Soji Lapite
About
I am a Veteran Soul, Funk, Jazz, Boogie (Rare Groove), Hip Hop, Swing Beat (Dance Music) DJ, whose career began in the mid-1980s when I got my first exposure into the music industry, as an understudy of various South London Reggae Soul Sound Systems. Aside from playing various music genres, my interest has always in been the History of Music, with some of my major influences being artists like Roy Ayers, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and James Brown.
Having been connected to Sound Systems also provided me with early access to the Pirate Radio industry, beginning at 18 years old doing Pirate Radio on various radio stations, including Power Jam F.M. as one of the original line-up up which included DJ's: Booker T and Sugar Dread.
During the early 1990s, I decided to focus my attentions more towards the Hip Hop & New Jack Swing Beat Club scene, after becoming disillusioned with what was then violence and negativity associated with the "Rare Groove" club scene, which began to decline around that time. What followed was a period of relative success on the Hip Hop & Swing Beat / Hip Hop Club circuit, working with DJ's and Sounds such as Rampage, Boogie Bunch, Tim Westwood, Mark Ross, as well as Legendary Russian Hip Hop Award-winning Producer, DJ Vadim.
Following that, I decided to expand my horizons in Media by travelling to work abroad on Radio in several African nations such as Senegal, Sierra Leon & Gambia, where I worked as a regular host on Radio One F.M. - Banjul, then under the auspices of the late Radio George Christensen.
I then returned to the UK to obtain a Bachelor of Arts & Master’s Degrees in Journalism & Radio Broadcast Communications, deciding to continue pursuing a career in Radio upon my release in 2001. Following my release, I worked as a volunteer in a number of Youth Organisations, including: Foundation 4 Life, Code-7 Music & SABA (Society for the Advancement of Black Arts).
That same year, I joined Invincible Radio, which was an early Online (Internet) Radio & Magazine based in Hackney, where I hosted a weekly radio show, and contributed articles, gaining valuable experience as a feature writer, before launching my own Online Radio platform, Urban Jazz Radio, in 2003. Urban Jazz was created for the purpose of promoting Jazz based, and alternative Black Music-Rhythms to young people in London, to provide them with a positive alternative to the relentless onslaught of Crime & Gang focused Rap music.
In 2022, I co-authored and independently published the book, “Unknown Story of Rare Groove Pt 1 & 2”: amazon.co.uk/STORY-RARE-GROOVE-PT-1/dp/B0BB5X73N6, which is a Historical chronology of the UK Dance Music industry, from the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s. Also in those same years, I co-founded a Non-Profit Voluntary Organisation, Youth Breakthrough & Development Project: youthbreakthroughproject.co.uk, aimed at providing Free Media Alternative Educational Services to underprivileged inner-city youth to deter them from Gang Culture & Activity, for the purpose of directing them towards career paths within the Media/Entertainment and Book publishing industries.
Youth Breakthrough & Development (YBDP) is a London-based, community-led non-profit organisation incorporated in 2024 in response to the growing social and economic challenges facing young people across inner-city communities. These challenges, including youth violence, exploitation, educational disengagement, and limited employment opportunities, are often rooted in a lack of access to positive pathways and creative outlets.
YBDP exists to address this by empowering young people to realise their full creative and personal potential through alternative learning, cultural engagement, skills and career development. We deliver programmes across music, media, broadcasting, creative writing, and live events, equipping participants with practical experience and pathways into the creative industries.
Alongside our training work, we operate a cultural enterprise arm that produces and distributes independent books, music publications, and branded clothing apparel. These products celebrate Black British music heritage, global cultural influences, and youth identity, while promoting messages of unity, creativity, and social cohesion.
Through our presence at events and festivals, our vendor stall serves not only as a retail space, but as an interactive platform raising awareness of our programmes, showcasing youth-led creativity, and engaging audiences in meaningful cultural dialogue.
Our work is rooted in the belief that culture, music, and creativity can be powerful tools for education, empowerment, and community transformation.
What’s the most exciting part of being a DiNN One To Watch for you or your organisation?
The most exciting aspect of being recognised as a DiNN One to Watch is the opportunity to amplify the voice, creativity, and potential of the young people we work with, while positioning Youth Breakthrough & Development (YBDP) as an emerging force within the UK’s cultural and creative sector.
For us, this recognition is not only about organisational growth, but about visibility for a model of grassroots cultural engagement that is rooted in lived experience, music heritage, and community transformation. It offers a platform to showcase how alternative learning—through DJing, radio broadcasting, podcasting, creative writing, and live events—can meaningfully engage young people who may otherwise feel excluded from traditional pathways.
We are particularly excited about the potential to expand our networks, collaborate with like-minded organisations, and connect our participants to wider industry opportunities. Being identified as “One to Watch” affirms the value of our work in using music and culture as tools for education, empowerment, and social cohesion.
Ultimately, this recognition strengthens our ability to inspire the next generation of creatives, ensuring that their stories, talents, and cultural contributions are not only developed but seen, heard, and celebrated on a much wider stage.
