Roger Clayton | West Coast Rap Artists | West Coast Rap Pioneers | Tribute to the Early West Coast Rap Scene: Website Title

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: Roger Clayton 1984

: Lonzo, Clayton, Arabian Prince and Egypt showing tribute to a real West Coast Pioneer called Michael "Mixxing" Moor

: The Army

: Uncle Jamms Army Flyer 1984

: The Clayton Clan

: L.A. Times 1983

: The Duke

ROGER CLAYTON - LEADER OF THE ARMY

Born: 1959
Real Name: Roger Clayton
Artist Name: Mr. Prinze

Roger Clayton began spinning records and throwing house parties at 13. He worked as a deejay at several clubs and held a succession of jobs at records stores and in sales for a wholesale record company. Toghether with his school buddy Gid Martin he founded the DJ group "Unique Dreams Entainment" back in 1978.

In 1983 they changed the name to "Uncle Jamms Army" inspired by George Clinton - Uncle Jam. At that time Rap hits the West Coast and the Uncle Jamms Partys went bigger and bigger. In 1984 the Army filled stadiums like the L.A. Sports Arena. Roger Clayton brought for the first time East Coast Groups like "Run DMC", "Whodini", "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyed", "Kurtis Blow" and "L.L. Cool Jay" to the West Coast performing live.

At that time Roger released the first record on his own "Freak Beat" label called "Dial-a-freak" which was mainly produced by Roger Clayton and the Egyptian Lover. Egypt who was one of the mayor figures in the Army did his first own release "Egypt, Egypt" on Rogers label. After the mayor sucess with "Egypt, Egypt" the Lover left the Army to do a solo career and founded his own label "Egyptian Empire". In 1985 Roger did the song "What´s your sign" followed by "The Roach is on the wall".

Till now the "Uncle Jamms Army" stayed in the head of the people with their legendary parties. Roger was the mastermind behind the sucess of the Army and his promotion work were ahead of the time. The influence the Army had on the early West Coast Rap scene can be found even today. A lot of "Uncle Jamms Army" members are still in the business like "Egyptian Lover", "Bobcat" and "DJ Pooh".