Defari

Duane Johnson Jr., (born January 24, 1971), better known by his stage name Defari, is an American rapper from Santa Monica, California. He is a member of the duo Likwit Junkies with DJ Babu, as well as the loosely affiliated Likwit Crew. Defari has released three solo albums, with his latest, Street Music, being released in 2006. A member of the Likwit Crew alongside King T, tha Alkaholiks, and Xzibit, rapper Defari was born Duane Johnson, Jr. in Santa Monica, CA. He began DJing in 1982, moving on to MCing five years later; music remained only a hobby, however, and after earning a sociology degree at the University of California at Berkeley he went on to receive a master's degree in history and education at Columbia, accepting a high school teaching position upon graduating. In 1994, Defari recorded his first demo, soon after meeting Alkholiks producer E-Swift; together they recorded the track "Big Up," which appeared on the 1995 compilation Next Chapter: Strictly Underground. A single, "Bionic," followed a year later before Defari signed with Tommy Boy Records to issue his full-length debut Focused Daily in 1999.