Koolade

This article is about the Croatian hip-hop producer. For the soft drink, see Kool-Aid. For the album by Big Audio Dynamite, see Kool-Aid (album).
Koolade
Born Matko Šašek
June 1, 1978
Zagreb, Croatia
Residence Zagreb, Croatia
Occupation Record producer, songwriter, sound engineer
Religion Love & understanding

Koolade (real name Matko Šašek) is a Croatian hip-hop/urban music producer. Born in Zagreb, Croatia in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he made a strong contribution in making hip-hop an established genre in the Croatian mainstream music scene. Soon after that, he and his partner/manager Phat Phillie realized that his production would make a good export, and continued to expand his work throughout Europe and the US, where he is perhaps best known for his production work on Masta Ace's "Beautiful" on the album A Long Hot Summer, as well as a number of other prominent American hip-hop artists such as Ghostface Killah of the Wu Tang Clan, Bow Wow, Sadat X, Styles P, Diamond D, Das EFX, Peedi Crakk, and others. Koolade is locally and regionally known for his collaborations with the Croatian cult hip-hop duo Tram 11, Bosnian rappers Edo Maajka and Frenkie.

Early years

Born on 1 June 1978 in Zagreb, Croatia, he shows a great interest in music from his very early days. Growing up in the 80's he listens to artists like Queen (becoming a fan at the age of 6), Michael Jackson, U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, Human League, Dire Straits etc. In 5th & 6th grade he takes piano lessons, but quits after two years due to lack of interest in classical music education. Never touches a piano again, until the start of his professional music career in the mid/late 90's.

Hip Hop

In the years 1989/1990 his sister introduces him to Hip Hop music which he initially hates, but after a year or so, Hip Hop music becomes his obsession. Artists like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Ice Cube, EPMD would very soon become "residents" in his tape deck. Due to a few shows like MTV's Yo! MTV Raps, Rap Attack, and his future manager Phat Philly's own Blackout Rap Show on Radio 101, he keeps track of the international scene and all the fresh new releases. Soon enough he starts forming his first high school demo bands of pretty much no significance like G-Style and Ill Behavior. Having affiliations for both rapping and beat-making he makes his first tracks, but those would end up being just tries and attempts, but a good practice for his later work.

Blackout

As Hip Hop scene would start resonating more and more with the local kids in Croatia during the early/mid 90's he starts hangin around clubs and people playing, promoting and making Hip Hop music. Hearing the local artist's demoes being played on Blackout Rap Show, he wasn't overwhelmed with the production on those, and decides he wants to contribute to the scene with his musical talent as a beat-maker and producer. Eventually he focuses on beat-making and production, and gets embraced by the local scene very quickly, due to the quality of his material. Very soon he becomes a member of the Blackout Project, the DJ's, MC's and beat-makers revolving and evolving around the Blackout Rap Show. In 1998, his 1st production credit release, which marked the start of his professional career, were two tracks by Tram 11 "Des Mozges" & "Kog je briga za vas", on Blackout Project's "Project Impossible" album. He collaborates with many soon to be renowned local and regional hip hop artists like Tram 11, Sick Rhyme Sayazz aka Bolesna Braća, El Bahattee, Nered & Stoka, Edo Maajka, Frenkie, Shorty, Elemental etc... Meaning, they all make history together, rockin the charts and sales on a mainstream level. In the following years, he becomes a well respected, award winning, chart hitting silver and gold selling producer, respected not just in the hip hop scene, but throughout the local, regional, and European urban music scene. In the Balkans region he enjoys a legendary status. He and his manager Phat Phillie continue to work up to date, having a strong bond as partners in crime, and continue shopping and delivering the world music scene with some of that Koolade, placing his music worldwide. His probably most renowned production would be "Beautiful" by Masta Ace and Snoop Dogg and Refkas Ahbabs

Media & marketing

Being a music producer and sound engineer he does and scores quite a few commercials, locally and worldwide, and copyrights his music in the world of media, TV and marketing. Some of the references are H&M, Nivea, Alizee, EA Sports, Y2K, and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance & Ugly Betty etc.

