DJ Disco Wiz, born as Lee Quiñones in 1957, is widely considered as one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing. He grew up in the South Bronx, New York, which was a hotbed of musical and cultural innovation in the late 1970s.
Wiz began his DJ career in 1975, when he was just 18 years old. At the time, he was inspired by the emerging hip-hop scene, and began to experiment with mixing and scratching records. He was soon performing at local house parties and community events, and quickly became known for his skillful and innovative style.
In 1977, Wiz teamed up with fellow DJ Grandmaster Caz to form the Mighty Force Crew, one of the earliest and most influential hip-hop crews. The crew’s performances were known for their high energy and creativity, and they helped to popularize hip-hop DJing throughout the Bronx and beyond.
Wiz’s reputation as a DJ continued to grow throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as he played at some of the most iconic hip-hop events of the era. He also worked with many of the genre’s most famous artists, including Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, and Grandmaster Flash.
Despite his contributions to the development of hip-hop music and culture, Wiz struggled to achieve mainstream success, and he remained largely unknown outside of the hip-hop community. However, his influence on the genre cannot be overstated, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and innovative DJs in hip-hop history.
In recent years, Wiz’s legacy has been celebrated through various honors and awards, including induction into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame and the Bronx Walk of Fame. He continues to be an inspiration to aspiring DJs and hip-hop artists around the world.
