Egyptian Lover

Gregory James Broussard, known professionally as Egyptian Lover, was born on August 31, 1963, in Los Angeles, California. His career began as a DJ with Uncle Jamm’s Army in the early 1980s, where he performed at large-scale events like the L.A. Sports Arena for audiences of up to 10,000 people. He started recording around Los Angeles in 1982, initially as a member of the Radio Crew and later with Uncle Jamm’s Army. During this period, he collaborated with other influential artists including Dr. Dre, The Unknown DJ, and Ice-T, contributing significantly to the development of the early West Coast hip-hop sound. His innovative approach to music production involved pushing the boundaries of drum machines, synthesizers, and turntables, blending hip-hop beats with elements of funk and electro.

Egyptian Lover gained considerable recognition through his 12-inch singles, with “Egypt, Egypt” becoming a particularly popular track that is still considered a “b-boy canon.” He released his first full-length album, “On the Nile,” in 1984, which achieved moderate success on the Billboard Top 200 and was recognized as one of the earliest hip-hop records from the West Coast. This album, along with subsequent releases such as “One Track Mind” (1986) and “Filthy” (1988), established him as a significant artist in the electro-funk and hip-hop genres. After a break from recording in the early 1990s, he returned in 1994 with “Back from the Tomb.”

In addition to his musical career, Egyptian Lover founded his own record company, Egyptian Empire Records, which featured artists like Rodney O & Joe Cooley. He continued to release new music into the 2000s and 2010s, maintaining his signature sound by using analog equipment, including the Roland TR-808, for albums like “1984” (2015) and “1985” (2018). His commitment to his craft and the unique blend of electro, funk, and hip-hop has secured his status as a respected and pioneering artist in the music industry, with an enduring presence in live performances and collaborations globally.