Since 1996 Garth Trinidad’s Chocolate City has aired on 89.9fm KCRW in Los Angeles and kcrw.com worldwide to critical acclaim. As an award winning, world traveling DJ and unique hustler of culture, Garth is considered the foremost curator of urban alternative music and culture with top-ranking career highlights that span music programming and supervision for film & TV, advertising, online & in-flight entertainment, studio music and live event production, and music journalism. As a voting member of NARAS, Garth sits on the Grammy Awards R&B board in support of the new ‘best urban alternative performance’ category, created as a direct result of his continued approach to music programming.
Hungry to nurture and house an international identity for urban artists from all nations, Mr. Trinidad exploits stereos and club speakers to seduce minds and bodies with varied ghetto music philosophies. He’s broken artists like Jill Scott, Van Hunt and Gnarls Barkley and primes his radio canvas with progressive and familiar soul, R&B, hip hop, and jazz, while the rebirth of cool comes courtesy of such rising stars as Seu Jorge, Blk Jks, Little Dragon, and J-Davey with hopes of catapulting them into mainstream status. Garth’s approach to rocking parties is a fusion of world rhythms and beloved beats from many genres. One might find him finessing samba, bhangra, and afro-beat with classic hip hop, R&B, house, and other assorted dance rhythms. Over the years he’s lubricated dance floors in South America, Western Europe, and across the US, with a constant presence in Los Angeles.
Steadfast in his mission to cultivate a global urban alternative, Garth has been heard as music commentator on NPR syndicated programs “News and Notes” and “The Tavis Smiley Show”, and been found blogging, interviewing artists, and programming play-lists for Napster and iTunes. As music consultant and supervisor his client roster includes UPN, Nike, FX Network, PBS, Mitsubishi, Infiniti, and United Airlines with record production credits from Warner Bros, Atlantic, Rhino, and BBE. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Ford, and Toyota have contracted Mr. Trinidad to host events, sport apparel, and drive cars for his ability to influence the market as a respected taste-maker.
2005 saw the launch of Garth’s multi-media company Garth Trinidad Sound and in 2006 he celebrated 10 years of Chocolate City with a series of intimate concerts, the creation of limited edition sneakers with éS, the sporty extension of Etnies, and a special feature and mix CD with Re:Up Magazine. As music supervisor in 2007, he assisted critically acclaimed director Stacy Peralta (Dog Town & Z Boys, Riding Giants) in a gut wrenching study of South Central LA gangs titled "Made In America", and is currently music supervisor for HBO's Emmy award-winning series “Entourage”. In 2008 Garth brings his alternative sound odyssey to Scion Radio with the "Chocolate City All Stars" show, streaming 24/7 courtesy of scion.com, and can be found exposing new music as a columnist in newly resurrected urban culture and style publication, Code Magazine.
Chocolate City’s loyal and passionate listeners over the years are simply a reflection of Garth’s own character: he is passionate about the music and embodies the very soul he spins on air. There is no tidy box to encapsulate the show’s sound – but everyone who tunes in, never tunes out.
OPENING OCT 30th LA's NEWEST ALL VINYL RECORD STORE soul/funk/jazz/hip hop/reggae/45s/etc.etc RARE ORIGINAL PRESSINGS/REISSUES/NEW RELEASES 5654 West Adams, LA CA
What up Mr GT, I have been spinning pretty regular for about 3 months at a poetry open mic event in Palmdale. I go from Donald Byrd to Novalima to Defected all in one set, you know the deal. I like it, mostly on vinyl. The people are so amazed that I spin records, and I go from 19 something to 2009. I kinda bit your style, one of the ladies at the event said that I'm a breath of fresh air :) How cool is that! Thanks Uncle Garth!..................oh yea and they pay me!!!!!!!!! PEACE JBL
Yo, dunsky, thanks 4 being a chum! I'm out here posted in Lancaster. It's like the ass-end of S.Cali urban civilisation! If it wasn't for MTV and The Internet this place would be really spooky... and if it wasn't for free-radio and programs like Chocolate City I'd probably have to climb a clocktower and start pick'n fooos off!LOL Oh'yeah, and thanks for pull'n my coat to the homie Femi Kuti; I didn't think people in this day-and-age could produce music like that anymore... Oh'yeah, drop some soulful DnB on show sometime! Give me 15min on the decks and I'll have the whole 101 pulling over just to kick some happy-feat!LOL Peace and Jungle beats, carnal! Joey Martyr
Aye dude, I love you. Listening to yo show is always mind blowing. Wondering why we keep repeating this mantra that hip hop and black music is dead when there is plenty of body rocking soul mending shit out there. Thank you for sharing, brother.
PEP! Just rocked my first Music Festival in Maui! It was a blast! What'chou got for me out there in San' Mon'? L.A.? shoot, Chatsworth? lol Vids soon comin! Big up to you G.T.! Keep them blogs a comin!
greetings from the Ill-state. much respect mr.trinidad! my homie Ray Knight put me on to your fine selection skills some years back. check out my page for some nice grooves. peace.
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