A-Trak

Alain Macklovitch (born March 30, 1982), known by his stage name A-Trak, is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, record producer, and music label executive. He is the owner of the record label Fool's Gold.

Life and career

Macklovitch was born to Jewish parents in Montréal, Quebec, and is of Moroccan and Russian descent. His older brother, David Macklovitch, is one-half of the electro-funk duo Chromeo.

A-Trak was the first DJ to win all three major DJ competition titles (DMC, ITF and Vestax), as well as being the first DJ to win five World Championships.^[2] He won the DMC World DJ Championship in 1997 at the age of 15, making him the youngest and first Canadian winner of the competition.^[3] He was an honorary member of the prestigious, now defunct DJ crew Invisibl Skratch Piklz^[4] and a member of The Allies alongside frequent collaborator DJ Craze.^[5]

In the late 90's A-Trak developed a notation system for scratching.^[6] He gave a lecture about it at the Skratchcon 2000 conference and published an article in Tablist Magazine.^[7] He has also appeared on the cover of multiple magazines including Billboard, URB (twice), BPM and Status.^[8][9]

A-Trak and his brother Dave ran the record label Audio Research from 1997–2007.^[10] After moving to Williamsburg, he founded the label Fool's Gold Records with Nick Catchdubs in 2007.^[11]

In 2004 Kanye West recruited A-Trak as his personal tour DJ,^[12] and he has worked closely with him ever since, including performances alongside the rapper at MTV specials, the Grammy Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and worldwide stadium shows. A-Trak also recorded scratches on Kanye West’s second and third studio albums Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007) and was an influence on the overall sound of the latter.^[13]

Kanye West performing backed by A-Trak in Portland, Oregon, 2005

Over the years he has endorsed several brands including Serato Scratch Live^[14] and Rane DJ equipment,^[4] as well as clothing companies Zoo York,^[15] Lifted Research Group, and Circa. In addition to endorsing brands, A-Trak himself has become a streetwear culture icon, collaborating with Nike, New Era, and Zoo York. A-Trak also has a collaborative clothing line called “Sunglasses is a Must”^[16] and released his own toy, "Grateful Bear", with Kid Robot in 2009.

He is known for merging the sounds of rap and electronic music through his remix work, his 2007 CD Dirty South Dance,^[17] his production for Kid Sister and Lupe Fiasco, and his remixes for electronic artists including MSTRKRFT and Boys Noize.^[18] However, his most recent production displays a separation of his electronic and hip hop identities, with releases such as "Piss Test" featuring Juicy J and collaborations with Tommy Trash on "Tuna Melt".^[19] Another hip hop production, "Ray Ban Vision", was used in the 2012 movie Project X.

In 2009, A-Trak collaborated with Armand Van Helden to form a disco house production duo under the name Duck Sauce. They released the song "aNYway" in October on Ministry of Sound. Duck Sauce has achieved success worldwide including reaching the top chart position in twelve countries and attaining the #1 spot on the US Dance Billboard charts. Following the announcement of a debut album, Duck Sauce released the singles "It's You" and "Radio Stereo".^[20]

In February 2010, it was announced that A-Trak would perform live shows with Travis Barker, who had previously worked with their mutual friend, the late DJ AM.^[21]

In 2012, A-Trak was featured on the cover of Billboard Magazine alongside Diplo and Skrillex.^[22] Also in 2012, A-Trak collaborated with Kimbra and Mark Foster on a song, entitled "Warrior", for Converse's 3 Artists, 1 song.

In February 2013, A-Trak released the video for his "Piss Test" remix off of the Fool's Gold album. The video features appearances by Jim Jones, Juicy J, A$AP Ferg, El-P, Flatbush Zombies, and Flosstradamus and was directed by Shomi Patwary.^[23] A-Trak's video for "Tuna Melt", off of his 'Tuna Melt EP', was nominated in the Best Cinematography category at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.^[24]

A-Trak finished in 7th place in the 2013 America's Best DJ competition – a vote and promotion to find out the country's most popular DJ conducted by DJ Times magazine and Pioneer DJ.^[25]

In 2015, A-Trak began his weekly two-hour radio show on Beats 1, listened to via Apple Music, named Day Off Radio.

