Draft:Geechie Dan
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Geechie Dan
[edit]Birth Name: Daniel Joseph Chamberlayne Also Known As: Geechie, Tape God Born: August 2, 1967 (Harlem, New York, USA) Age: 58 Genres: Hip Hop Occupations: Radio Personality, Museum Executive, Audio Archivist, Author, American Rapper Years Active: 1982 – present Labels and Organizations: Bentley Records, National Hip Hop Museum, Hip Hop Hall of Fame, Rock The Bells Radio, Hall Of Tapes, International Hall Of Music & Culture Website: https://www.internationalhall.org, https://www.rockthebells.com
Early life and education
[edit]Daniel Joseph Chamberlayne, known professionally as Geechie Dan, was born on August 2, 1967 in Harlem, New York to Warren and Louise Chamberlayne. He was raised in Hollis, Queens and attended PS 118 and Montessori schools, later continuing his education at The Garden School and IS 238. He briefly attended Andrew Jackson High School before transferring to and graduating from Francis Lewis High School in 1985.
Geechie Dan became interested in Hip Hop in 1982 after hearing late night shows such as Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack, Zulu Beats and The World’s Famous Supreme Team Show. He began recording the broadcasts and emulating the artists featured on them. He chose the name “Geechie Dan” after a character from the 1970s film Uptown Saturday Night, portrayed by Harry Belafonte.
He joined the Zulu Nation in 1983 and appeared the following year on The Operating Room, a radio show hosted by Andre “Doctor DRE” Brown on WBAU 90.3 FM, where he made lengthy shout-outs to his Queens community.
Career
[edit]
In 1986, he recorded demo songs for WBAU which resulted in an offer from Public Records in 1987. He was unable to pursue a full rap career due to his mother’s involvement in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which discouraged secular music at the time.
In 2008, he published a book titled The Kingdom Hall No More, which discussed his 16 years growing up as a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hollis, Queens.
In 2015, he launched The Geechie Dan Hip Hop Tape Show on Blog Talk Radio, which played audio recordings of block parties, park jams, and live performances from Hip Hop pioneers. In 2016, he expanded the program into a live video podcast on multiple streaming platforms.
In 2022, Geechie Dan brought the show to the Rock The Bells Radio platform. The title was changed to Planet Of The Tapes at the suggestion of Chuck D from Public Enemy.[1]
According to CanvasRebel, he served as Executive Director of the National Hip Hop Museum in Washington DC from 2020 to 2021, and later became Co-Chairman of the Hip Hop Hall Of Fame in New York from mid-2021 until 2024.[2]
The Paths of Rhythm pop-up exhibition in Queens, New York, which was reported by It’s in Queens, featured artifacts from his collection.[3]
In September 2023, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame invited Planet Of The Tapes to record a live broadcast from its venue.[4]
Awards and honors
[edit]In 2024, Geechie Dan received the President Biden Presidential Achievement Award and Medal for his contributions to Hip Hop. He also received the 2024 Unsung Hero Award from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.aol.com/entertainment/cassettes-tape-trading-shaped-hip-141800951.html
- ^ https://canvasrebel.com/meet-geechie-dan/
- ^ "#Newsflash | Pop-Up Hip-Hop Museum in Queens - QEDC | It's in Queens". 21 November 2023.
- ^ "'Planet of the Tapes' Radio Show to Record LIVE Broadcast from Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on September 17th - Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame". 2 September 2023.