Quad City DJ's

Biography

Quad City DJ's is an American Miami bass and party-rap group co-founded by producer-DJs C.C. Lemonhead (Nathaniel Orange) and Jay Ski (Johnny McGowan), who emerged from Jacksonville, Florida’s late‑1980s bass scene.[2][5] The pair first worked together in Jacksonville around 1988 in the group Chill Deal, producing local acts such as Three Grand and Icey J, whose answer record “It Takes a Real Man” responded to Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two.”[2] After Chill Deal dissolved, they re‑formed as 95 South and helped drive the early‑’90s southern bass explosion with the triple‑platinum chant‑rap hit “Whoot, There It Is,” before going on to create and produce more club staples including Dis‑n‑Dat’s “Freak Me Baby” and 69 Boyz’ double‑platinum single “Tootsee Roll.”[2][3]

In 1996, Ski and Lemonhead recruited vocalist JeLanna “Lana” LaFleur and officially launched Quad City DJ’s, with “Quad” referencing local slang for powerful bass.[2] Their debut single “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train),” a rap re‑imagining of Barry White’s 1974 “Theme from Together Brothers,” became their signature hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning platinum certification.[2] That momentum carried into their debut album Get On Up and Dance (1996), which peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, went platinum, and yielded the follow‑up single “Summer Jam.”[2] Later that year, the group wrote and performed the high‑energy title track for the film Space Jam, a song that charted on the Hot 100 and would later become an enduring meme and nostalgia touchstone.[2][3]

Although C.C. Lemonhead stepped back from the spotlight after the breakthrough single and the act was largely marketed as a duo, the Quad City DJ’s sound—built on booming 808 bass, party chants, and catchy, repetitive hooks—remained central to 1990s Southern club music and Miami bass culture.[2] In the 2010s, renewed online interest in the Space Jam theme and ’90s nostalgia led the group to perform live again, with a lineup centered on C.C. Lemonhead and newer members such as vocalist Tamara Wallace (formerly of Funky Green Dogs), rapper Tony WHOA! (Anthony Wallace II), and singer/percussionist David D.[2][3] They have released later singles like “4 Minute TwerkOut” (2015) and “What Happens Here Stays Here” (2017), and have continued to tour and record, underscoring their legacy as multi‑platinum, Grammy‑nominated architects of a still‑influential party‑rap sound.[2][3]

Fun Facts

• The word “Quad” in Quad City DJ’s is a local reference to powerful bass, underscoring their identity as a deep‑bass Miami/Florida club act rather than a nod to a geographic region.[2]
• Their breakout single “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” is built directly on Barry White’s 1974 “Theme from Together Brothers,” transforming a movie score instrumental into a platinum, chant‑driven party anthem.[2]
• Before branding themselves as Quad City DJ’s, C.C. Lemonhead and Jay Ski were already behind several major ’90s club hits, including 95 South’s “Whoot, There It Is” and 69 Boyz’ “Tootsee Roll,” both of which went multi‑platinum.[2][3]
• The group’s Space Jam theme, originally just one track on the 1996 film soundtrack, later exploded in popularity online, spawning thousands of mash‑ups and over 50 million combined views, and becoming a shorthand sound for ’90s nostalgia.[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Barry White - Source of a key musical blueprint; Quad City DJ’s built their breakout single as a rap remix around his 1974 instrumental “Theme from Together Brothers,” reflecting his influence on their melodic and groove sensibility. (“Theme from Together Brothers” (sampled on “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”)) [Mid‑1990s (sampling and reinterpretation released 1996)]

Key Collaborators

• JeLanna “Lana” LaFleur - Original featured singer enlisted when Ski and Lemonhead formally launched Quad City DJ’s; she provided the primary vocals on their early recordings and was part of the initial group lineup. (“C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”, album Get On Up and Dance) [1996–late 1990s[2]]
• 95 South - Earlier group project for Ski and Lemonhead; they co‑created the act and produced its breakout club hit, helping define their production style before branding themselves as Quad City DJ’s. (Single “Whoot, There It Is” (triple‑platinum)[2][3]) [Early 1990s (pre‑1996)[2]]
• Dis‑n‑Dat - Miami bass act produced by Ski and Lemonhead, extending the same production aesthetic they later brought to Quad City DJ’s. (Single “Freak Me Baby”[2][3]) [Early–mid 1990s[2]]
• 69 Boyz - Frequent collaborators; Ski and Lemonhead created, performed on, and produced the group’s double‑platinum dance hit, closely tying the acts within the same production camp. (Single “Tootsee Roll” (double‑platinum)[2][3]) [Mid‑1990s[2][3]]
• Tamara Wallace - Vocalist and performer in the modern touring lineup, bringing a house and dance background from Funky Green Dogs into the current version of Quad City DJ’s. (Live shows and new recordings including “Brand New Jam” session for Space Jam: A New Legacy soundtrack (recorded but not used)[2][3]) [Circa 2020–present[2][3]]
• Tony WHOA! (Anthony Wallace II) - Rapper in the contemporary lineup, contributing verses and stage presence to current performances and recordings. (Live performances; “Brand New Jam” session for Space Jam: A New Legacy (unreleased on official soundtrack)[2]) [Circa 2020–present[2][3]]
• David D. - Singer and percussionist in the current touring configuration, supporting live renditions of the group’s hits. (Live shows listed in official group bio[3]) [Circa 2020–present[3]]

Artists Influenced

• Internet meme and mash‑up culture (various creators) - The Space Jam theme has become a viral staple, inspiring thousands of unofficial mash‑ups, remixes, and joke edits, and helping cement their sound as a symbol of ’90s nostalgia. (Numerous online mash‑ups built around “Space Jam”; the song has accrued tens of millions of views across user‑generated uploads[3]) [Mid‑2000s onward, especially 2010s–present[3]]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia