Spotlight: DJ CaveM

Dr. Ietef Vita is an artist, activist, educator, and vegan chef from Five Points, Denver. He primarily advocates through environmental hip-hop, performing with the stage name DJ CaveM in festivals, schools, and even grocery stores. His latest beat tape, Land of the Setting Sun, is available to stream on SoundCloud now. We sat down with CaveM (virtually) in his home in Oakland, California, to talk about how his performances have educated and inspired others to take action for the environment.

Photos Courtesy of DJ CaveM

Jamie Lammers: So, environmental hip-hop artist. Can you tell me about that trajectory?
DJ CaveM: I think the conversation of food justice is what pulled me in. I had a deep passion for urban farming, growing up around elders who had access to front-yard gardens and collard greens in their backyard. The injustice of the world is an environmental issue, but so is access to healthy food and redlining.

Jamie: What about hip-hop stuck out as a form of activism?

CaveM: I think seeing how it was done, standing on the shoulders of people like KRS-One and the late, great Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, and seeing a lot of the elders I know dying from food-related illnesses. These are things that can be reversed if we have a wellness consciousness within hip-hop.

Jamie: What’s stuck out to you about being able to get the message out?
CaveM: Reintroducing ideas of holistic health through hip-hop, community engagement, creating events, these are important to me and should be important to others.

Jamie: What has been rewarding about being able to see that message spread?
CaveM: I just dropped a beat tape, Land of the Setting Sun. That’s my gift to Cuba and the Cuban people. I performed at the Cuban Jazz Festival earlier this year. I see the constant blackouts and food shortages and realize that, regardless, I’m here to give my art, show up, and bring other artists who also wanna show up. I think the greatest gift you can give is your skills when things are tough.

Jamie: Has that been seen by others as, like, “Why are you going in that direction?”
CaveM: Yeah, depending on where you were, this is “not gangsta enough,” or promoters would be worried you’re “telling people to drink juice in a club when they’re trying to get alcohol sales.” I really went from being a club DJ to an MC to a producer to focusing on education. Give me 3500 kids in a gym, it’s going down. Next thing you know, they’re in Home Ec trying to learn how to build a garden.

Jamie: I’m curious about DJ CaveM as a stage name. Where did that originate?
CaveM: Well, I went to Red Shield, appreciated the Golden Glove boxing concept, really tried to get my knuckles right. CaveM, you know, boom, was a knockout, but the acronym definitely represents communicating awareness, victoriously educating the masses. The idea of knockin’ ‘em in, knockin’ ‘em out, with that CaveM energy, that’s really the concept and inspiration, you dig?

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