OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL YOU KNOW THE RULES PT.3

Old School New School You Know The Rules

Swizz Beatz



 

DJ. MANTRONIK



This day and age most entertainers go the extra mile and create a brand with their message or a product. The comparison between Kurtis Mantronik and Swizz Beatz is evident physically and musically. Both of these producers made a major contribution to hip hop and changed the game for everyone. Kurtis Mantronik born in Jamaica to a Syrian father and Jamaican mother. His given name Kurtis el Khaleel and he worked for Sleeping Bag Records as an A&R, producer and artist. Swizz Beatz was born as Kasseem Dean in the Bronx and was imported to Atlanta for too many fights in high school. Being introduced to hip hop as a teen in the South Bronx his father purchased equiptment for him to dj. By the age of 17 Swizz sold his first beat which was "Ruff Ryders Anthem" for DMX. His uncles owning Ruff Ryder Records was instrumental in his success and eventual 2009 Urban Music Award for Producer of The Year. Here is a hit list of songs and artist Swizz produced:

•  DMX ("Party Up")
• Beyonce ("Check On It")
• T.I. ("Bring Em Out")
• Styles P ("Good Times")
• Cassidy ("Hotel","Im A Hustla")
• Busta Rhymes ("Touch It")
• Ludacris ("Nasty Girl")
• Jadakiss ('Who's Real?")
• Maino ("Million Bucks")
• Chris Brown ("I Can Transform Ya")

The next level of marketing is to create a brand. Swizz currently has a line of sneakers out with Reebok that are selling off the shelves, resident producer at NYU, designer at Lotus cars and collects paintings along with selling paintings of his own. Earnings from the paintings go to the Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation.

The career of Kurtis Mantronik with the group Mantronix lasted from 1984-91. Besides being one of the main producers for Sleeping Bag Records he produced 5 of his own albums.The second album "In Full Effect" was the first album done on DAT(Digital Audio Tape introduced by Sony in 1987) instead of reel to reel. As an A&R for Sleeping Bag he was responsible for signing E.P.M.D. to sister label Fresh Records. Mantronik also produced Just-Ice who was one of the first east coast hardcore emcees and one of the first to embrace the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. The sound that Mantronik created he called electro-funk. He considered himself the King of the Beat for his time in the 80's. Producing and creating music from the age of 17 however took a toll on Mantronik where the 3 days at a time studio sessions burned him out. He took a break from 1991-98 and resurfaced in Britain. The techno and house style of music he produced was always bigger in Europe. His contribution to music as an editing and remix pioneer is still felt around the industry.Personally in my collection of vinyl the first remixes I remember and strong edits were from Mantronik and The Latin Rascals who did production together from time to time in the early 80's. As a matter of fact the album cover above for "Needle To The Groove" was a statement artistically that actually gave you a peek at the party in Mantroniks head. Back then the mentality overall was doing it for the love of the music. By looking at this album cover I see endorsements from either Technics, Adidas, Cazal, Cerwin Vega or Kangol should have been in the works. Even though we don't hear alot about Mantronik he has done major production and remixes in Europe on pop, house music and techno artist tracks. Also produced tracks on Dance Dance Revolution and TrickStyle video game series. So old school personas can take advantage of the new school rules.


                                      If you didn't know, now you know Peace and blessings
                                                              ~DAJOURNALIST~