Welcome to the world of D TRIBE!

(March 1, 2001)

Since day one, they've marched to the beat of a different drum.

Being childhood friends, Rich and Joey have both been involved in the dance scene since the early nineties. They saw the evolution of the DC scene as it began to take on a more "techno" trend and began thinking of ways to incorporate what they truly loved and spun, funky and raw House and Breaks, with the latest sound to recreate that old-school vibe for a new millenium crowd.

Feeling a need to make a difference in the DC scene, Richie Rich and Tripgrüv formed D Tribe in early 2000. At this point, dreaming was more prevalent than anything else. With very little contacts and no financial backing, only ambition and their love for the music kept their spirits high. Day after day, ideas were being concocted and shared, but, without financial support, they held no water. Until finally the idea was sold to Jim Taborga, Richie Rich's brother, and D Tribe Productions became a reality.

With D Tribe now financially able, the process for planning their first event began to take place. On May 6th, 2000, D Tribe debuted in Washington, DC with their first party, Breakdown, a test to see how well D Tribe’s ideas would sell in DC. With Breakdown, as with all of D Tribe parties, Joey and Rich aimed at creating a different feel from the other parties that were taking place in the area. A rejuvenation of the old-school vibe that many of the kids hadn't seen in a while, and for most, had never experienced at all.

The Party That Started it All

D Tribe wanted to be distinct in every way, unique and recognizable from the start. The flyer was the first project to emphasize their need to strip away the cold and mechanical sound and attitude that DC was taking on and to bring back the flavor of old. The flyer was designed not from computer-generated images, but from the creative minds of Rich and Joey. They based their flyer style on the flyers they had seen in their amateur party days, a cartoony image that exuded humor and style.

Breakdown’s lineup also offered something unique in being the first all "top local" lineup for a one off party. With East Coast Boogiemen from Richmond, DJ Who from Baltimore and Spice (formerly from VA, now in FL) as headliners, along with Ty T, Tom B., Lexus King, Sheila Storms, Frank Anthone, JKrown & MC K, Galaxy Girl, Splitt, Cary B and Jay Clue, Breakdown was the first of its kind to put all the top local talents together for an intense night of house and breaks.

Initially, they were criticized for having such a low budget line-up by other area promoters, and, at times they even endured some ridicule. Much to D Tribe’s surprise, along with other area promoters, Breakdown gained D Tribe massive support from the DC area. The success gained through their first party helped to create a means for a series of other parties that were soon to follow and once again succeed.

The Crew

With the triumph of their events, the D Tribe DJ crew was able to grow in size as well. Every DJ in the crew was hand-picked by Joey and Rich based on their sound, skills and personality. Sound was a primary factor in this decision-making process, because these DJs would represent the sound of D Tribe — funky, old-school and very danceable beats. Skills were important because they are what set DJs of the same genre or who have the same records apart from one another. Last, but definitely not least, is personality. Personality shines through during a performance and makes the audience believe in you and your music. In forming a DJ crew, D Tribe also hoped to form a family of talented DJs who would share their goals, visions and love for the music.

Now with D Tribe are Wes Smith of Juice Recordings, JKrown & MC K from Solid State, Trevor Lamont from Kentucky, Sheila Storms of Fusion Records, Frank AnthonE and the two founders, Richie Rich and TripGrüv.

Conquering the Capitol

To this day, D Tribe is constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve their events. They are always attempting to outdo their previous events by bringing talented DJs that specialize in funky beats and that have never performed in the DC or surrounding area. In order to ensure their growth and prosperity within the DC scene, D Tribe stays true to the belief in House and Breaks, and never lets the trend dictate their choices or actions. D Tribe will continue to offer nights of bliss with “Funk comin' at ya' from all directions!” See you at the next D Tribe event!