Black Shakespeare

Black Shakespeare is a co-founder of the LA nightclub, Chocolate Bar, and has music in his genes. A cousin of bassist Robbie Shakespeare of Sly & Robbie, he also did his first assisting engineering gig with legendary producer Scientist. Born in Jamaica, he moved with his family to New York City , where Shakespeare became involved with Hip Hop, toasting with host Jamalski at S.O.B.'s open mic venue. In 1995, he moved to Los Angeles where he met producer Aurelito Mercado, a Chicago transplant who hosted parties that guested such pioneering Dee Jays as Marvski and Cut Chemist. where people like the Black Eyed Peas, Breakestra, and Ozomatli just came to hang. Aurelito and Shakespeare formed the I&I Sound System, and started Chocolate Bar in early 1997, with original DJs Cokni ODire, DJ Higher, Daz, and T-Lee. It was Mercado who, around 2000, dreamed up the idea of the Irie Ice Cream Truck, outfitting an old ice cream truck with a sound system and bringing the good vibes and deep tunes to the folks. Shortly after the Ice Cream Trucks debut in early 2003, it was featured on the cover of XLR8R magazine, as well as a Saul Williams album cover. Mercado and Shakespeare soon began receiving invitations. The I&I Sound System has since become a presence at festivals like the Sunset Junction, Nocturnal Wonderland, Electric Daisy, and Abbot Kinney Festivals; the system even gigs at museums, high schools and colleges. The LA resident is a featured artist on albums by The Lions (2) (Ubiquity Records and Stones Throw Records), as well as on the "[m55567]" compilation album (Ubiquity Records). His 2008 creation HARD WIRE (distributed by CD Baby) is an a big mixture of music of what he calls Dub Hop. A bringing together of Dancehall and Dub Reggae with deep nitty gritty Hip Hop beats. Working along side producers Josh 1 and Craig S. and top ranking vocalist from Redbud Records Rob Symeonn and selector /deeJay Mikey Assassin. Black Shakespeare brings the Brooklyn, Jamaica L.A. Vibez world wide for the people.....