88-Keys

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

88-Keys (fl. c. 2000, and born Charles M. Njapa) is an American hip-hop producer from the Bronx, New York City. He is most known as a collaborator with Mos Def, having produced "Love," "Speed Law" and co-produced "May-December" with Mos on the rapper's debut, Black on Both Sides, "Champion Requiem" from his sophomore album The New Danger and also the track "Thieves in the Night" on Black Star, the duet album by Mos and Talib Kweli.

88-Keys first became involved in hip hop by picking out songs for producers such as Da Beatminerz and Pete Rock, which they would then sample into their beats. This progressed into his making beats himself; he met Mos and Kweli during their Rawkus Records tenure and became involved in recording Black Star.[1]

He has also provided beats for artists such as:

• Beanie Sigel ("Watch Your Bitches" from The Reason)
• Musiq ("Dontstop/Her" from Soulstar)
• Consequence ("Doctor, Doctor," "Train" and "The Hulk" from Take 'Em to the Cleaners)
• Talib Kweli ("Fallen Star" from the 2Pac tribute album, The Rose, Vol. 2)

Presumably 88-Keys is currently working on Mos Def's third album, Tru3 Magic, for release in 2006.

The name 88-keys most likely is a reference to a full length piano keyboard, which has 88 keys.