Zebra Dots

In the year 2010 he meets a Slovene drummer Ivo Rimc, and they decide to do sessions together. Koolade found the idea of recording and sampling live drums very fascinating, and they continue doing sessions inviting other local Slovene musicians. The 1st one to join was a bass player Jernej Kržič, followed by a jazz pianist Erik Marenče, and a guitar player Andraž Mazi. Them five eventually form a band with the work title London, and continue doing sessions making funk instrumental breaks. Koolade being the producer of the band and their frontman playing talkbox. Later on they decide to take the band even further starting doing a unique combination of soul with a twist of indie music, inviting vocalists, songwriting, practicing, recording etc... The vocalist to finally join the band was Sasha Alexandra Danilova. Koolade eventually starts singing, becoming the other lead vocal of the band. They eventually rename the band to Zebra Dots due to problems involving web search engines (try googling the word london). The name Zebra Dots characterised their music well as being something that doest exist yet. Eventually, local and regional Universal Music offices start showing interest to sign the band, which eventually happens in spring 2012. In fall 2012 they release their debut single Walking On A Chance, soon followed by the debut album named after the 1st single.

Awards & recognition

Being nominated for national music awards in the region quite a few times (still up to date), he receives his 1st Croatian music award Porin in 2002 in the category "urban album of the year" for producing the entire El Bahattee's debut solo album "Svaki pas ima svoj dan". Funny enough the translation of the album's title would be "Every Dog Has It's Day". Although his award winning days weren't over yet. The next year he receives two Bosnian music awards (Davorin), in categories "album of the year" and "urban album of the year", for production credits on Edo Maajka's debut album Slušaj Mater.

In the years 2001 and 2007, he wins "the best hip hop producer of the year" category at the only two held Croatian independent hip hop awards.

Los Angeles-based URB magazine named Koolade the best up-and-coming urban artist in 2007.[1]

Discography

Title Release Type Label Year Featured Songs Featured Artists
Koolade Presents... 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/Wordplay 2001 Survival b/w Hate Me Too Masta Ace, Strick
Beautiful b/w Follow 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/ABB 2004 Beautiful b/w Follow Masta Ace, El Da Sensei
Get Addicted digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment 2009 Get Addicted J-Ro
You & Yours b/w Philly Morning digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment 2010 You & Yours b/w Philly Morning Maylay Sparks
The Makings digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment 2011 The Makings Diamond D, Sadat X
No More Music digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment 2011 No More Music Styles P
Beautiful digital single re-release Blackout Entertainment 2011 Beautiful Masta Ace
Koolade Beats Rocky digital LP (album) Blackout Entertainment 2012 ... Maylay Sparks, Peedi Crakk, Rasheeda B, Lovro Ravbar
All Round Philly digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment 2012 All Round Philly b/w (Like On A) First Date Peedi Crakk, Maylay Sparks, Rasheeda B
Walking On A Chance digital EP (single) Universal Music 2012 Walking On A Chance Zebra Dots
Walking On A Chance LP (album) Universal Music 2012 ... Zebra Dots
Don't Try digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try original + remixes Zebra Dots
Don't Try ft. SevdahBaby digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try Sevdah Baby Remix Zebra Dots, SevdahBaby
Outta My Mind/Pokvareni Telefon digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Outta My Mind, Pokvareni Telefon Zebra Dots
Koola od karata digital LP (album) Koolade Productions 2014 ... Koolade

Croatian & regional production credits

International production credits

Featuring Koolade...

Various artist compilation, film & theater placements and scores

Copywriting, marketing & media

References

  1. ↑ "Koolade za Ghostface Killaha - Posredno to znači i za Jay Z-a". vip.hr (in Croatian). Vipnet. Retrieved 31 July 2011.

External links