Da Beatminerz (Belize)
DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt—collectively the founding members of Da Beatminerz—are the Belizean brothers behind the gritty sound of Boot Camp Clik, the Brooklyn super-crew consisting of Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, Buckshot and Original Gun Clappaz (O.G.C.).
Walt and Evil Dee represent Bushwick, Brooklyn, where they first hashed out their hazy sound on Enta Da Stage, Black Moon’s debut album from 1992. While Baby Paul, Rich Blak, and Chocolate Ty were added to Da Beatminerz as the Boot Camp Clik expanded its roster, the Dewgarde brothers remained the core of the production crew, with Dee also holding down duties as Black Moon’s DJ.
Da Beatminerz’ minimal beats were carefully arranged to let soul and jazz loops manifest visuals of Brooklyn’s concrete jungle landscape. Like many West Indians who import musical styles to Brooklyn, they represented their Caribbean background in their sound, with cavernous drums and whistling wind melodies reminiscent of reggae music. Their taste for tropical flavor was palpable on “No Fear” by Originoo Gun Clappaz, and they channeled the competitive spirit of a reggae soundclash on Smif-N-Wessun’s “Sound Bwoy Bureill.” Da Beatminerz’ discography is deeper than rap though: In the late ‘90s, New Yorkers were privy to weekly parties at Joe’s Pub hosted by DJ Evil Dee, DJ Butta L and supermodel Beverly Bond, as Evil Dee regularly rocked swinging his dreadlocks to the tempo of true music connoisseurs hanging onto every note of disco, R&B, and hip-hop.