Awards

• 1997 : Technics / DMC World Champion (15 years old – youngest ever)^[26]
• 1998 : Technics / DMC World 2nd Runner Up^[27]
• 1999 : ITF World Champion (Advancement category)^[27]
• 1999 : ITF Western Hemisphere Scratching Champion^[27]
• 1999 : Vestax World DJ Extravaganza Champion^[27]
• 2000 : ITF World Champion (Advancement category)^[27]
• 2000 : DMC Team Champion (with DJ Craze)^[27]

Discography

Singles & EPs

• "Umbilical Chord" - London/FFFR (1999)
• "Enter Ralph Wiggum" - Stones Throw (1999) [7"]
• "All Hail To My Hands" - Asphodel (2000)
• "Gangsta Breaks" - Ammo (2001) [12"]
• "Monkeyboy Breaks" - Ammo (2003) [12"]
• "Don't Fool With The Dips" feat. J.R. Writer, Hell Rell & 40 Cal. - Audio Research (2005) [12"]
• "Sunglasses Is A Must" - Smelly Fatso/Monkey Studies Records (2006) [12"]
• "Step Off" feat. Little Brother - Audio Research (2006) [12"]
• "Knucklehead" - Audio Research (2006) [7"]
• "Quitte La Piste" feat. TTC (2006)
• "Mastered (Me & My Sneakers)" feat. Lupe Fiasco - Nike+ (2007)
• "Running Man" - Nike+ (2007)
• "Say Whoa" - Kitsuné (2007) [12"]
• "Roll With The Winners" with Herve - Cheap Thrills (2008)
• "Shake It Down" with Laidback Luke - Fool's Gold/Mixmash (2008) [Single]
• "Greatest Hits" as Duck Sauce - Fool's Gold (2009) [EP]
• "aNYway" as Duck Sauce - Ministry of Sound/Fool's Gold (2009) [EP]
• "Barbra Streisand" as Duck Sauce - 3Beat/Downtown/Fool's Gold (2010) [EP]
• "Ray Ban Vision" feat. CyHi Da Prince - Fool's Gold (2010) [Single]
• "Big Bad Wolf" as Duck Sauce - Big Beat (2011) [Single]
• "Big Bad Wolf Remixes" as Duck Sauce - Big Beat (2011) [EP]
• "Stingray" with Zinc - Fool's Gold (2011) [Single]
• "Piss Test" feat. Juicy J & Danny Brown - Fool's Gold (2012) [Single]
• "Warror" with Mark Foster & Kimbra - Converse (2012) [Single]
• "Money Makin'" with Dillon Francis - Fool's Gold (2012) [Single]
• "Money Makin' Remixes" with Dillon Francis - Fool's Gold (2012) [EP]
• "Don't Stop" with Lifelike - Kitsuné (2012) [EP]
• "Like the Dancefloor" with Zinc feat. Natalie Storm - Fool's Gold/Rinse (2012) [EP]
• "Tuna Melt EP" - Fool's Gold (2012) [EP]
• "Piss Test Remix" feat. Juicy J, Jim Jones, Flatbush Zombies, El-P, and Flosstradamus - Fool's Gold (2013) [Label Compilation]
• "Tuna Melt Remixes" - Fool's Gold (2013) [EP]
• "Landlines 2.0" with GTA - Fool's Gold (2013) [Single]
• "It's You" as Duck Sauce - Casablanca (2013) [EP]
• "Radio Stereo" as Duck Sauce - Casablanca/Republic (2013) [EP]
• "Federal Reserves EP" with Cam'Ron - Fool's Gold/Poppington/Dipset (2014) [EP]
• "Low Pros" with Lex Luger - Fool's Gold (2014) [EP]
• "NRG" as Duck Sauce - Fool's Gold (2014) Quack
• "Push" feat. Andrew Wyatt (2014) [EP]
• "Ibanez" feat. Cory Enemy & Nico Stadi - Spinnin' Records (2015) [Single]
• "We All Fall Down" feat. Jamie Lidell - Fool's Gold (2015) [Single]
• "As Crazy As It Is" with ZHU & Keznamdi - Columbia Records (2015) [Single]
• "Place on Earth" with Zoofunktion - Spinnin' Records (2015) [Single]

