History
The History of Uncle Jamm's Army
Hip-Hop Day LA Editorial
Before West Coast Hip-Hop became an industry, Uncle Jamm's Army built a movement, bringing DJs, dancers, music, fashion, and thousands of young people together.
In the early 1980s, Uncle Jamm's Army helped transform Los Angeles party culture into a movement.
Led by Rodger Clayton, the collective grew from neighborhood parties and DJ events into one of Southern California's most influential Hip-Hop organizations. Their parties brought thousands of Angelenos together at venues including the Los Angeles Sports Arena, helping establish a uniquely LA scene built around booming sound systems, DJs, dancing, fashion, and the emerging sounds of electro and rap.
The Uncle Jamm's Army family included influential figures such as Egyptian Lover, DJ Bobcat, Arabian Prince, and DJ Pooh, creating a pipeline of talent that would help shape West Coast Hip-Hop for decades.
Before major labels recognized the commercial power of Los Angeles Hip-Hop, Uncle Jamm's Army had already demonstrated its cultural power.
They didn't wait for an industry to emerge. They built their own.
