From the Ben Franklin to the Whitman, Island Avenue to Kensington, Philadelphia is teeming with people trying to make it in the entertainment industry.  We hear names dropped like Flippa Mafia, El Feco, E Ness, Summer Angel, Eve, Cassidy and Beanie Sigel.  Seldom do we take notice of the people making sure the music gets heard.  The disc jockeys, the selectors; and Philadelphia has as many of those as it does aspiring music artists.  But few stand out for both the Caribbean and mainstream massive.  Rated high in this group is Proper Tone Sound.

Heard playing regularly at the Reef Caribbean Lounge and on RadioWestIndies, Proper Tone Sound was founded by “Koppa G”, one of the original members of Vybz Xpress.  Straight from yard, Vineyard Town to be exact, Koppa got into music at an early age. "My father had a sound and a record shop; my uncle produced music in Jamaica. He had a label called Ultra Sonic.  So anytime there was a family function or occasion, I'd run to the stereo and play records."

While still in his teens, he linked with a school friend and began playing at dances for the Catholic Schools in his Parish.  He laughed when recounting how they started out “building the sound” by taking speaker components out of other speakers, building a big box and just putting them inside.

Originally, known as Geefus, Koppa has been involved in the Philly circuit for quite some time, collaborating with many individuals over the years at various venues, including Lancaster Hall, Tropical Paradise and the Blue Horizon.  As he became more well-known, he began to par with other people in the industry, and in stepped "Koppa G", a name he earned from looking too serious in the dance, like "he come in like police”.

Today, the sound proudly boasts one of the best systems amongst the Caribbean sounds, and two new front-men at his side, selectors Blackstar and Snoopy D.

Koppa brought Blackstar with him to Lancaster Hall one day, showed him what he did with the sound, and the rest was history. "It's kinda like he came one day and never went home." 

“Snoopy been around long before me,” he said.  "Some of the style that I have, I got influenced by his juggling from a long time."  They also found that they been through much of the same things and had the same goals.  "We just click."

The members of Proper Tone Sound have faced many of the same obstacles plaguing other sound systems in the area. "Let me put it this way,” said G, “everyone has a talent.  And you have some people who don't want other people to shine. We call dem badmind.  Everybody got a story of being hated on or held down or whatever the case.  The easiest way I've dealt with it is by taking myself away from it.”  The badmind people, not the music.  He loves it too much.  "When you have a talent, you just want to share with the world."

Speaking of talent, the man is more than your average disc jockey.  "Yeah, mi have the whole thing lock," said G.  "I can design it, customize it, build the power supply, build the box, tune the sound, select and play the sound.”  That’s a lot, especially when plenty selectors are still stuck on syncing tunes.

"Ultimately, I just want to be recognized for my talent...and just play for people and make them happy and make them feel the same way I feel as far as when I play music."

As for aspiring DJs out there, he offers this advice:

"Play the music that you feel in your heart, the music that moves you.  Don't try to be like nobody.  Don't try to copy nobody.  If you always try to be [like] the man, you will always be behind the man and never be the man.”

Proper Tone Sound can be heard 4-7pm EST every Saturday on RadioWestIndies.com.

For Booking Contact:

Proper Tone Music
215.909.4205

BBP Promotions
267.784.7547

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