John Martinez

In the summer of 1987, two Los Angeles DJs — Matt Dike and Michael Ross — converted a tiny L.A. apartment into a recording studio and started a record label called Delicious Vinyl. Championing artists from the streets and delivering music to dance floors and living rooms worldwide, the upstart label quickly made hip hop history. Tone-Loc's "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" were the first of three multi-platinum singles produced by Dike & Ross. Dike & Ross then launched Young MC to instant acclaim with indelible hits "Bust A Move" & "Principal's Office" from 1989's Stone Cold Rhymin' LP. Meanwhile Tone Loc's Loc'ed After Dark crashed in at #1 on the Billboard album chart. After Matt Dike's departure in 1992, Delicious Vinyl became the sole mission for co-founder Michael Ross. Following the beats down the road less traveled, his astute signings of The Brand New Heavies, The Pharcyde, Born Jamericans, Masta Ace, and The Whoridas kept DV ruling the funhouse through the '90s. In 2005, ten years after the release of the Pharcyde's groundbreaking Labcabincalifornia, Fatlip's solo album The Loneliest Punk sprouted the hit single "What's Up Fatlip" with its clowntastic Spike Jonze-directed video. Going from hip hop highs to soul surprises, Ross soon reunited The Brand New Heavies with original lead singer N'Dea Davenport for the 2006 album Get Used To It, its smash Stevie Wonder cover "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" sporting a special remix by disco pioneer Tom Moulton. Delicious Vinyl also issued some of the era's best dancehall reggae, including the sizzling hit albums Pull Up (2004) and Hot It Up (2007)by Mr. Vegas. Delicious Vinyl celebrated it 20th Anniversary in 2008. The RMXXOLOGY project starred the likes of Peaches, Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir, Diplo, Hot Chip, and Bobby Evans, all re-imagining the Delicious catalog for a new millennium dancefloor.