- "NEW MUSIC!! When it comes to reggae/dancehall, the island of Jamaica and beyond is overflowing with talent and new music! I make it a point to keep my sets up to di time!" – Green B

www.myspace.com/djgreenb

Coo-Yah

Of Australian origin, 28 year old Daneekah's dj career began in Melbourne, Australia in summer of 2003. Alongside fellow San Francisco dj Stepwise, she began tag-teaming at various reggae and dancehall nights. This immediately led to other gigs, and also to the beginning of her first weekly Ruff Enuff. This was soon followed by 2 other weekly residencies in a country where reggae and dancehall audiences were small but quickly growing, in true underground style. Daneekah went on to perform numerous times with well known Melbourne crews whilst also appearing on Melbourne radio shows RRR and PBS. In early 2004, she released her first mixtape, entitled "Dancehall Queens". This reggae and dancehall mix was 100% female artists, a refreshing change to a genre almost entirely dominated by men. Big up the ladeez in reggae music! In early 2005 Daneekah went on to open for Dj WhAT?! of the Beat Junkies. In November 2005, she made the long awaited move to San Francisco, CA. March 2006 saw the release of another mixtape, "Dancehall 101", a mix of old and new dancehall mashed with hip hop riddims. Daneekah held a 7 month Thursday night residency at the Tunnel Top(601 Bush @ Stockton, San Francisco), where she spun alongside weekly guests. In San Francisco, she has played at almost every reggae/dancehall party in the bay, including venues such as The Independent, Club Six, 111 Minna and the San Francisco Jazz Festival 2008. After traveling to Jamaica in 2006, Daneekah started her collection of dubs for her sound system, Miss Trees Hi-Fi. Although a big fan of the roots and culture, Daneekah consistently delivers the best of old to the new dancehall, specializing in bringing audiences the latest Jamaican dancehall and hip hop remixes. Alongside fellow bay area selectress Green B, she founded the all-female run weekly Cooyah Wednesdays at Brunos, San Francisco. This weekly put the Cooyah Ladeez on the dancehall map, with its ever expanding crowd witnessing dancehall queen competitions, live reggae acts and the filming of Delly Ranx's latest video "Wish Good". 2007 saw her open for the likes of Israel Vibration, Pato Banton and Junior Reid. In 2008 Daneekah opened for Delly Ranx, Mad Professor, Hieroglyphics and Dezarie and in 2009 she shared the stage with TOK, Pressure,Turbulence and Kymani Marley. Her current focus is making remixes, collaborating with other female dj's and emcees and networking nationwide to help spread the positive musical message. Big tings a gwaan cos ladeez run di bizness....

www.myspace.com/djdaneekah

Seelo, Kaipo, Joe-L, Rundown & Nando

Nowtime Sound hails from the San Francisco Bay Area.  Creating and spreading Reggae music through its sound system and recording label for more than a decade, Nowtime stays committed and determined to deliver the highest quality of music, whether through live performances or through their original productions.  Consisting of 5 members -- MC and founder, Seelo, selectors Kaipo and Joe-L, turntablist, DJ Rundown, and musical genius, Nando -- Nowtime Sound has performed throughout the Bay Area and produced music with some of the biggest names in Reggae.  With selectors Kaipo and Joe-L at the helm, and Seelo on the mic, Nowtime Sound never fails to create a lively vibe and get people moving, whether at a stage show, club, street fair, or street corner.  With studio work including a collaboration project with the Cell Block/321 Strong label and releases with artists such as Buju Banton, Sizzla, Yami Bolo, Junior Kelly, Chezidek, Mark Wonder, Lionface, Gregory Issacs, Michael Rose, and many more, Nowtime continues to solidify its place in the musical world and stay devoted to releasing quality music that will promote Reggae and positivity to the fullest.  Staying true to both Reggae music and their own California roots, Nowtime presents a unique blend of great vibes to the world.  Bless.

www.nowtimesound.com
www.myspace.com/nowtime

Black Love Sound

Lucazade is a native of Jamaica and began playing music 15 years ago around the island, where he made a professional name for himself and crew (Underworld Sound System) with both local countrymen and big radio Reggae artists. He was inspired to play music by listening to other Reggae DJ’s such as Stone Love Sound, Selector Billy Slaughter, Tony Matterhorn and Bass Oddessey. While working at Mad House in Jamaica where he gained his respect, built and held a local dance for over 3 years strong. He has worked with Fantan Mojah, I-Wayne, Tony Matterhorn, Mega Banton, Tanto Metro & Devonte, G.T. Taylor, Digital Chris, DJ Shinehead, and DJ Sunshine from Irie FM in Jamaica...etc.  For the past three years, Lucazade has resided in the Bay Area where has been selecting for local Reggae dances and has branched out his musical talent to all genres of music including hip hop, soca, salsa and old school. He is well known throughout both J.A. and the Bay Area Reggae scene and always has nuff energy for any dance. Lucazade is often called upon to work with visiting Reggae artists in the East Bay as a special guest DJ during shows like Black Out Fridays and residency’s with Black Love Sound & Alliance... Lucazade, “Gone a Road”…

www.myspace.com/gonearoad
www.myspace.com/backlovesoundsystem