CANOE
(Raggatek Owner, Producer, DJ)

Influences: Hiphop,Drum&bass/Jungle, Roots Reggae, Dub, Blues, Classic Rock, Jazz, Funk, Breakbeats, Herb, Water, Life, California, Los Angeles, Ancestors, Friends&Family

Dj’ing since 1995
Producing since 1997

Aside from playing various musical instruments, Canoe’s Dad and Grandparents also collected and played records before and during his life. Being surrounded with that positive energy, Canoe was inspired at a very young age by their record collection. Of course at the time he didn’t know how valuable the knowledge he acquired would be and how it would motivate him in his future. Canoe was heavily influenced in hip-hop in the early 80’s. He got into breakdancing from kids in school and a local pool everyone use to break and pop at. He bought his first 7" record, which was Midnite Star’s "Freak-A-Zoid". Then in 1986 his mom bought him his first tape,which was Run DMC’s ’Raising Hell. He was hooked! Since then, hiphop culture continued to pave his path into break dancing, graffiti and his interest in production and dj’ing. You won’t find anything of lesser quality from his production down to the actual presentation of the vinyl products, toys run for cover!

In July of 1999, Canoe took the initiative and opened the doors to a record store called ’Zenbeats’ in Whittier, California. Zenbeats supplied drum and bass, hip-hop and break beats records & cd’s, graffiti/art supplies and smoking supplies such as water bongs and pipes etc... The store was painted by Mear One, and the artwork itself made it onto a Dj Rectangle battle record.(during this time zenbeats also released Freestyle Fellowships "shockadoom e.p.") After 4 years, he closed Zenbeats to pursue his record labels(raggatek/elder ancients). In the summer of 2007 Canoe and Exgirl went on the "Roots&Bass" DJ tour in Europe and 5 months later follwed up with the Native Resistance international tour with Exgirl and Direct Feed.