Remixes

• Disclosure feat. Lorde "Magnets" (2015)
• Alesso feat. Roy English "Cool" (2014)
• Jack Beats “Just A Beat” – OWSLA (2013)
• Phoenix “Trying to Be Cool” – Glassnote (2013)
• Cerrone “Misunderstanding” with Codes – Malligator (2012)
• Zedd “Spectrum" with Clockwork – Interscope (2012)
• Justice “New Lands” – Ed Banger (2012)
• Surkin “Never Let Go” – Marble (2012)
• Martin Solveig “The Night Out" with Martin Solveig – Mixture / Big Beat (2012)
• Martin Solveig “The Night Out” – Big Beat (2012)
• Laidback Luke & Sander Van Doorn “Who’s Wearing The Cap” – Mixmash (2011)
• The Rapture “How Deep Is Your Love” – DFA (2011)
• DJ Sneak "U Can't Hide From Your Bud" - Magnetic (2010)
• Robyn “Indestructible” – Konichiwa (2010)
• Tiga “What You Need” – Turbo (2010)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Heads Will Roll” – Interscope (2009)
• Sébastien Tellier “Kilometer” – Record Makers (2009)
• MSTRKRFT feat. NORE “Bounce” – Dimmak (2009)
• Count & Sinden “Beeper” – Domino (2008)
• Boys Noize “Oh!” – Boys Noize Records (2008)
• Kanye West “Stronger” – Rocafella/Def Jam (2008)
• Digitalism “Idealistic” – EMI (2007)
• Simian Mobile Disco “Hustler” – Moshi Moshi/Interscope (2007)
• James Pants “Kash" – Stones Throw (2007)
• Scanners “Bombs" – Dimmak (2007)
• Bumblebeez “Dr. Love" – Modular (2007)
• Architecture In Helsinki “Heart It Races" – Polyvinyl (2007)
• Bonde Do Role “Melo Do Tabaco” – Mad Decent (2006)
• D-Styles “Felonious Funk” – Audio Research (2003)

Mixtapes

• Stylus Wars with D-Styles (1997)
• Wash Yer Butt with Qbert (1997)
• Bucktooth Wizards with Qbert (1997)
• Dub Sessions Vol. 3 (1999)
• Sunglasses Is A Must LIVE with The Rub - Disque Primeur (2006)
• Oh No You Didn't! - Disque Primeur (2006)
• Drive Slow with GLC - GOOD Music (2006)
• Kanye's Soul Mixshow with Kanye West (2006)
• Dirty South Dance - Obey (2007)
• Infinity +1 - Thrive (2009)
• FabricLive.45 - Fabric (2009)
• Mixmag October 09 covermount CD (2009)
• Dirty South Dance 2 - Obey (2010)
• Festivus with Wale (2014)

Production

• "Overdose Music" by Obscure Disorder - Audio Research (2000)
• "The Grill" by Obscure Disorder - Audio Research (2000)
• "Chi State of Mind" by GLC - GOOD Music (2006)
• "Regarde-Les" by Dabaaz - Disque Primeur (2006)
• "Damn Girl" by Kid Sister - Fool's Gold (2007)
• "Pro Nails" by Kid Sister - Fool's Gold (2007)
• "Get Fresh" with XXXChange by Kid Sister - Downtown (2008)
• "You Ain't Really Down" by Kid Sister - Downtown (2009)
• "H Town" with Oligee by Dizzee Rascal - Dirtee Stank (2012)
• "Smokin & Drinkin" with JMIKE by Danny Brown - Fool's Gold (2013)

Scratches

• “Soul Pleureur (Dave1 Remix)” by Dubmatique – Tox (1997)
• “Lyrically Exposed pt. 1 & 2″ by Obscure Disorder – Audio Research (1997)
• “Drinking In LA (Dave1 Remix)” by Bran Van 3000 – Capitol (1997)
• “Think Twice” by Shades of Culture – Windmill (1998)
• “Maintain the Focus” by Obscure Disorder – Audio Research (1998)
• “Les Rues Sont Énervées” by Yvon Krevé – Les Disques MONTREAL (1999)
• “Tale of 5 Cities” by Peanut Butter Wolf – Stones Throw (1999)
• “Superior Raps” by Obscure Disorder – Hundred Strong (1999)
• “2004″ by Obscure Disorder feat. Non Phixion – Audio Research (1999)
• “Last Call Pt. 2″ by Obscure Disorder – Groove Attack (2001)
• “Ridiculous” by Obscure Disorder – Audio Research (2001)
• “Mindblowin” by Troy Dunnit – Audio Research (2001)
• “Cult Leader” by Non Phixion – Uncle Howie (2002)
• “Space & Time” by D-Shade – Audio Research (2003)
• “Needy Girl” by Chromeo – Turbo/Vice (2004)
• “Chi-City” by Common - Geffen (2005)
• “Go!” by Common – Geffen (2005)
• “48” by DJ Serious feat. Obscure Disorder – Audio Research (2005)
• “Gold Digger” by Kanye West – Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam (2005)
• “Caught Up In the Hype” by Consequence – GOOD Music (2005)
• “Do What You Do” by Consequence – Truelements (2006)
• “Make Em Say” by Kid Cudi – Universal (2009)
• “Show Me A Good Time” by Drake – Universal (2010)

See also

• Disco Mix Club
• List of Quebec musicians
• Duck Sauce
• Fool's Gold Records

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-Trak.

• Official website
• A-Trak on RCRD LBL