DJ Neil Armstrong

Acknowledged as the founding father of the DJ Collective .5th Platoon., Neil Armstrong is known as a purveyor of good music, dropping gourmet goods for mixtape aficionados, music connoisseurs and party people throughout the world.

Born and Breed in NYC, He cut his teeth in the early 90.s honing his skills in the realm of turntablism, the sect of DJing where proficiency in kutting, scratchin, and beatjuggling define status. His time spent in the trenches battling and mastering the art form allowed him to rock shows alongside artists across the Hip Hop Spectrum - from De La Soul, The Roots, Company Flow and Biz Markie, to Kanye West, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Wyclef Jean.

As a member of the critically acclaimed 2 time Grammy award nominated jazz band - "Russell Gunn and Ethnomusicology", he further explored the idea of using a turntable as an instrument. His stint with the band brought him around the globe to places like the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Hague, Netherlands . one of the largest music gatherings in the world, and gave him the opportunity to play alongside true musicians like Kenny Garrett (a member of Miles Davis' band) and Branford Marsalis.

Over the last 7 years, he has made a mark in the subgenre of Hip Hop known as the Mixtape Culture. To these mixtape projects Neil always brings his experience - from his eclectic music tastes, to the ideas of artistic integrity - and he has gained notoriety for smoothness, creativity and originality by making products that hinge entirely on the ideals of good music and skills. This is what separates his mixtapes from the rest of the pack.

Everyone from the hipster set to the industry heavyweights have taken notice. He made Rolling Stone's "Top 10" Mixtape DJ's of 2005 list, was recognized by Vibe Magazine as one of the next DJ's "on deck" to watch out for, had his cd's featured on MTV.com's Holiday Essentials Feature, and gained honorable mentions in Mixunit.com's Power 30 List of "The most influential players in the mixtape game". In 2007, he received a SEA Mixtape Award for the .best Old School R&B. Category.

His personal style has brought him to a larger stage, as established entities in various industries of entertainment have tapped him to do his thing on the 1's and 2's - to set the mood and control the atmosphere through that universal language: music. He has proven to be prolific at doing just that, whether he is rocking a club in Miami for the upper echelon model set, getting NBA Players amped to do their hoop thing, killing the dance floor at a lounge in San Fransisco, making people move across the world at a Shanghai nightclub, or rocking a small loft party in the Lower East Side for Kangol.

In 2007, recognition for his skills culminated with the announcement of a sneaker collaboration between his crew and Adidas for their B-BALL EQUIPMENT REMIX Project, the same company that pioneered the Hip Hop Artist Collaboration years before with another DJ . Run DMC.s Jam Master Jay.

Almost 10 years later, the mixtape projects that he created are still sought after and revered. This a testament to what Neil brings to the plate, as longevity is one of the things that cannot faked or bought, and something that few in this world of disposable DJ's have. The proof is in the pudding: the best word to describe Neil Armstrong is Classic.

SOURCE: http://www.5thplatoon.com/