STUART "STR8JAKKETT" TIDWELL, heard his first hip-hop record on the radio in 1980, and he was hooked. In 1985, at the age of fifteen, he began creating a name for himself through beat box battling on the street. In 1986, after taking a trip with his mother to Long Beach, CA , his cousin introduced him to DJ-ing. That very next year, in his senior year of High School, he started a DJ group called the "2 Def Crew”. He hosted parties as a DJ until about 1991, and then made the transition into the world of the MC. Str8jakkett began developing his lyrical talents in 1989, but wasn't quite ready to step out as an MC. Once ready, he helped assemble the group "DVS Mindz". DVS starting making some noise, and established connections that helped propel them into opening acts for: Wu Tang Clan, Run DMC, Digital Underground, De La Soul, Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys, Das Efx, Black Sheep, Hieroglyphics, Del, Redman, Keith Murray, Xzibit, Phife Dog of Tribe Called Quest, Sugar Hill Gang, G