860 Entertainment
860 Entertainment is a Connecticut based Independent Hip Hop Label, dedicated to bringing innovative, original music to the World. The 860e roster consists of:"Tone Atlas"(Pres./CEO), "Smoke the Absolute"(Producer/Executive Producer), "Dose"(Artist), "Andre Premisis", "Bobby Flow", "Mystro the Menace","Deac Black","Doob Dymez","Driz Nathanial","the Havnotz","Frankie Spic","Dls","the 17th Prez." and "Jon Doe"
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
In 1983 SMOKE met TONE, SMOKE & TONE became good friends. In 1986, SMOKE met DOSE, SMOKES MOM & DOSES MOM were college BUDDIES. SMOKE was 8 & DOSE was 5. In 1992 SMOKE, TONE, & DOSE, along with the guidence of RICH, formed a RAP GROUP. Later in 1992, that RAP GROUP BROKE UP, because RICH said that SMOKE & TONE were'nt as good as DOSE. DOSE was 11. SMOKE & TONE were furious, and vowed to get revenge. But revenge against who? DOSE did nothing. Dose was 11. All RICH tried to do was make them better. So instead they vowed to NEVER STOP MAKING MUSIC! In 1993, SMOKE & TONE saw MYSTRO the MENACE perform at the HIGH SCHOOL TALENT SHOW, and they were inspired, because MYSTRO ran with the legendary L.A.B.(Lyrics, Rhymes and Beats) they had FRANKIE SPIC, & THE SPICTACULAR EMCEES, DLS, DJ TERROR, LAN LIFE,& QUEST. In 1995 SMOKE & TONE got INVITED to be on DJ BREAKDOWNS MIX TAPE, when they got to BREAKDOWNS BASEMENT , they saw DOSE. He was 14. They also saw BIG TYME and STOLIN and then they FORMED A GROUP. They called themselves THE DUNJUN. Later in 1995 SMOKE made his FIRST BEAT. He knew this was his calling, and dropped out of school. Then one night, at an AFTER SCHOOL PARTY, TONE BATTLED DOSE!. It was a TIE. So they say. SMOKE wasnt there. Smoke dropped out. In 1996, BIG TYME introduced SMOKE & TONE to ROX. ROX and RICH were one of the first hip hop groups. ROX had a STUDIO. ROX let SMOKE make BEATS at his house. SMOKE is forever greatful. The DUNJUN did about 25 songs at ROXES HOUSE. Throughout the year, with the LITTLE MONEY they had, SMOKE & TONE put on a number of SUCCESSFUL SHOWS, in which the DUNJUN would RAP, and ANYONE who TRIED TO RAP agaist them LOST. In 1997, TINA said the DUNJUN was'nt alllowed at ROXES house any more. RICH fought ROX. It was a TIE. KEL D. & DOSE JUMPED IN. DOSE was 16. ROX tried to KICK KEL D. He missed. KEL D is DRIZ NATHANIALS little BROTHER. SMOKE met DRIZ in JUNIOR HIGH. TONE met DRIZ in 1984. DOSE knew him for a long time too. Later in 97', SMOKE got his first BEAT MACHINE. He has'nt left the STUDIO since. Niether has DOSE. The only reason why TONE did is because he MOVED TO FLORIDA. But he works in a STUDIO out there. In 1998 SMOKE & TONE went to STUDIO 19 for a meeting. They met DEAC BLACK & DOOB DYMEZ, they were BROKE. So was SMOKE & TONE and they STUCK TOGETHER. DOOBS OLD. DOOB stole a SEGA GENESIS GAME from SMOKE when SMOKE was 12. DOOBIE was 15. They were at REGGIE and ADONIS'S house. DOOB wont admit it. The year of 98' was a PRODUCTIVE YEAR for SMOKE, TONE, DOSE, DOOB, & DEAC. They PERFORMED at countless SHOWS and put out an ALBUM on a 4 TRACK RECORDER. The streets were AMAZED. In 1999 SMOKE got ran over twice by a car and NEARLY LOST HIS LIFE. SMOKE does'nt want to think about 1999. In early 2000, SMOKE, TONE, DOSE & COMPANY were playing basketball. ANDRE PREMESIS was there. He raps. He's good. He went to the STUDIO. He rapped. He was good. He came up with the name JON DOE. He taught SMOKE how to use his EQUIPMENT. SMOKE cant read. SMOKE dropped out. PREMESIS hooked up SMOKES car speakers, and TONES, and MILES. MILES is TONES LITTLE BROTHER. and SMOKES LITTLE BROTHER. SMOKE & TONE are NOT RELATED. PREMESIS is one of the most HARD WORKING, DEDICATED artists in the game today. SMOKE knew there was something missing. In order to make this JON DOE SUPER GROUP work, he needed ONE more PIECE. It was the one HE & TONE idolized in thier high school days. Before SMOKE dropped out. "The KRS-1 of New London" some called him.... MYSTRO THE MENACE. He coaches basketball. SMOKES his assistant coach. JON DOE then made an album, and all 8 got signed to SOUL BEAT RECORDS. B.B. ownes that LABEL. B.B. is RICHES FATHER. RICH is DOSES COUSIN. RICH fought ROX. JON DOE was working hard but things happened. In 2002 JON DOE got OUT of there CONTRACT and started thier own LABEL... 860 ENTERTAINMENT. All sarcasim aside, 860 ENTERTAINMENT is not just a LABEL, its a MOVEMENT, full of EMCEES who LIVE for this HIP HOP CULTURE. We have the upmost RESPECT for this MUSIC and EVERYONE who built it to what it is today. We will keep bringing you ORIGINAL, INNOVATIVE, GROUND BREAKING HIP HOP!. Peace!
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
The core members have been performing in the CT., R.I., Mass. area for the last 10 years.
Your musical influences
Everyone
What equipment do you use?
Triton Studio, Yamaha AW4416, MPC2000xl,
Anything else?
SMOKE THE ABSOLUTE, TONE ATLAS, ANDRE PREMISIS, BIG DOSE, DEAC BLACK, MYSTRO THE MENACE, DRIZ NATHANIAL, DOOB DYMEZ, BOBBY FLOW, FRANKIE SPIC, DLS, 17TH PRES., HAVNOTZ, JON J, B.D.E., DANNY TAPS, find these emcees & more at smoketheworld.com
