On Saturday, July 1, 2023, The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia hosted a panel discussion honoring Virginia’s Hip Hop History Makers. This panel featured DJ Lonnie B, El Bravador, JayQuan and DJ Mike Street. During this conversation, they discussed hip hop and the impact that Virginia made in the culture.
DJ Lonnie B https://www.instagram.com/djlonnieb
DJ Lonnie B is the mastermind behind the turntables at his curated, immersive music experience, the Art of Noise, which has been creating community in Richmond for the past decade. He has been a central figure cultivating and nurturing the city’s hip hop community for a generation. He is the prime-time DJ on iPower 92.1. His career was bolstered by his status as a central member of the local group SupaFriendz, who ultimately took Richmond hip hop to the national stage, performing with Aaliyah before parting ways in the late ’90s for solo careers.
El Bravador https://www.instagram.com/elbravador
1984, El Bravador, along with The DJ MC Fresh, formed the group The Z-Rock Crew. They performed in numerous clubs around the Central Virginia area. In 1987, The Z Rock Crew started doing radio and took their talents to WKIE AM 1540, for the show called “Scratch”. They played Hip Hop, Go-Go, and some R&B. The show was so successful that the station soon changed its format to all Hip Hop and Go-Go. Late, El Bravador signed a Production Deal with First Priority Records, and worked with several artists on the label, including Audio Two, MC Lyte, Positive K, The Alliance and MC Peaches. In 1991, he created a hip hop information and video show called, “The B. Side".
JayQuan https://www.instagram.com/jayquan.hiphop.historian
JayQuan is a lecturer, narrator, record collector, music lover and music historian with an emphasis on Hip Hop. Since 2000, he has been writing about Hip-Hop Culture, the art of Emceeing and the evolution of rap records. Jay is the official historian for the Hip-Hop Museum in D.C., as well as, a member of the curatorial board for the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in The Bronx. In addition, he is a writer and contributor for LL Cool J’s Rock the Bell Radio.
DJ Mike Street https://www.instagram.com/themikestreetshow
DJ Mike Street got his start in radio at the University of Richmond. He was a DJ at the campus station, WDCE 90.1FM. His first show was in February of 1989, and it was called “UR House Party”, because according to Street, “We just had that house party vibe.” He eventually made his way over to 106.5 The Beat and has been hosting The Mike Street Show from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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