Kurtis Mantronik
Kurtis Mantronik | |
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Birth name | Graham Curtis el Khaleel |
Born | programming | September 4, 1965
Years active | 1984–1991 1998–present |
Labels | Sleeping Bag Records (Mantronix) Capitol/EMI Records (Mantronix) Oxygen Music Works Southern Fried Records Eye Industries Street DNA |
Kurtis el Khaleel (born Graham Curtis el Khaleel, September 4, 1965),
Early years and Mantronix era (1984–1991)
Mantronik was born in
While working as the in-store DJ for Downtown Records in Manhattan, Mantronik met Jamaica-born, Brooklyn-based emcee MC Tee (né Touré Embden) in 1984.[6] The duo soon made a demo, and eventually signed with William Socolov's Sleeping Bag Records.
The Album
Mantronix's debut single, "Fresh Is The Word", was a club hit in 1985, reaching No. 16 on
Featuring 'Fresh is the Word' and the new tracks 'Bassline' and 'Mega-Mix,' Mantronix defined the new sound of electro-funk. Mantronik used a polyrhythmic style, similar to West African log drumming, but instead of acoustic drums, the rhythm would be carried by the combination of electronic drums, synthesizer, vocoder, [or] synthesized voice over a bass line completely played on the synth. No samples of James Brown here. This was truly electronic music: spare, funky and immensely danceable, an homage and simultaneous extension of old-school hip hop's electronic template that had started with 'Planet Rock' in 1982. The feeling of Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Kraftwerk, and Neu! [were] all combined in Mantronik's music. It was a neat tie between old-school and new jack, and Mantronix had the field to [itself].[8]
Music Madness
Mantronix's second album,
A&R career with Sleeping Bag Records
From 1984 to 1986, during the same period Mantronix as a group was signed to
The origins of
In Full Effect
Mantronix signed with Capitol/EMI Records in 1987, and released In Full Effect in 1988, which continued in and expanded on the hip-hop/electro funk/dance music vein of its predecessor, eventually reaching No. 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Mantronix's highest showing for an album.[10] In Full Effect marked the last Mantronix album with emcee MC Tee, who left the group to enlist in the United States Air Force.
Mantronik's 1988 track "King of the Beats" was one of the first songs to sample the Amen break. "King of the Beats" itself became one of the most sampled songs in music history, having been sampled more than 200 times, rivaling that of "Amen, Brother" itself.[7]
This Should Move Ya
Following the departure of MC Tee, emcee
The album spawned two top-10 hits on the
When I did "Got to Have Your Love", I did it for a reason: I did it because I wanted to get a song on the radio.[11]
The Incredible Sound Machine
Mantronix's final release, with vocalist
Solo career (1998–present)
Mantronik dropped out of the music industry after the breakup of Mantronix in 1991. According to a July 2002 interview with Hip Hop Connection magazine:
I dropped out of the scene from 1991 to about '98. I stopped making music because I was burned out. I had to deal with some legal issues and it all took its toll on me. I started doing all this stuff when I was 17—I was working for the label (Sleeping Bag Records) day-in, day-out, and I had no time for myself. Sometimes I'd stay in the studio for two or three days and sleep on the studio floor because I didn't want to lose the settings on the console...[B]y the time we'd come out of that place we were green! I began to resent it and eventually started backing off from a lot of stuff. Then new jack started coming in and house started to take over.[6]
I Sing The Body Electro
Mantronik moved from New York to the UK in early 2000s, after releasing his well-received solo album, I Sing the Body Electro (which featured female MC Traylude), in 1998, on New York indie Oxygen Music Works.[14]
I Sing the Body Electro is that rare exception to the rule that influential artists should never attempt a ten-years-later comeback trying the same style their current inheritors have made commercial. Mantronik's production methods are completely up to date (and then some), resulting in an album that perfectly balances old-school sampladelic hip-hop with the breakbeat-energized dance music of the late '90s.[15]
Journey to Utopia
Mantronik was most recently signed to London-based record label Street DNA, a sister label of the
The somewhat reclusive Mantronik opened Facebook, Twitter, and SoundCloud pages in connection with the promotion of the album.
Remixing and production career
Since 1998, Mantronik has produced and
In addition to record production, Mantronik produced music for the Dance Dance Revolution and TrickStyle video game series.
Mantronik remains active in pop oriented electronic music, such as house music and big beat.
Discography
Solo albums
Album information |
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I Sing the Body Electro
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Journey to Utopia
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Solo EPs/Singles
Album information |
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TrickStyle EP
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How Did You Know
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Mantronix albums (1985–1991)
Album information |
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The Album
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Music Madness
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In Full Effect
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This Should Move Ya
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The Incredible Sound Machine
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References
- ^ a b c "The Birth of Mantronix". Red Bull Music Academy. July 30, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Check It Deeply: Did Kurtis Mantronik Pioneer The Trap Beat?". LargeUp. September 6, 2013.
- ^ Chairman Mao. "The Birth Of Mantronix". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ a b c Mohamedou, Kemal. "Music With Balls!". cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
- ^ "Kurtis Mantronik: Bathtub Beats". Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "When Recorded hip-hop was in its infancy, one man was responsible for really pushing the sonic envelope. It's been far from plain sailing since, but the Mantronix legacy will run forever". cheebadesign.com (original article printed in Hip Hop Connection magazine). July 2002. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
- ^ a b "King of the Beats: 5 Songs sample Mantronix hit". MN2S. May 25, 2016.
- ^ Willey, Omar. "Do You Like...Mantronix?". cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic Music Madness Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Allmusic In Full Effect Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Jones, Phillip. "Messin' With Mantronix". cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Allmusic This Should Move Ya Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic The Incredible Sound Machine Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ Bush, John. "Allmusic I Sing the Body Electro Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
- ^ Bush, John. "Allmusic I Sing the Body Electro Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ streetsounds.co. "Journey to Utopia—Kurtis Mantronik". Street Sounds. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.