By the mid-80s, rap music production had fully completed its evolution from being a music based on session musicians replaying grooves from popular disco records to original compositions made by a single producer/DJ. During this time, the drum machine was king and heavyweights like Larry Smith, Rick Rubin, Marley Marl ruled with their explosive, speaker-rattling beats.
In an era when rap music was evolving at breakneck speed, Kingston-born, producer/DJ, Kurtis Mantronik (born Graham Curtis el Khaleel) was the genre’s most fearless experimenter. His production for the group Mantronix as well as Just-Ice and T-La Rock brought a futuristic edge to hip-hop while his revelatory work with the singer Joyce Sims dovetailed with the burgeoning Latin Freestyle movement.
After a long hiatus from the music business, Mantronik reemerged in late 90s with a slew of remixes and an ambitious full-length, I Sing The Body Electro. Today, Mantronik lives and works in South Africa bringing his penchant for experimentation to the realm of electronic dance music. We sat and spoke with him about the techniques and beats that made him a legend.
The release of Torn also comes with a visual for one of the standout tracks, “Friend in Me,” featuring It’z-G. This song is about loyalty and being a support system for someone when they’re going through their toughest times. It’s an anthem of solidarity, reminding us that no matter how tough life gets, having a friend who truly has your back makes all the difference.The visuals for “Friend in Me” reflect that message, showing two…See More
Rising star sets the stage for success with a riveting new single, as the face of the Clean Music MovementRichmond, VA —Princess Nell Nell, also known as Nakyla Jackson, is once again making waves in the hip-hop world with her latest release, the "…See More
September 11, 2024 at 9pm to September 12, 2024 at 1:45am
WEDNESDAY AUG 14 THROWBACK (2nd & 4th Wednesdays) All Throwbacks: Hip Hop, Soul/Funk, Reggae +more!Featuring Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist (True Skool)and special guest Jah Yzerat Hello Stranger Bar, 1724 Broadway, Oakland. Doors 8pm. DJ Set starts at 9pm. No cover!…See More
“Mine” is Una’s latest single giving a sexy and sultry vibe to her music we never seen before but can’t take off repeat, Produced by Jay Uncut. Una has set the bar high since coming into the music industry! Although Una is a new artist and this is her 4th song; 2 of her first songs ever were charted on iTunes top 50! Including her single “Alert” Ft Jeremih! She keeps…See More