The "Rap Vatican DJ Conference Call" was established in 1992 by DJ Ricky Leigh Mensh, creator of "In Tha Mix," a weekly "must-read" column in the highly influential music trade HITS Magazine, which is read by radio DJs, programmers, and record label executives. In Tha Mix" was, essentially, the first and highly successful attempt to tap into the minds of significant DJ’s across the United States and internationally about what was popping off their turntables, in their clubs, and on the radio.
Ricky's "In Tha Mix," column and DJ conference call was game changing. Every senior level radio and label executive became aware of how important and relevant the Mixshow community was for breaking and branding new artists and products. The Vatican roster of DJs includes such Djs as: Sway & Tech (Sway is now the producer and face of MTV News), The Baker Boys (Nationally Syndicated Radio HipHop Master Mix currently in over 140 Markets), Funk Master Flexx (Hot 97 NY), DJ Ran (Superadio Syndicated/Official DJ for NFL Monday Night Football), Sir Charles"Mixin"Dixon (WBLS/Music Choice), Kelly G (Music Director of BET Television), DJ Latin Prince (Universal Records/Founder Bumsquad DJz), Prince Ice (Interscope Records/Wake Up Show with Sway & Tech/KMEL Veteran), The Babalu Bad Boys (Morning Show, WEMX West Palm Beach), Wolf D (Superadio Syndicated/WKKV Milwaukee), Jimmy Jamz (WJHM Orlando, FL), Damon Williams (Program Director, Music Choice Network), Rory Mack (Violator All-Star Radio SiriusXM Satellite Radio-Shade45/Record Systems Las Vegas, NV), Dj Debonair (Tour DJ for Keith Urban & TurntableU.com "The World's Premier Online DJ School"), Dj Shadow aka Mike London (WGBZ Montgomery AL/Founder of SNA Record Pool & The Official DJ of the 2010 Census Road Tour), DJ Touchtone (Mid-Days, WPHI Philly), Mecca (MD@Music Choice Networks), DJ Scrap Dirty (founder of Violator All-Star DJ's), DJ Doom (WJBT Jacksonville), Steve "Miggedy" Maestro (Superadio Syndicated/WSRB Chicago), DJ Jelly (WHTA Atlanta, GA), DJ Chonz (Afternoon Drive, KQKS Denver, CO), Felix Sama (WMIA, Miami Florida), Dj Book (WPGC Washington DC), DJ E-Man (Big Boy's Morning Show / Music Director KPWR Los Angeles), DJ Mixxula (KSFM Sacramento), DJ Jam (Superadio Syndicated/ Tour DJ for Snoop Dogg Dr Dre & Warren G), Harold Banks (WZKS Atlanta, GA), DJ G Wiz (APD WJBT Jacksonville), DJ Kut (WFUN, St. Louis, MO), DJ Chris Coleman (APD WBHK Birmingham, AL), DJ Paul Bunyon (WHHH Indianapolis), Creativity (KDAY/WHWT/Superadio/Music Choice/BumsquadDJz), DJ Dense (KDAY FM & The Official DJ of the Los Angeles Clippers) DJ Trauma (Tour DJ for Sean Garrett/WHTA Atlanta, GA), Benny Demus "DJ Benny D" (Tour DJ for Grammy Nominated artist Akon), C-Minus (Tour DJ The Foo Fighters/Fantastic 4our), Corey Hill (WJMN Boston, MA), Mohammed Morretta (Los Angeles/Miami), Ern Dogg (Soul Assasin's "West Wing" SiriusXM Satellite Radio Shade45), Jammin' Jay (PD WZBN 105.5 FM, "Power 105.5fm Albany GA), Tony G (Original KDAY Mixmaster/Westside Radio with Julio G), Wild Wayne (WQUE New Orleans), DJ Buddha (Tour DJ / A&R for Recording Artist Pitbull), Kronik (Tour DJ for Grammy Nominated artist Flo Rida), GQ (WHYI Y100 Miami, FL), Tom LaRoc (Miami, FL), Red Alert, DJ Clue and a host of other top DJs from around the world!
"In Tha Mix" ran until 2004, after the dot-com crash two years previously forced a radical restructuring and downsizing of the magazine and its staff. In 2010 Ricky Leigh passed away and members of the DJ community, led by DJ Debonair, Rory McAlister, Jimmy Jamz, Kevin "The Deacon" James, Charles Dixon and others put a reunion call together as a memorial to Ricky’s efforts. True to the tradition of the call, the memorial call included participation from the biggest names in the music business (including Dr. Dre and over 75 DJ’s/programmers from the US & Canada).
Past guests include: record producer Clive Davis, Luther Vandross, Sean "Diddy/Puff Daddy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Raphael Saddiq, Lil Kim, Steve Rifkind (owner/creator of Loud Records/SRC), Russell Simmons (founder of Def Jam Records), Kevin Lyles, Naughty by Nature, Doug E. Fresh and many, many more. Recent conference call guests include: Cali Swag District, David Banner, DIPLO, Bob Sinclair, Estelle, Trina, Afrojack, Lloyd, Diddy, T.I., Mayor Hawthorne, George Clinton, and Grammy nominated artists Flo-Rida B.o.B & Pitbull.
The DJ Vatican Conference Call© emanates a real family atmosphere and the respect among its 100+ members is undeniable. Nearly all DJV members feel free to discuss their opinions openly due to their long-term friendships, some going back 30 years or more.. This is the biggest reason the Conference Call is a successful network exchanging vital information and knowledge helping it's participants stay on the cutting-edge and catch new trends and artists impacting regionally and internationally. Through the DJ Vatican network, clients will have direct ties to a vast majority of record labels (both independent & major), and direct access to tastemakers in over 150 US markets.