Keith Jones[1] (born October 16,[2] 1968) better known by his stage name DJ Alamo or Alamo is an American DJ and producer, who is best known for being one of the original founding members of Brand Nubian.[3]
DJ Alamo | |
|---|---|
 Alamo in 1997. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Keith Jones |
| Also known as | Alamo Alamo Jones Ally |
| Born | October 16, 1968 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Brand Nubian |
Early life
editAlamo was born in the Bronx, New York City.[4] Him and Sadat X who are childhood friends and grew up together in the Bronx. Alamo's father and Sadat X's father, grew up together at Lincoln Projects in Harlem. Alamo's family moved to New Rochelle after the collapse of buildings that were burning around areas in the Bronx. He is the eldest of two children. He has one sister.[5] He started DJing when he was in the seventh grade.[6] He attended New Rochelle High School. He is a graduate of Livingstone College.[citation needed]
Career
editIn 1989, Alamo was signed to Elektra Records after Grand Puba[7] finalizing a deal with A&R Dante Ross. As a DJ for Brand Nubian, he would contribute of producing songs on the group's first album, One for All. According to Alamo, he produced "Concerto in X Minor", which Sadat X would rap on. He also produced "Slow Down", using a Edie Brickell "What I Am" record that Sadat found at the record store and putting it all together into a beat. The song was a biggest hit, as well as "All for One". Both songs would be on the Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991.[8][9] Alamo was still performing at shows with Sadat X and Lord Jamar without Puba. In 1991, after the release of One for All, he left the group along with Grand Puba in an effort of a solo career.[10]
He and DJ Stud Doogie formed together as DJs for Grand Puba's first solo album, Reel to Reel. He would go on to produce for members of Brand Nubian's solo projects. Two songs "Playin' the Game" and "Don't Waste My Time" was produced by Alamo on Puba's second album 2000 in 1995. In 1996, he produced a track called " Open Bar" on Sadat's first solo album, Wild Cowboys. Him and Brand Nubian reunited in 1997, while recording some material for the group's new project.[11] In 1998, he and Grand Puba made their return to appear on the group's fourth album Foundation[12] He produced three tracks, including "Back Up off the Wall", "Probable Cause" and "I'm Black and I'm Proud".
In 2004, him and Brand Nubian released their fifth studio album, Fire in the Hole on Babygrande Records, only producing two tracks on the album, "Momma" and "Just Don't Learn".
Personal life
editAlamo has two sons. Mustafa Jones, who is a basketball player for Central Connecticut State. His other son Elijah Jones, who is a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals. He his married to his wife, Janine.[13]
Discography
editwith Brand Nubian
edit- One for All (1990)
- Foundation (1998)
- Fire in the Hole (2004)
- Time's Runnin' Out (2007)
with Grand Puba
edit- Reel to Reel (1992)
- 2000 (1995)
References
edit- ^ "DJ Alamo AKA: Keith DJ Alamo Jones". genius.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "HBD TO ME 💜💯🏁‼️". instagram.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Happy 55th Birthday To Brand Nubian Founder Grand Puba!". halftimeonline.net. May 4, 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Sadat X Interview : Talks Lord Jamar, Recording With Jay-Z & Biggie, Working With Everlast & MORE!!!". Youtube.com. July 18, 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Brand Nubian Dj Alamo:the Break up I Went with Puba&Sadat Went with Jamar". YouTube. December 9, 2020.
- ^ "Dj Alamo on the New Beats Spin Headphones By Dr. Dre". Youtube.com. March 4, 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Sadat X on how Brand Nubian started, his Hip Hop heroes, & being a Five Percenter Juan EP is Life". Youtube.com. March 4, 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Brand Nubian". thevogue.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Brand Nubian Dj Alamo:the Break up I Went with Puba&Sadat Went with Jamar". YouTube. December 9, 2020.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780822536673.
- ^ Connection, Hip-Hop (2007). Hip-hop Connection. Popular Publications.
- ^ Opsahl, Carl Petter (2016). Dance To My Ministry: Exploring Hip-Hop Spirituality. Göttingen, Germany : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. ISBN 978-3-647-60454-1.
- ^ Brugler, Dane (April 2024). "The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 271.
External links
edit