Best known for his production work with hardcore rapper
Ice-T,
Afrika Islam is a virtuoso DJ, able to spin four turntables at one time. Beginning his career as an apprentice to
Afrika Bambaataa, in the late '70s
Islam met Earl Chin at radio station WHBI, who offered the young DJ a show. Calling his show Zulu Beats,
Islam teamed up with the group
Supreme Team and began gaining a substantial following at the station. After a short period as a DJ for
The Rock Steady Crew in the early '80s,
Islam moved to L.A. where he appeared in films such as Breakin' II and Pump up the Volume.
Islam also began doing production work for
Ice-T, producing four gold albums for the hardcore rapper, including the Colors and New Jack Hustler soundtracks. Through his work with
Ice-T,
Islam also began remixing for other artists, including
Michael Jackson,
New Order, and
the Eurythmics.
Afrika Islam also exported his successful Zulu Beats show to Japan in 1992. ~ Steve Kurutz, All Music Guide