Kurtis Mantronik

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Kurtis Mantronik
Kurtis Mantronik (circa 1988) from Mantronix's 2002 That's My Beat compilation album cover
Kurtis Mantronik (circa 1988) from Mantronix's 2002 That's My Beat compilation album cover
Background information
Birth name Kurtis Khaleel
Born September 4, 1965
Origin Jamaica
Genre(s) Old school hip hop
Electro funk
House
Breakbeat
Instrument(s) Turntable
Synthesizer
Keyboard
Drum machine
Years active 1984–1991
1998-Present
Label(s) Sleeping Bag (Mantronix)
Capitol (Mantronix)
Oxygen Music Works
Southern Fried Records
Eye Industries
Associated
acts		 Mantronix

Kurtis el-Khaleel (Arabic: خليل‎) (born September 4, 1965), known by the stage name Kurtis Mantronik, is an American hip-hop, electro funk, and house music artist, DJ, remixer, and producer. Mantronik was the former leader, DJ, and keyboardist of the influential 1980's old school hip hop and electro funk group Mantronix. Currently, Mantronik lives in England, where he has produced and remixed house and techno music tracks by artists such as Kylie Minogue, Chamonix, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and Liberty X.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early years & Mantronix era (1984-1991)

Mantronix (l-r, Kurtis Mantronik, MC Tee) (circa 1988)
Enlarge
Mantronix (l-r, Kurtis Mantronik, MC Tee) (circa 1988)
Main article: Mantronix

Mantronik was born in Jamaica to a Syrian father and a Jamaican mother.[2] He emigrated to Canada with his family at age 7, before eventually settling in New York City, New York in 1980 (at age 15).[2]

While working as the in-store DJ for Downtown Records in Manhattan, Mantronik met Haitian-born, Brooklyn-based rapper MC Tee (Touré Embden) in 1984.[1] The duo soon made a demo, and eventually signed with Sleeping Bag Records.

Mantronix's debut single, "Fresh is the Word," was a club hit in 1985, reaching #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, and was featured on Mantronix: The Album which was released the same year.

Mantronix's second album, Music Madness, was released in 1986. While MC Tee's rapping style on the album continued in the traditional b-boy fashion of the times, Mantronik's club oriented production and mixing in Music Madness tended to attract more dance music and electro funk afficianados than hardcore, old school hip hop fans.[3]

During the time Mantronix was signed to Sleeping Bag Records, Mantronik was employed by the label in their A&R Department, where he signed hip-hop group EPMD to its first recording contract. In addition to being an artist and A&R representative for the label, Mantronik also produced other Sleeping Bag Records associated artists and groups, including rappers KRS-One, Just-Ice, and T-La Rock, freestyle vocalist Nocera, as well as R&B singer Joyce Sims.

Mantronix signed with Capitol Records in 1987, and released In Full Effect in 1988. In Full Effect marked the last Mantronix album with rapper MC Tee, as Embden left the group to enlist in the United States Air Force.

In Full Effect was followed by two other Mantronix albums, This Should Move Ya in 1990, and The Incredible Sound Machine in 1991.[4] Mantronix (featuring new members, rapper Bryce "Luvah" Wilson and vocalist Jade Trini) broke up in 1991, shortly after the release of The Incredible Sound Machine, which was not favorably received.[4]

[edit] Solo career (1998-Present)

Kurtis Mantronix (r) and vocalist Chamonix at a Belgian radio station promoting the Kurtis Mantronik Presents Chamonix EP How Did You Know (2003)
Enlarge
Kurtis Mantronix (r) and vocalist Chamonix at a Belgian radio station promoting the Kurtis Mantronik Presents Chamonix EP How Did You Know (2003)

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 burnt 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 loose the settings on the console...By 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."[1]

Mantronik moved from New York and resurfaced in England in the late 1990s, producing his first solo album, the well received, I Sing the Body Electro (which featured female rapper Traylude), in 1998.[5] In addition to record production, Mantronik has produced music for the Dance Dance Revolution and TrickStyle video game series. Since 1998, Mantronik has also produced and remixed tracks for house and techno music artists and groups, such as Chamonix, Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and Liberty X.[1].

Mantronik is currently signed to the London-based record label and management company, Eye Industries, and remains an active force in pop-oriented electronic dance music to this day.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo Albums

Album cover Album information
I Sing the Body Electro

[edit] Solo EP's/Singles

Album cover Album information
TrickStyle EP
How Did You Know

[edit] Mantronix albums (1985-1991)

Album cover Album information
Mantronix: The Album
  • Released: 1985
  • Chart positions: #47 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Fresh Is the Word", "Bassline", "Needle To The Groove", "Ladies"
Music Madness
  • Released: 1986
  • Chart positions: #27 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Who Is It?", "Scream", "We Control The Dice"
In Full Effect
  • Released: 1988
  • Chart positions: #18 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Simple Simon", "Join Me Please...", "Do You Like...Mantronik?"
This Should Move Ya
  • Released: 1990
  • Chart positions: #61 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification: Gold
  • Singles: "Got To Have Your Love", "Take Your Time (featuring Wondress)", "King Of The Beats"
The Incredible Sound Machine

[edit] Trivia

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d 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) (2002-07). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  2. ^ a b Mohamedou, Kemal. Music With Balls!. cheebadesign.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  3. ^ Henderson, Alex. All Music Guide Music Madness Review. AllMusic.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  4. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. All Music Guide The Incredible Sound Machine Review. AllMusic.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  5. ^ Bush, John. All Music Guide I Sing the Body Electro Review. AllMusic.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  6. ^ Jones, Phillip E. (1991). Messin' With Mantronix. cheebadesign.com (original article by Phillip E. Jones). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  7. ^ Shih, Andy. Kurtis Mantronik - Man, Music & Mac. cheebadesign.com (original article by Andy Shih, Apple Computer, Inc.). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../k/u/r/Kurtis_Mantronik_fdf3.html"