Defari

All Music Guide:

A member of the Likwit Crew alongside King T, tha Alkaholiks, and Xzibit, rapper Defari was born Duane Johnson, Jr. in Santa Monica, CA. He began DJing in 1982, moving on to MCing five years later; music remained only a hobby, however, and after earning a sociology degree at the University of California at Berkeley he went on to receive a master's degree in history and education at Colombia, accepting a high school teaching position upon graduating. In 1994, Defari recorded his first demo, soon after meeting Alkholiks producer E-Swift; together they recorded the track "Big Up," which appeared on the 1995 compilation Next Chapter: Strictly Underground. A single, "Bionic," followed a year later before Defari signed with Tommy Boy Records to issue his full-length debut Focused Daily in 1999.

Wikipedia:

Duane Johnson, Jr., also known as Defari, is a West Coast hip hop artist. Primarily, he is a solo artist, additionally he is a member of the Likwit Junkies, a rap duo with DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples. He was born at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley. He began DJing as a young kid in 1982. He was more focused on emceeing, and by 1995, released his first single "Bionic" on Oakland based ABB Records. With the help of E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks, by 1999, Defari recorded his first album, released on Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records.

Defari taught world history and geography at Inglewood High School in Inglewood, California, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. and a master's degree from Columbia University in New York City.