DJ Flash

Lee Johnson (born August 21, 1957), better known as DJ Flash /djˈflɑːsh/, is an American Hip Hop Pioneer DJ, hip hop producer, record producer, archivist, and rapper mostly known for his works featuring Dr. Dre, Ice T, Snoop Dogg, Too Short, E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay, Ronnie Hudson, 2 Chainz and the West Coast's premier rap group, Rappers Rapp Group.
DJ Flash originated in Los Angeles, California and has worked on a substantial roster of projects featuring recording artists including 2 Live Crew, Celly Cel, Zapp & Roger Troutman, 2 Chainz, Jefe, A$AP Rocky, Young Thug, Plies (rapper), Migos, Boosie Badazz, B-Legit, and DJ Battlecat. He has worked with record labels Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records, Sony Music, Rappers Rapp Records, Macola Records, Rhino Records, AVI Records, and Excello Records. Currently, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rappers Rapp Records and Executive A&R / N. California Distributor for Thump Records Inc.

Lee Johnson was born on August 21, 1957, in Fresno, California. His early childhood was spent in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and he later moved to Sacramento, California, where he attended Luther Burbank High School and Taft Union High School in Taft California. He was a cotton picker, paper boy, dishwasher, busboy, fruit picker, roustabout, derrick hand, truck driver, security guard, auto body repair man, salesman, Student Body President, garbage man, DJ, radio personality, rapper, and finally a record producer.

He began his music career as a mobile DJ in the late 70s and early 80s, in and around Bakersfield, California while attending Taft College in Taft, California. Also at that time he was musical director and afternoon DJ at radio station KTKR 1310 AM in Taft, California while moonlighting at radio station KGFA in Bakersfield, eventually going on to become one of the founding members of the West Coast's first original rap group, the Rappers Rapp Group. In 1981 DJ Flash was called the first white rapper ever signed to a rap record label, Rappers Rapp Disco Co. in Los Angeles.

With the Rappers Rapp Group

DJ Flash and the Rappers Rapp Group in the early 1980s

In 1981 Duffy Hooks III, the founder of Rappers Rapp Disco Co., announced over Los Angeles radio airwaves that auditions were being held for a six-member rap act. After an open mic battle at Magic Disc Records, Duffy narrowed it down to six finalists. The Rappers Rapp Group consisted of MC Fosty, Lovin' C, DJ Flash, King MC, Macker-Moe and Mr. Ice. Their first release was "Rappers Rapp Theme" b/w "Rappin' Partee Groove" in 1982.

One year later the group changed their name to Dark Star, and signed to AVI Records, a division of MCA Records, and recorded the West Coast's first rap EP, "Sexy Baby". The music for the album was done by a group of musicians from Bakersfield, called Black Diamond. The band consisted of Roy "Omar" Mateen (drummer), Radji Mateen (saxophonist), Tarus Mateen (bassist), Charles Dickerson (guitarist), Anthony Randolph(trumpeter), Richard Lee Smith (percussionist), George Graham (keyboardist), Darryl Casteel (Keyboardist). The Dark Star EP was released outside the United States, overseas only.

The group disbanded shortly afterwards, with MC Fosty and Lovin' C recording the infectious 1983 street jam "Radio Activity Rapp", followed by 1984's "When Doves Cry Rapp", both produced by Rich Cason.

DJ Flash and King MC became the Future MCs and had three hits, "State of Shock Rapp", "Erotic City Rapp", and "We are the Future".

In 1985 DJ Flash and MC Fosty re-teamed for "The Beverly Hills Cop Rap," utilizing the Axel F theme from Beverly Hills Cop.

Later that year, DJ Flash reunited the group for their final Dark Star 12" release, Planet Earth, which has since become one of the rarest and most sought-after rap records of all time.

King MC resurfaced in 1986 with the answer to Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately", with "What Have I Done For You Lately Rap." He followed that release with "Nasty Boy" in 1987.

King MC and DJ Flash were two members of Los Angeles's first rap label, Rappers Rapp Disco Record Co.

