'DJ Green Lantern', also known as 'The Evil Genius', (real name withheld from public) is an
American DJ and
hip hop musician. Green Lantern was born in
1976 in
Rochester,
New York 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.
Biography
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'').
"Bin Laden"
DJ Green Lantern also produced
Ludacris' "Number One Spot," the second single off of his
album ''
The Red Light District'', and
Immortal Technique's "
Bin Laden" single, which blames the
Reagan Doctrine (under which the U.S. aided the
mujahideen in
Afghanistan) and U.S. President
George W. Bush for the
September 11, 2001 attacks.
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. After this footage was released to the streets, Green Lantern left Shady Records. 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 has replaced Green Lantern for the Shady Records 2005
Anger Management Tour.
Hip-Hop Nation
In summer 2007, DJ Green Lantern returned to
Sirius Satellite Radio on the ''
Hip-Hop Nation'' channel. He hosts a show called ''The Invasion''.
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 is currently
Jay-Z's DJ. He was known to be present in
I Declare War concert held in
Madison Square Garden to promote the release of ''
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 Records. 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.)
Discography
Most recent to earliest (possibly some earlier mixtapes; these are rare and generally unknown)
Note: Green Lantern has hosted a number of other mixtapes, these are not included in the discography.
★ '' Grow Season'' (with Wiz Khalifa)
★ ''07-07-07'' (with
Cassidy and DJ Thoro)
★ ''Cocaine on Steroids'' (with
N.O.R.E.)
★ ''The Sirius Invasion''
★ ''The Myspace Invasion''
★ ''Pre-Release Therapy'' (with
Ludacris)
★ ''Say Uncle'' (with Uncle Murder)
★ ''
AND 1 Streetball''
★ ''Best of Green Lantern and
Dipset'' (with Team Invasion)
★ ''In The Kitchen'' (with
DJ Khaled and Team Invasion)
★ ''
On My New York Shit'' (with
DJ Kay Slay)
★ ''This Ain't No Greezy Talk'' (with Team Invasion)
★ ''
Alive On Arrival''
★ ''The Internet Invasion'' (with
Ghostface Killah)
★ '' (with
Fort Minor)
★ ''
Razor Tag'' (with
Styles of Beyond)
★ '' (Hosted by Team Invasion)
★ ''
Keyshia Cole''
★ ''The Best of Green Lantern and
D-Block'' (Hosted by Team Invasion)
★ ''The Best of Green Lantern and
Shady Records'' (Hosted by Team Invasion)
★ ''
5 Star General''
★ ''Shade 45: Sirius Bizness'' (Hosted by
Eminem)
★ ''Public Enemy Number One'' (with
Beanie Sigel)
★ ''
New York State of Mind'' (with
Beastie Boys)
★ ''The Oracle'' (with
Grafh)
★ ''The Champ Is Here'' (with
Jadakiss/ Hosted by Big Mike)
★ '' (hosted by
Dame Dash)
★ ''The Invasion Part 3: Countdown To Armageddon''
★ ''The Best Of In Da Lab Vol. 1''
★ ''
Rap Phenomenon II:
2Pac'' (with Dirty Harry and DJ Vlad)
★ ''Conspiracy Theory: Invasion Part II''
★ ''Invasion Part 1''
★ ''
Throwback Classics Vol. 1''
★ ''Get in Where U Fit in'' (with the
Young Gunz)
★ ''
New World Order Pt.2''
★ ''
New World Order''
★ ''The Chosen One''
★ ''Takin' it to The Streets''
★ ''Just us and the Gunz''
★ ''In Too Deep''
★ ''Rookie of the Year''
★ ''Coming of Age
★ ''Millenium All-stars'' (with DJ's
Tony Touch,
Mister Cee, Ron G,
Funkmaster Flex, Doo Wop, DJ Enuff,
Spinbad and DJ Dale)
External links
★
Official Website
★
Fansite
★
Green Lantern Audio Interview
★