Producer Dan The Automator is known internationally as one of the
most groundbreaking and inventive creators of hip-hop music. He
first achieved critical and commercial success in 1996 with the
esoteric Dr. Octagon album, and followed suit with a slew of
landmark recordings and remixes that established him as not only a
producer to be reckoned with, but as a remixer and songwriter as
well. His collaborations with hip-hop legends Prince Paul (Handsome
Boy Modeling School) and Del tha Funkee Homosapien (Deltron 3030)
resulted in success on a larger scale, and he went platinum as the
producer of the debut Gorillaz album in 2001. Another Handsome Boy
Modeling School record followed in 2005. Dan co-wrote and produced
"Get Your Way", a hit single for British singer Jamie Cullum. His
new project, NBA2k7, features Mos Def, E-40, Fabulous, Ghost Face,
A Tribe Called Quest, Rhymefest, Lupe Fiasco, and many others. The
soundtrack will be released on September 19th, 2006.
Dan "The Automator" Nakamura was born and raised in San Francisco.
A chance meeting with Kool Keith in San Francisco resulted in Keith
hiring Dan for some work on his own record. Keith then suggested
Dan assume production duties for his Dr. Octagon alter-ego, and Dan
started to put tracks together for the record that would ultimately
aquaint him with a much larger audience.
A fusion of hip-hop beats and bizarre atmospherics, Dr. Octagon was
released on the Bulk Recordings label in 1996. Propelled by Kool
Keiths' rhymes and mind-bending meter, the record owed its' success
in equal measure to Dan's inventive production. Dan's studio, the
Glue Factory, also served as the workshop for recordings by
Mo'Wax's DJ Shadow and for various artists on the latter's
Solesides label.
As Dr. Octagon spread through the underground scene, DTA found
himself collaborating with directly or remixing for a wide variety
of artists: Primal Scream, the Eels, DJ Krush, Cibo Matto, Dust
Brothers, Mike Simpson, Cornershop, the Jon Spencer Blues
Explosion, Stereolab, and more. Dan then teamed up with hip hop
guru Prince Paul for a project called Handsome Boy Modeling School.
An album titled So, How's Your Girl? was released by Tommy Boy
Records and was an instant underground success. 2000's Deltron 3030
project followed, a collaboration with rapper Del tha Funkee
Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala.
In 2001, DTA reached his widest audience yet with the Gorillaz, an
eclectic collaboration with Blur's Damon Albarn and artist Jamie
Hewlett. The self-titled debut was a hit on both sides of the
Atlantic, going platinum in the U.S. and spawning Dan's first major
hit single, "Clint Eastwood", featuring Del tha Funkee
Homosapian.
In 2002 Lovage, a collaboration with former Faith No More singer
Mike Patton and smoky vocalist Jennifer Charles was released. A
mixtape of many of his favorite remixes called Wanna Buy A Monkey?
followed, featuring remixes of Black Rob, Air, Zero 7, Tortoise,
the Doves, De La Soul, Dilated Peoples, and more.
After reaching worldwide success with Gorillaz, demand for Dan as a
remixer and producer grew exponentially. A known genre-bender, he
worked on singles from acts ranging from Blink 182 to Sarah
McLachlan, and co-wrote songs with artists such as Mos Def, Beanie
Man, Beck, Busta Rhymes, and more. Additional collaborations with
Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand), Pharrell, RZA, Mars Volta, Casual,
Cat Power, and Linkin Park were the beginnings of what would be the
second Handsome Boy Modeling School album, which was released on
Atlantic Records in 2005, and followed by a sold-out U.S. tour.
Hip-hop is a genre that has proved itself far more flexible and
groundbreaking than anyone might have predicted at its genesis:
from its massive worldwide popularity to its seemingly endless
"next levels", as it were, hip-hop music continues to be full of
surprises, thanks largely in part to record producers like Dan The
Automator. While paying homage to his heroes and influences, Dan
has crafted a career as unique as his records, always walking the
line between music that makes a serious statement and music that
delivers undeniable hooks and knows when not to take itself too
seriously.
Dan The Automator & Hieroglyphics - Dont Hate The Player
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