Hip-hop has been changing lives in Cerritos, when the city was still growing and developing and this emerging culture began to thrive on the streets. It brought a community together through music, dance and style.
As a child, Rhettmatic was very shy. He preferred to listen rather than be the center of attention. However, his love for drawing and creating comics eventually led him to discover graffiti art. As he explored street art, he discovered other aspects of hip-hop culture, including breaking (dancing) and deejaying (turntable).
Before becoming a renowned turntablist, Rhettmatic was an artist, specifically a cartoonist and writer. He created his own comics, based on his interests and hobbies. Although he enjoyed creating comics, he eventually turned his focus to the art of deejaying. He was inspired by his local heroes such as Arabian Knight, Scratch-OMatic, Juan Gibson and most notably DJ Curse, whom he refers to as “my Q-Bert.”
These pioneers of local hip hop helped inspire Rhettmatic to pursue deejaying. He credits these artists with giving him direction and motivation. Rhettmatic also believes that their influence helped create a sense of belonging within the hip-hop community.
DJ Rhettmatic also emphasizes that although hip-hop originated in New York City, it quickly evolved in California, and ultimately made its home in cities throughout Southern California. Many of the early pioneers of California’s hip-hop culture were not from New York, but from various parts of the United States, and therefore, their own unique perspectives were reflected in their music.
One of the earliest groups to inspire because of their breakbeats and scratching techniques was a group called Soulsonic Force, which consisted of members such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Their beats and rhymes captured the energy of the young people, and provided an outlet for their frustrations and creativity.
Rhettmatic states that the hip-hop scene in Cerritos was never stagnant; it continued to evolve and grow. One of the key ways in which the scene grew was through a group of local teenagers who formed a group known as the Beat Junkies. This group included Rhettmatic, along with DJ Babu, J Rocc, D-Styles,DJ What?!,Mr. Choc, Icy Ice, Curse, DJ Shortkut, Melo-D and DJ Havik.
The Beat Junkies would later go on to become one of the most influential DJ crews in the world, and one of the few crews to successfully blend multiple styles of hip-hop. The group was formed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time when hip-hop was rapidly evolving.
Many of the early pioneers of hip-hop in California also came from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. This diversity contributed to the development of a unique sound that blended influences from jazz, rock, funk and soul, as well as Latin rhythms and Asian musical traditions.
Rhettmatic believes that the diversity of the hip-hop scene in California helped contribute to its success. He states that the diversity allowed for collaboration and exchange between artists from different backgrounds, and ultimately, helped develop a sound that was distinctly Californian.The scene allowed for experimentation and innovation, and ultimately, helped to establish the pioneers as true innovators.
Throughout his career, Rhettmatic has credited the support of his family and friends with helping him to achieve his goals. He also acknowledges that his experiences in Cerritos helped shape him both personally and professionally.
Rhettmatic attended Whitney High School in Cerritos. During his high school years, he developed a strong interest in deejaying. He used his skills to entertain classmates at school events, and to host parties. These experiences helped him develop a professional approach to deejaying.
After graduating from high school, Rhettmatic pursued a degree in marketing at California State University, Fullerton. However, he soon realized that he needed to dedicate himself fully to his music. Therefore, he decided to drop out of college and pursue his dreams.
Rhettmatic credits his decision to drop out of college as one of the most pivotal moments in his career. He believes that dropping out of college allowed him to fully commit to his music, and to pursue his dreams.
Those lessons included the importance of perseverance, the value of networking, and the need to continually innovate and adapt to the ever-changing nature of the music.
Rhettmatic is also proud to be a part of a movement that has allowed individuals to succeed despite the odds. He is proud to be a part of a group of individuals who express themselves creatively and challenge the status quo.
As he continues to tour and perform with the Beat Junkies. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest deejays in the world and has won numerous awards for his contributions to the genre.
Despite his success, Rhettmatic remains humble and committed to his fans. He continues to do shows and to release new music and videos.
Rhettmatic is also involved in various philanthropic efforts. He regularly performs at charity events and fundraisers and supports organizations that provide youth with access to arts education programs.
His legacy extends far beyond his own accomplishments. He helped pave the way for future generations of artists to succeed in the highly competitive music industry ……legacy is also evident in the countless number of aspiring artists who continue to look up to him as a mentor and inspiration. Catch him at the Beat Junkies Institute of Sound and get to learn from a legend.
