DJ Green Lantern

DJ Green Lantern, also known as The Evil Genius, (real name generally witheld from public) is an American DJ and hip hop musician. Green Lantern was born in 1976 in Rochester, New York of Puerto Rican and Italian Decent. Green Lantern was signed by Eminem in 2002 to become the "Shady Records Official Deejay" after Eminem's first choice "DJ Head" stepped down due to undisclosed reasons.

Rise to fame

Green Lantern then came to prominence with his Invasion! mixtape series, the first set of officially sponsored mixtapes from Eminem's Shady Records. On the series, spanning three mixtapes (later to be spun off into the Armageddon series), the DJ broke several dis records, furthering the issues between Eminem and Benzino/The Source as well as the entire Shady camp and Ja Rule/Murder Inc.

He is also recognized as a producer, featuring on his own mixtapes several "Green Remixes," including, most notably, a remix of the Nas and Tupac Shakur's collaboration "Thugz Mansion." He also produced D-Block's "2 Guns Up", an acclaimed street single, which originated as a freestyle rap on his Hot 97 radio show, "In the Lab" (the most memorable of which has also appeared as a mixtape, "The Best of In the Lab"). "In the Lab" is formatted as a one-hour (with commercials) mix show, in which DJ Green Lantern blends a cappella and instrumental tracks from various artists, as well as breaking new and underground music (such as the Ghostface Killah and El-Producto collaboration HideYaFace).

"Bin Laden"

DJ Green Lantern also produced Ludacris' "Number One Spot," the second single off of his album The Red Light District, and Immortal Technique's "Bin Laden" single, which blames the Reagan Doctrine (under which the U.S. aided the mujahideen in Afghanistan) and U.S. President George W. Bush for the September 11, 2001 attacks. The song was greeted by some of the greatest levels of controversy ever associated with a rap music song.

With the Shady Records family

As a member of the Shady Records family, DJ Green Lantern also hosted a show on Eminem's Sirius Satellite Radio channel, Shade 45 (along with an accompanying mixtape released in the fall of 2004). As Eminem's own DJ, Green Lantern was responsible for touring with him and spinning at shows such as the Shady National Convention and The Game's album release party. DJ Green Lantern's much anticipated album The Invasion was set to be released under Shady Records, but controversy and an eventual parting would put the release in limbo.

Problems with Shady Records

In late spring/early summer 2005, however, an independently distributed street DVD was released showing Jadakiss apparently discussing the over-hyped 50 Cent/Jadakiss/Fat Joe quarrel begun by remarks made by 50 Cent in his song "Piggy Bank," off his sophomore album, The Massacre. Supposedly, Green Lantern leaked information to Jadakiss about the G-Unit camp's tactics, and was advising the D-Block rapper as to his next move. After this footage was released to the streets, Green Lantern left Shady Records. Reports conflict as to the status of Green Lantern's departure from Shady — 50 Cent has said in interviews that he was fired, while Green Lantern has stated that he stepped down, not wanting to create tension between 50 Cent and Eminem. The status of his album is in the air — reportedly, several other labels are interested in releasing it — and he has also left the Shade 45 Sirius radio channel, his DJing responsibilities for Eminem, and also as the every day "Official Shady Records Deejay". The Alchemist, Mobb Deep's affiliate has replaced Green Lantern for the Shady Records 2005 Anger Management Tour.

Present

• Green Lantern is now working with his newly signed artist Uncle Murder, a gritty up and comer from bed-stuy, Brooklyn.

• Green Lantern is currently Jay-Z's DJ on his International Tour.

• Green Lantern did Fort Minor's official mixtape, which has achieved popularity.

• As of November 23, 2005 Green Lantern has signed to RSMG (Russell Simons Music Group) which is under Def Jam Records. Def Jam will be home to his long anticipated album The Invasion set for release in 2006.

• Green Lantern was also asked to do a special exclusive Mixtape for the PlayStation 2/Xbox video game, AND 1 Streetball.

Special mixtapes

• AND 1 Streetball - The Official Video Game Mixtape (by DJ Green Lantern)

Complete DJ Green Lantern mixtape list

• Invasion Part 1
• Conspiracy Theory: Invasion Part II
• Invasion Part 3: Countdown To Armageddon
• Countdown To Armageddon 2: Back To The Lab
• Team Invasion: Green Lantern Instrumentals
• Throwback Classics Vol. 1
• The Best Of In Da Lab Vol. 1
• Alive On Arrival
• On My New York Shit
• New World Order
• New World Order Pt.2

Other mixtapes

Mixtapes that DJ Green Lantern has done for other artists:

• Fort Minor: We Major - Fort Minor
• Fort Minor: We Major EP (Street Vinyl) - Fort Minor
• Say Uncle 2: Hard For Hip-Hop - Uncle Murda
• Ludacris: Pre-Release Therapy (The Truth Shall Set U Free) - Ludacris
• 2Pac: Rap Phenomenon II - 2Pac
• Beastie Boys: New York State Of Mind - Beastie Boys
• Shady 45 - Eminem
• Beanie Sigel: Public Enemy #1 - Beanie Sigel
• 5 Star General - G-Unit
• TruLife - New New York - TruLife
• Juelz Santana: Fiend Out 3 - Juelz Santana
• Ghostface Killah: Internet Invasion - Ghostface Killah
• The Champ Is Here - Jadakiss
• Street Skolla Got Nexx - Hood GAnG
• Bin Laden - Immortal Technique

External links

• Official DJ Green Lantern Web Site.
• fansite of DJ Green Lantern