One day, right before the Heart of the City tour with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige, Jay needed a new DJ and was handed a mixtape by DJ Neil Armstrong of 5th Platoon. Moments after, Neil was called to audition and landed the job under the condition that he leave immediately and save packing for when they make their NYC stop. Thus began the gig of a lifetime as a resident member of Hova’s touring collective, surely a dream for many DJs, rappers, and singers alike. Although Neil’s Original and Sweeet series’ of mixtapes were recognized worldwide, a large portion of the circulation was among the Asian American community, of which he played an active role. He even spun at a fundraiser for the 2003 APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, and consequently his tapes were on constant rotation throughout the entire conference. It’s fantastic to see a brother come up through genuine talent, community involvement, and drive. Check out his latest interview with Ransom.

Via iLL-Literacy & 2dopeboyz