D’Franco Introduction Reserved, spontaneous, humble yet outspoken. These are some of the words music industry giants use to describe D’Franco. But who is he as... Read More
Kumar Introduction Kumar ‘Kumz’ Bent, lead singer, and rhythm guitarist was born on December 12, 1988, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Kumar is a lover of... Read More
Royal Blu Introduction Royal Blu, whose real name is Sean-Michael Francis, is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and entertainer. He was born and raised in St.... Read More
ORieL Introduction Oriel Barry was born in Wesley, Dominica on January 6, 1984. He was blessed to grow up immersed in music. At a young age... Read More
Samory I Introduction Samory-Tour Frazer, otherwise known as Samory I was born November 21, 1989, a Gaddite, to parents Owen and Muriel Frazer. He had... Read More
Stephen Dajure Introduction Stephen Bailey was born October 1989 in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica in an area that produced an abundant of reggae... Read More
Sadiki Introduction Billboard Magazine writer Elaine Oumano put it best when she stated that the then up and coming artist Pancho Kryztal (now known as Sadiki), “…is not... Read More
Deep Jahi Introduction Born Rushane Sanderson, in rural St. Mary, Deep Jahi was the third of five boys. Music made a very early appearance in... Read More
Niko “One Drop” Tripoli hails from Cape Cod, MA, and the greater Boston area and boasts more than fifteen years’ worth of service as a radio and live venue DJ. He has produced and engineered shows on traditional as well as internet stations including 91.1FM WJJW (North Adams), 91.1 FM WMUA (Amherst), 89.3FM WUMD (North Dartmouth), 105.5FM Radixu Irratia (Ondarroa, Basque Country, Spain), ukvibes.net, and niceupradio.com.
Niko One Drop earned his BA in ethnomusicology from UMASS Amherst while discovering his passion for sharing music with the masses. He has since maintained a diversity of programs delivering a rich tapestry of varied musical genres, and he has furthermore been an integral innovator in the organization and production of numerous live musical events. In 2007, he joined forces with the fabled Roots Radical Connection (RRC) on WUMD, a crucial show with a legacy of over thirty-five years of dedication to reggae and dancehall music. At its end, this program was one of the longest-running reggae shows in the USA. Under the guidance of the late DJ Don Dread (R.I.P.), the show focused on new music and upcoming artists, and it promoted the spirit of Jamaican music, its origins, and its foundation. These principles continue to be the heartbeat of Niko One Drop’s radio and live shows.
In the summer of 2015, Niko One Drop moved to the Basque Country, Spain where One Drop Sessions was officially born. A local host and powerhouse show, Time to Roots, quickly began to link with One Drop, featuring his selections and programming. Within the year, One Drop Sessions came to hold its own place and prowess for a full set on Friday nights. The show remains dedicated to uplifting, powerful, and positive music that moves the people and- in the tradition of Don Dread- promotes new music and new artists.
Niko One Drop expanded his collaborations in 2017 when he becomes part of the legendary Upsetta International Sound System. Alongside Upsetta, One Drop has conducted a multitude of notable interviews with reggae artists and influencers such as Tarrus Riley, Raging Fyah, Kabaka Pyramid, Kumar Fyah, and Jesse Royal, among others. These projects and more can be found at upsetta.com. While the year 2020 has ushered in much change, it also welcomed Niko One Drop to the reputable crew of Nice Up Radio. The show broadcasts live on Tuesdays and can be experienced again on Fridays via Radixu Irratia. Please stay tuned for the latest and the greatest in reggae, roots, and culture, dancehall, and afrobeat music @nikoonedrop on all social media platforms including Mixcloud and SoundCloud.