DJ Buddha
Urales Vargas (born March 15, 1980), known professionally as DJ Buddha, is an American DJ, record producer, radio personality, music publisher, and record executive from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
In 2015, Buddha was enshrined into the Lawrence Boys & Girls Clubs' Hall Of Fame.
Bridging the gap
Over the last few years, the urban music industry has seen an evolution bridging together forms of music from the streets from different cultures, including hip hop, R&B, Jamaican reggae and Latin music. Within this movement, DJ Buddha has also developed and evolved into becoming an integral player in the future expansion of these genres. Buddha was associated with team, La Favela, in the form of a mixtape and a movement called "Caribbean Connection," which delivered a continuous mix of Dancehall reggae and reggaetón. Along with the "Caribbean Connection" and ‘Tropical Heat" series, he has created hundreds of mixtapes which were critically acclaimed in various articles from: Fader, Rolling Stone, NY Times, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Miami Herald, Ozone Magazine, MTV.com, Billboard.com, etc. DJ Buddha has showcased his talent, performing in 6 out of 7 continents. He has also recently released a mix album titled "Ultra.Latino" which hit #2 on iTunes[1] Latin within the 1st week of its release date. His creativity and gift of music, is what helps him continue to bring forth new, improved and different sounds.
Collaborations
DJ Buddha soon began building relationships with the artists whose music he had been promoting. He worked alongside reggae artist, Mighty Mystic in which he began creating records and collaborating with other reggae artists such as Mr. Easy, Tantro Metro & Devonte, Mr. Vegas, Red Rat, and T.O.K. It was when he met dancehall reggae group, T.O.K. that he became their official DJ for about 6 years. While on the road with T.O.K., Buddha created the remix for "Gal Yuh A Lead", featuring T.O.K., Beenie Man, & Nina Sky, which was one of his first songs to gain major airplay. He also created two different promotional mixtape samplers of T.O.K and Lady Saw for reggae indie label VP Records.
He has worked on remixes with other artists like Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Machel Montano, Lil Jon, N.O.R.E., etc. In 2004 Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" was remixed by DJ Buddha, featuring Cuban-American rapper, Pitbull and N.O.R.E., and first appeared on Caribbean Connection Volume 2. It was a smash hit. Later that summer, Lil Jon mixed his own vocals to the remix, which was featured on his Crunk Juice album. In 2005 he teamed up with Pitbull again on "She's Hotter Remix" featuring T.O.K. He later became Pitbull's official DJ and joined him on the road for the next 6 years.
Buddha has been a part of the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's Bad album, doing the 2012 edit of Bad with Afrojack & Pitbull. Also co-produced with Marc Kinchen & Big Syphe the theme song for the Men In Black 3 film, titled "Back In Time". Buddha recently (2014) won a grammy for his work on the song Echa Pa'lla (Manos Pa'rriba) - Pitbull featuring Papayo.
In 2016, Buddha was the music superviser to the Nick Cannon directed feature film, King of the Dancehall (film).
2017, Buddha released his first single with dancehall artist Munga, titled WAAR, which has over 15 million streams on Spotify.
Discography
Mixtape
- Tropical Heat Vol. 1 – Vol. 25 (Dancehall, Reggae & Soca)
- Caribbean Connection Vol. 1 – Vol. 7 (Dancehall Meets Reggaeton)
- Pitbull : Free Agent
- International Takeover: The United Nations
- Mr. Worldwide
Tracks (produced, written or remixed)
- Daddy Yankee Ft. Pitbull, N.O.R.E. & Lil Jon – Gasolina (Dj Buddha RMX)
- Lil Jon Ft. Daddy Yankee & Pitbull – What U Gon' Do (Latino RMX)
- Rupee Ft. Daddy Yankee – Tempted To Touch (RMX)
- Pitbull Ft. Lil Jon, Mr. Vegas, Wayne Marshall, Red Rat, T.O.K & Kardinal Offishall – Toma (Dj Buddha RMX)
- T.O.K Ft. Pitbull – She's Hotter
- Pitbull Ft. Don Omar - Fuego (Dj Buddha RMX) (as appeared on Madden NFL 08)
- Machel Montano & Pitbull - Defense
- Paulina Rubio Ft. Pitbull - Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes (RMX)
- Pitbull Ft. Machel Montano - Alright
- Pitbull Vs. Afrojack - Maldito Alcohol
- Pitbull Ft. Lil Jon, Sensato, Black Point & El Cata - Watagatapitusberry Remix
- Pitbull Ft. Machel Montano - Bon, Bon (Dj Buddha Soca RMX)
- Pitbull - Pause
- Pitbull Ft. Vein, David Rush & RedFoo of LMFAO - Took My Love
- Pitbull Ft. Enrique Iglesias & Afrojack - I Like - The Remix
