It's Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop's First Latino DJ »

Luis “DJ Disco Wiz” Cedeño, the first Latino Hip Hop DJ, is credited for being the first DJ to make a "mixed plate" in 1977 along with Grandmaster Caz. In the years since, Wiz has been an influential force in educating the world about the early years of hip-hop. Wiz was a major contributor in the opening of the Experience Music Project in Seattle in 2000, and was instrumental in the making of Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn's Yes Yes Y'all (Da Capo Press, 2002). He was also featured in the Emmy-nominated VH1 Rock Doc NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell, and is the creator and founder of the Hip-Hop Meets Spoken Wordz series.

Ivan Sanchez is the author of Next Stop: Growing up Wild Style in the Bronx (Simon & Schuster, 2008), and was awarded the National Novel honors for his first fiction offering in 2004. His work has appeared on SaborHR.com, SiTV.com, HipHopGame.com, and he is currently developing a TV series based on Next Stop, with the help of April Lee Hernandez. Sanchez is also an anti-gang youth advocate and motivational speaker, who works with the Virginia Beach Police Department’s gang unit.

It’s Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop’s First Latino DJ is a gritty and gripping tale of one man’s struggles to not only survive, but to triumph over adversity and abuse that will make your blood run cold. By conquering unimaginable obstacles, Wiz offers inspiration to anyone who has ever wondered, “Why me?”

Bill Baars - Library Journal

CedeA o, aka DJ Disco Wiz, is regarded as the pioneer Latino DJ in hip-hop music. Born in the Bronx, NY, to a Puerto Rican father and a Cuban mother, Wiz attended his first Kool Herc jam in 1974 at the age of 13, and he was hooked. Teaming up with Casanova Fly (later known as Grandmaster Caz), Wiz created the Mighty Force crew. Here, with Sanchez (Next Stop: Growing Up Wild-Style in the Bronx), he provides fascinating insight into the South Bronx scene and his developing craft. Even more compelling is the story of Wiz's personal struggles, including the early death of an abusive, alcoholic father, a mother who suffered from breast cancer, and imprisonment at the age of 17 on an attempted murder charge. Discussing his music and in his self-analysis, Wiz doesn't hold back, and it is his honesty and attitude that make his autobiography-like his music-a captivating mix. Recommended for popular music collections.