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Kurtis Mantronik is a pioneering hip hop and electronic musician, DJ, and producer recognized for his foundational work in electro-funk and his significant influence on genres like Southern hip hop and trap music.
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Request A ShowMantronix's first record label, founded by William Socolov, where they released seminal electro-rap tracks like 'Fresh Is The Word.' Kurtis Mantronik also worked in the A&R department for the label and its sister label, Fresh Records, signing EPMD and producing for various artists.
Mantronix signed with Capitol/EMI Records in 1987, releasing albums like 'In Full Effect' and 'This Should Move Ya.' This partnership allowed for broader distribution of their music.
Together with Capitol, EMI released Mantronix albums, expanding their reach to international markets, notably the UK where 'Got to Have Your Love' became a top 10 hit.
An independent New York label that released Kurtis Mantronik's well-received solo album, 'I Sing the Body Electro,' in 1998, marking his return to the music scene.
One of the labels Kurtis Mantronik has been associated with for his electronic music releases.
A label associated with Kurtis Mantronik's releases in electronic music.
A London-based record label, and sister label to StreetSounds, that released Kurtis Mantronik's studio album 'Journey to Utopia' in late 2014.
The label associated with Bronx rapper Bruse Wane, who partnered with Kurtis Mantronik under Mantronix classics label to release new hip-hop songs in 2023.
Kurtis Mantronik's own label under which he released new hip-hop songs in 2023, featuring Bruse Wane as the main vocalist.
Born Graham Curtis el Khaleel on September 4, 1965, in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Kurtis Mantronik immigrated to Canada and then settled in New York City. His early interest in electro music was sparked by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Riot in Lagos” in 1980, leading him to experiment with drum machines and synthesizers. While working as an in-store DJ at Downtown Records in Manhattan in 1984, he met MC Tee, forming the influential hip hop and electro-funk group Mantronix. They signed with William Socolov’s Sleeping Bag Records.
Mantronix’s debut single, “Fresh Is The Word,” became a club hit in 1985, reaching No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. The accompanying album, “The Album,” released the same year, featured Mantronik’s signature polyrhythmic style and electronic instrumentation, establishing his influence in the electro-funk sound. His 1988 track “King of the Beats” was instrumental in popularizing the Amen break, becoming one of the most sampled songs in music history. Mantronik also served in the A&R Department for Sleeping Bag Records from 1984 to 1986, where he signed EPMD and produced tracks for artists such as KRS-One, Just-Ice, and T La Rock. His production of T La Rock’s “Bass Machine” (1986) is recognized for laying the groundwork for trap music through its use of Roland TR-808 bass, hi-hats, triplet snares, and pitching down.
After Mantronix disbanded in 1991, Mantronik took a seven-year hiatus from the music industry before returning in 1998 with his solo album, “I Sing the Body Electro.” Since 1998, he has produced and remixed tracks for various artists, including Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers, consistently evolving his electronic music style. In 2023, Mantronik reformed Mantronix, incorporating Bronx rapper Bruse Wane and releasing three new hip-hop tracks: “Money Talks,” “Era of the AI,” and “When the Doves Fly.”
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