- Juan Magan Ft. Pitbull & El Cata - Bailando Por El Mundo (Grammy Nomination)
- Sensato Ft. Pitbull & Sak Noel - Crazy People (Grammy Nomination)
- Michel Telo & Pitbull - Ai Se Eu Te Pego (If I Get Ya) (Worldwide Remix)
- Beatriz Luengo Ft. Shaggy - Lengua
- Pitbull - Back in Time
- Pitbull Ft. Shakira - Get It Started
- Michael Jackson - Bad (Afrojack Remix) (Ft. Pitbull) [DJ Buddha Edit]
- Paris Hilton - Good Time
- Pitbull Ft. Papayo - Echa Pa'lla (Manos Pa'rriba) (Grammy Nomination)'(Grammy Winner)'
- Pitbull Ft. Christina Aguilera - Feel This Moment
- Pitbull Ft. Sensato - Global Warming (Intro)
- Pitbull Ft. Usher & Afrojack - Party Ain't Over
- Pitbull Ft. Jennifer Lopez - Drinks for You (Ladies Anthem)
- Pitbull Ft. The Wanted & Afrojack - Have Some Fun
- Pitbull Ft. Havana Brown & Afrojack - Last Night (Never Happen)
- Pitbull Ft. Akon & David Rush - Everybody Fucks
- Dyland & Lenny Ft. Pitbull & Beatriz Luengo - Sin Ti (Don't Want To Miss a Thing)
- Frankie J Ft. Pitbull - Beautiful
- Will.I.Am Ft. Afrojack - Hello
- Pee Wee - Oh Donna (Come Back To Me)
- Becky G Ft. Pitbull - Can't Get Enough
- Jason Derulo Ft. Pitbull - Fire
- Nick Cannon - Looking For a Dream
- Nick Cannon Ft. DJ Class & FatMan Scoop - F*** Your Birthday
- Nick Cannon Ft. Polow Da Don & Amba Shepherd - OJ
- Nick Cannon - F n Awesome
- Veronica Vega Ft. Pitbull - Wicked
- Afrojack Ft. Chris Brown - As Your Friend
- Afrojack Ft. Tyler Glenn - Born To Run
- Afrojack Ft. Snoop Dogg - Dynamite
- Afrojack Ft. Wiz Khalifa and Kevin Cruise - Too Wild
- Afrojack Ft. Sting - Catch Tomorrow
- Afrojack Ft. Shirazi - Mexico
- Afrojack Ft. Matthew Koma - Keep Our Love Alive
- Afrojack - Faded
- Angela Hunte and Machel Montano - Party Done
- Kreesha Turner Ft. T.O.K - Sexy Gal
- Mohombi- Turn It Up
- 3Ball MTY Ft. Becky G- Quiero Bailar
- 3Ball MTY Ft. Cowboy Troy- Vaquero Electro
- Clinton Sparks feat. T.I.- UV Love
- Samantha J Ft. Dej Loaf- League Of My Own
- Anahí Ft. Zuzuka Poderosa- Boom Cha
- Angela Hunte - Mon Bon Ami
- Machel Montano - Human
- Angela Hunte and Machel Montano - Like So
- Veronica Vega Ft. Lil Wayne & Jeremih - Wave
- Kirstin Maldonado - Bad Weather
- Leikeli47 - Bubble Gum
- Chris Brown Ft. Jhené Aiko & R. Kelly - Juicy Booty
- Dj Buddha Ft. Munga - WAAR
- Dj Buddha, Cutty Ranks & Shermanology Ft. Steve Andreas - Money House
- Maffio, Angela Hunte & DJ Buddha - Ella Baila
- Ananya Birla Ft. WurlD & Vector - Blackout
- Ananya Birla - Disappear
- Alcover, Jhoni The Voice & Joell - Bomba
- Amara La Negra - Tare
- Amara La Negra - Now That You're Gone
- Amara La Negra Ft. Messiah - Celebra
- Patoranking - Temperature
- Ally Brooke x Matoma - Higher
- Dj Nelson - Que Pasa Aqui
- Afrojack Ft. Ally Brooke - All Night
- Dj Buddha x Angela Hunte - Speaker
- Cierra Ramirez Ft. Bulova - Charlie
- Quincy - Aye Yo
- Dj Delano & Dj Buddha Ft. Beenie Man - The Keys (Steve Andreas Mix)
- Maffio Ft. Nicky Jam & Akon - Uchi Walla
Albums (appeared on or produced)
- Crunk Juice - Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz
- Crunk Hits Vol. 2 - Various Artists
- Money Is Still A Major Issue - Pitbull
- Unknown Language - T.O.K.
- N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe - N.O.R.E.
- The Boatlift - Pitbull
- Flame On - Machel Montano
- Rebelution - Pitbull
- 34 - Machel Montano
- Armando- Pitbull
- Ultra.Latino - DJ Buddha
- Planet Pit - Pitbull
- Bad 25 - Michael Jackson
- Global Warming - Pitbull
- Vive2Life - Pee Wee
- My World 2 - Dyland & Lenny
- Faith, Hope, y Amor - Frankie J (Grammy Nomination)
- Plat It Again EP - Becky G
- White People Party Music - Nick Cannon
- Tattoos - Jason Derulo
- Global - 3Ball MTY
- Forget the World - Afrojack
- Caribbean Beats Vol. 1 (Instrumental) - Various Artists
Publications
- The New York Times (2004)[2]
- The Boston Globe (2004)[3]
- Boston Herald (2005)[4]
- Philadelphia Daily News (2004)
- Miami Herald (2005)
- The Village Voice (2004)
- The Source Magazine (2004)
- Fader Magazine (2004) & (2005)
- Ozone Magazine (2004) & (2005)
- Riddims Magazine (’04)
- MTV.com/Mixtape Mondays (3 times)
- LatinRapper.com (2004)[5]
- Billboard.com (2010)
References
- ^ iTunes - Music - Ultra.Latino (Mixed By DJ Buddha) by DJ Buddha
- ^ The New York Times > Arts > Music > Critic's Choice: New CD's
- ^ "Boston Globe Archive". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2005-04-16. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ^ "ProQuest Archiver: Titles". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ^ DJ Buddha of Boston | La Favela Mixtape | LatinRapper.com