Name: Mark Di Vita Nickname: Spaztik aka Lyric 1 DOB: October 19th Instruments: Th..th..th.th.the mic, beat box, MPC 2000 and anything I can pound a fist on. Locale: San Mateo, CA Affiliates: Children of Productions Phat Dawg, Gambitt, Upper Playground, Quantum Flux, The Galavandeers. Artists I've worked with: Joe Quixx, Rasco, Eclipse 427, Vin Roc, Spaze Travelers, Grand Agent, Dave Ghetto, Chunk, J-Ro, Adrenalin Octane, Furious, Regina Monique, Daryl Powell, DJ Mars, Koo C. Favorite Artists/Musicians: Del, Bob James, DJ Premier, DJ Quick, The Ummah, Soulquarians, Evidence, D' Angelo, Slick Rick Lauryn Hill, Dungeon Family, BDP, Grand Agent, DJ Revolution, Planet Asia, Jay-Z, Run DMC, Pete Rock. Interesting/off the wall facts: Cow tipping is a myth. Ceandre, Craig and Kevin owe me money. "If you’re new to hip-hop listening I’m glad you came..." -Spaztik - Run of the Mill In the winter of 2000, the talented Spaztik MC decided that it was finally time to come out of the shadows of the hip-hop underground. After spontaneous calls to Producers around the globe, the young MC found his soon to be partner in rhyme and reason, Chops from the famed Mountain Brothers, chillin in Philly. “We had a vibe that musicians get when real things are going to happen.” It would be only four days before Spaztik would return to Cali with 10 true school tracks from the newest duo in hip-hop music. Upon his return Spaztik quickly swooped up long time friend and DJ King One to complete the trio that has brought Spaztik’s vision for the album For Those That Do to life. In 1986, 9 year old Mark Di Vita transferred to Hawes Elementary school in Redwood City, CA. A product of a single parent household Mark was raised by his mother, grandmother, aunts and family friends. “ I remember my mom working two jobs, 7 days a week trying to keep a roof over our heads and food in my stomach,” recalls Spaztik. She wasn’t ever trying to raise me in a negative environment so when things got tough we'd move. Because of all the moving in and out of places though I met a lot of people and had a lot of friends from different walks of life. It wasn't until 6th grade that things would become better. It was here that Mark would learn about breakdancing and graffiti art. I met this kid Steven Gaddis. We became best friends and started breaking to Big Daddy Kane and Run DMC. Steve helped me be confident about my talents.” These talents included sports, drawing, dancing, and writing rhymes. For two young men, hip-hop would become an everyday part of life. After graduating from Kennedy middle School in 1990, Marks was admitted to Serra High School to play football, baseball, and basketball. It would be here that Mark would get deeper into hip-hop and unknowingly begin work on his first album. “Serra is an all guys school so it helped me become super competitive. I met this cat named Dwayne during football season who wanted to build a studio at his crib. I gave up sports after football season to do this rap thing and got black balled by all the coaches when I tried to come back during summer workouts. I ended up transferring to this smaller school to play but I still had mad friends from Serra.” One of these friends was Maurice Diaz an aspiring DJ who would become Mark’s sidekick until his passing in 1998. “Moe introduced me to the whole Hip-Hop Club scene. He’d have me at the craziest places helping him DJ. We got down with all the record shop owners and go into record pools at Bobby G’s and Cue’s in Frisco”. The later would serve as Spaztik’s first cameo appearance and real exposure.. We did shows at Palookaville and the Maritime Hall that were just bananas. Hip-Hop culture 100%. The whole experience was fresh plus I got paid. I told myself I can do this and decided to make an album.” In 1998 shortly before the sudden passing of this closest friend, Spaztik Emcee released his Phase 1 EP under his not yet established Children of Productions records. The EP was okay but it was mainly random rhymes I had written since the sixth grade that I just spit on thrown together beats because I wanted to put something on vinyl. As soon as I finished that album I knew how to do things. I knew how to produce a record spit tighter ad-libs to make things standout, project my voice better. I wrote almost the whole For Those That Do Album before 1999, I just wasn’t happy mentally with all the pressures I had in my life. But now I’m ready. For once I can be focused. With confidence, Spaztik, as his cartoon character attempts in the upcoming Galavandeers comic series, is ready to take hold of the golden mic. More than hip-hop Spaztik is a bonafied artist from conception to execution of each endeavor. This album is a testament to the power of art and its elements. They are the reason that Spaztik has risen. Music will never be the same. WEBSITE: http://www.spaztikemcee.com/ Expect it Fresh