Marcel Anthony Mercado

(born November 20,1973)

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Known by his Stage names: DJ Voodoo and later by Yota One. Yota, is an American Musician and DJ well known In both the Orange County and Los Angeles County Hip Hop scenes.  Born in Hawaiian Gardens and Raised in Norwalk California, as a Youth, DJ Voodoo was part of a party crew called Forcez Uv Nature. He would use this party crew to make a name for himself in the DJ world by battling various up and coming DJ’s. It was at this time he started djing for a rap group called “The Jedeyes.” After producing music for these shows and performing behind the wheels, Yota felt that his place behind the turntables was not as fulfilling as being able to speak his mind and heart to the people.

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Fond of this new challenge, Yota took a summer off to teach himself how to freestyle, and just like with Djing, the battle aspect brought out the fire in both Yota and his rap group The Jedeyes. Yota alongside other producers they crafted the Underground album Experiment 31. During this time The Jedeyes were involved in the Orange County Hip Hop Coalition (a conglomerate of local, underground rap groups hosted by Meex One of Frantic Puzzle.) With what seemed like a weekly discussion, Meex had to “Talk” with Yota about the aggressiveness of The Jedeyes and their desire to battle everyone they could to establish their place in the coalition.

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Once The Jedeyes disbanded, Yota continued doing solo shows in Both Orange and Los Angeles County. A lot of these performances shared the same bill as another Coalition rap group, Kosmic Four. It was during this time that Yota, Fear and Dove Roc collaborated on a track for The Jedeyes Experiment 31 LP. These studio sessions led to more projects and culminated with Fear and Dove asking Yota to join the group. Since then, Yota has been a fixture within Kosmic Four.

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Pursuing additional channels of creativity Yota and Dove created Vanguard. Under this banner, Yota One & Dove Roc released 1 album (Movements in Music) and are currently working on a new project with Dj Abel. Yota has always been intertwined in the Hip Hop timeline for both Orange and LA County. Yota is involved in all elements of Hip Hop, Bboying, Graffiti, Djing, and Emceeing. As a youth he was drawn to all things Hip Hop. Living in Norwalk and being so close to Cerritos CA he would use his friends high school ID to get into their dances to see the KDAY mix masters live and learn from the best on how to be the best.

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During this time, Hip Hop was still in its infant state and being able to see someone scratching was hard to come by. He remembers seeing Julio G and Tony G holding down the 1’s and 2’s, this was pure magic. That was all it took, he was hooked. Yota learned of various Hip Hop organizations that took the elements and preserved the history, He learned of the Zulus and how the organization had chapters all around the world. It was intriguing to him that the thoughts, ideas and dreams he had matched that of another kid on the opposite side of the world.

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Calafia Zuluz founder Lastman (also a graduate of the OC coalition) asked Yota to become the President of their chapter. Yota took this honor very serious and has made it his legacy to safeguard the right history of Los Angeles and Orange County Hip Hop and to be of service and In service to all things in our Hip Hop community.