The Rappers Rapp Disco Record Co., also known as Rappers Rapp Records, was based in Hollywood, California, founded in 1981 by New York transplant Duffy Hooks III. The label's first releases were "The Gigolo Groove" and "The Gigolo Rapp" by Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp.

Duffy discovered the Rappers Rapp Group, which consisted of five of LA's top rappers and DJ Flash from Taft California. Later The Real Richie Rich joined the group for a short time. Their first release was "Rappers Rapp Theme" in 1982.

One year later, Rich Cason published Year 2001 Boogie on Rappers Rapp. With this record the style changed from the typical old-school rap to an electronic wave sound with vocoders and rap. Cason had a major influence on the following releases, "Magic Mike Theme", "Killer Groove", and "Radio Activity Rapp," which was adapted by Royalcash´s "Radioactivity".

In 1986 the rapper K-Rock G and Cool "Cito" Bee, known as the Brothers Supreme, released the West Coast classic "We Can´t be Held Back"'on the Rappers Rapp label.

West Coast Rap-The First Dynasty is a four-volume chronicle of the birth and rise of West Coast rap. It was produced and compiled by West Coast Rap pioneer, archivist DJ Flash of the Rappers Rapp group. The compilation was released in 1992 on Rhino Records. It was met with critical acclaim and the extensive liner notes were the first accurate documentation of the true roots of West Coast rap.

Ronnie Hudson's new album, Westcoastin'., shot to #2 on Amazon's hot new releases and #3 on Amazon's best-seller charts overnight. The album features Snoop Dogg, Too Short, E-40, Zapp Troutman, Rappin' 4-Tay, Celly Cel, Wyclef Jean, Suga Free, and DJ Battlecat. It was produced by West Coast rap pioneers Lee “DJ Flash” Johnson and Larry “Captain Rapp” Glenn, with additional production by The Real Richie Rich and DJ Battlecat.

Ronnie Hudson first blazed the West Coast hip hop trail with his classic 1982 hit, "West Coast Poplock." "This was later recorded By Dr. Dre and 2Pac as "California Love". Both quickly became undisputed West Coast anthems.

Ronnie’s work has been featured in films, including The Social Network, Iron Man II, and South Central, as well as countless TV shows and video games, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. While at Stax Records, Ronnie recorded and toured with Isaac Hayes on his Grammy-winning soundtrack for the movie Shaft.

DJ Flash West Coast hip hop producer in the early 1993

In 1992, DJ Flash produced the four-volume set West Coast Rap-The First Dynasty for Rhino Records, followed by The Classic Collection, a compilation of Ice-T's early hits.

After the success of these five albums, DJ Flash launched his own label, Hitman Music, in 1994, a joint venture with Triple XXX/Sony Music. Hitman's first release, Concrete Roots by Dr. Dre, sold over 250,000 copies during its first week. Debuting at #6 on the Billboard Rap Charts, and at #24 on the Billboard Top 100, Concrete Roots remained on the Top 100 for eight consecutive weeks.

Other DJ Flash productions include Ice-T's Cold As Ever (Hitman/Blue Dolphin); The Original 2 Live Crew, which featured early recordings by the 2 Live Crew; and the 2014 debut album by Ronnie Hudson, Westcoastin', featuring Snoop Dogg, Too Short, E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay, Wyclef Jean, Celly Cel, Zapp Troutman, B-Legit, Suga Free, DJ Battlecat, Funkmaster Ozone and The Real Richie Rich.

In 2016, DJ Flash launched Trap Game Records. The labels first release - The Best Of Shy Glizzy, and Shy Glizzy - Greatest Hits vol 1 & 2 met with both critical and commercial success and features today's most prominent Rap Artists 2 Chainz, Young Thug, A$AP Rocky, Lil Mouse, Boosie Badazz, Gucci Mane, Plies (rapper), Gudda Gudda, Zaytoven, Peewee Longway, and Ty Dolla $ign