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Questlove Supreme sits down with a keystone of Hip Hop culture, Paradise Gray. He revisits growing up in the Bronx backdrop of Hip Hop. He recalls his time at The Latin Quarter, a legendary New York City club that birthed the careers of Rap legends and more. This is an insightful, informative, and entertaining in-studio interview. Paradise also speaks about moments at the Latin Quarter nightclub that shaped Hip Hop history, his years with the X-Clan, and his collection of artifacts surrounding the culture. Listeners will understand why they call Paradise The Architect, as his passion, groundwork, and love of Hip Hop run deep.
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0:00 - Rollcall and why QLS had to have Paradise Gray on this show
4:50 - Checking in with Paradise Gray, and getting the genesis of his story in the Bronx
9:10 - What is each member of Team Supreme’s first Hip Hop moment?
14:40 - When did Hip Hop really begin? Paradise acknowledges some pioneers before August 11, 1973. Kid Capri did the same on a recent QLS [link]
18:00 - Why do we call it “Hip Hop”? Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and the Sugar Hill label helped shape our lexicon
21:00 - What was an early Hip Hop jam really like? What are some of the instrumental early Hip Hop DJs? Paradise offers some crucial history
28:40 - When did Hip-Hop move from the block to the club? Who helped make it happen?
32:25 - Paradise Gray says he was a Baby Spade, a relative of the Black Spades street organization. He speaks about the role of these crews during the early days of Hip Hop
34:40 - Other boroughs’ role in the development of Hip Hop, and the original boomin’ sound systems
41:40s - The genesis of Paradise Gray becoming a 19-year-old manager of The Latin Quarter, and the venues ties to Barbara Walters and David Copperfield. He describes what made the LQ so unique
51:30 - Paradise Gray explains why Hip Hop shifted in 1986 and its ties to economics and new, hungry, raw talent - who would become legendary
54:25 - How the sound of Hip Hop changed because of the dancers at the Latin Quarter
55:00 - Some stories of songs that did not go over well at the Latin Quarter — and why Kool DJ Red Alert was an unbiased judge — and some Audio Two history
1:01:50 - What does it mean when Stetsasonic’s “Go Stetsa” played in the Latin Quarter? Paradise Gray corroborates what Prince Paul told QLS
1:02:50 - Why did people come to the LQ when there was a chance of getting robbed or hurt?
Paradise Gray explains why the Latin Quarter was the PLACE TO BE and how he helped make it so
1:07:00 - The economics of playing at The Latin Quarter
1:09:20 - Paradise Gray explains why Harry Belafonte was crucial to Hip Hop being legitimized
1:10:30 - Why Big Daddy Kane was a king MC at the LQ
1:11:15 - Some interesting context and reflections about the LQ, in the face of the Juice Crew vs. Boogie Down Productions beef
1:15:00 - How Paradise Gray was able to get legendary artists to perform — and what that looked like in the day, and why he was “the Hip Hop concierge”
1:16:30 - Mike Tyson, Chris Rock, New Edition, and Malcolm Jamal-Warner were some of the regulars at the LQ
1:17:15 - Heather Hunter was the coat check at LQ, as she told QLS. Paradise recalls her being mentored by Keith Haring, and shares why he thinks her art is better
1:18:40 - How the X-Clan formed after a chance meeting with Professor X. Paradise Gray tells a great story involving Professor X’s father, Sonny Carson
1:24:30 - A reflection about X-Clan MC Brother J, and how Sugar Shaft was a critical link in the fold. Brother J wrote To The East Blackwards as a 17-year-old
1:26:20 - Paradise speaks candidly about 3rd Bass and MC Serch in particular. 3rd Bass and X-Clan had beef, and now Paradise works closely with Pete Nice
1:32:00 - Why Grandmaster Melle Mel and Busy Bee were the bullies of the Latin Quarter
1:34:00 - The day KRS-One accepted Melle Mel’s challenge at the Latin Quarter. It was a tipping point following LL Cool J’s disses towards Kool Moe Dee and Ice-T. Melle put up an incredible fight, but the crowd went for Boogie Down Productions
1:37:30 - Some final LQ memories involving Heavy D & The Boyz, Kane, Stetsasonic, EPMD, Special Ed, Kid n’ Play, Schoolly D, and the Native Tongues movement being born there
1:41:20 - Paradise Gray remembers Public Enemy retooling at Latin Quarter
1:43:05 - Why did the Latin Quarter party have to end? Brooklyn lived up to its reputation too
1:46:00 - Paradise confirms a crazy story involving Jam Master Jay and the original 50 Cent
1:47:20 - Some talk about the Universal Hip Hop Museum and Paradise Gray’s passion for collecting and curating
1:52:00 - 3 of Paradise Gray’s favorite artifacts
1:56:20 - What is next for Paradise Gray and the Universal Hip Hop Museum
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