Hello,
Today's Artists are all swallowed by the mist of time, yet they were all...fresh. ...... N Joy
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Over and above their standing as one of the best and most innovative groups from hip-hop's golden age, Mantronix provided rap music with its first man-machine, Kurtis Mantronik. A turntable master who incorporated synthesizers and samplers into the rhythmatic mix instead of succumbing to the popular use of samples simply as pop hooks, Mantronik exploited technology with a quintessentially old-school attitude which had little use for instruction manuals and accepted use. After the hip-hop world began to catch up with Mantronik's developments, he moved from hardcore rap to skirt the leading edge of club music, from electro to ragga, techno, and house. And though he never found a rapper worthy of his immense production talents, Mantronik inspired dozens of DJs and beatmeisters around the world during the next decade -- in hip-hop, mainstream dance music, and the new electronica -- even while his records were practically impossible to find (many snapped up, no doubt, by those same aspiring DJs).
Mantronik was born Kurtis Khaleel in Jamaica, though his family soon moved to Canada and ended up in New York by the late '70s. Mantronik soon began DJing around the city and was working behind the decks at Manhattan's Downtown Records when he met MC Tee (born Touré Embden). After the duo had assembled a demo tape, they gave it to William Socolov, president of Sleeping Bag Records. He signed Mantronix soon after hearing it, and released their debut single, "Fresh Is the Word." The track lit up New York's streets and clubs during 1985, and brought the full-length Mantronix: The Album early the following year. Two new singles, "Ladies" and "Basslines," became big street hits as well and even crossed over to join the first wave of hip-hop chartmakers in Britain.
By that time, Mantronik had also begun working on A&R at Sleeping Bag, where he signed EPMD, produced KRS-One's first credit ("Success Is the Word" by 12:41), and helmed other intense tracks by Tricky Tee, Just-Ice, and T la Rock. The second Mantronix LP, Music Madness, continued to keep the duo fresh in the clubs. The increasing popularity of hip-hop gave Mantronix a chance at a major-label contract, and by 1987 the duo had signed with Capitol. In Full Effect emerged the following year, and portrayed Mantronik jettisoning many his more hardcore inclinations in favor of a fusion of dance and R&B, an early precursor to hip-house. The production excursion "Do You Like...Mantronik?" proved that Mantronik's ear for clever beats remained, however. And Mantronix's success in England prompted several of the first sampladelic hits, like "Pump Up the Volume" by M/A/R/R/S and "Theme from S'Express" by S'Express.
Soon after In Full Effect, MC Tee left to join the Air Force. Mantronik replaced him with Bryce Luvah (the cousin of LL Cool J) and DJ Dee (Mantronik's own cousin). With 1990's This Should Move Ya, Mantronik made the move from hip-hop into more straight-ahead house. With vocalist Wondress in tow, a pair of Mantronix singles stormed the British Top 20, including the Top Five "Got to Have Your Love." He still used the rappers, but continued to work in dance with 1991's The Incredible Sound Machine. As a group entity, Mantronix disappeared at that point. Mantronik began producing other acts -- mostly female vocalists or freestyle acts -- and later exited music altogether. He returned in the mid-'90s as a breakbeat elder statesman, recording as Kurtis Mantronik and providing remixes for EPMD, Future Sound of London, and Doctor Octagon. A Mantronix respective and several album reissues began filtering out in 1999, and Mantronik began recording a new group album later that year.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Curtis "Mantronik" Khaleel was often quoted as saying that his mission was to "take rap a step beyond the streets," and the innovative producer/mixmaster accomplished that goal on Mantronix's debut album, Mantronix: The Album. This excellent 1985 LP was way ahead of its time; while the rapping of Mantronix's partner MC Tee is pure mid-'80s New York hip-hop, the production is anything but conventional. On gems like "Needle to the Groove," "Bassline," and the hit "Fresh Is the Word," you can hear the parallels between Tee's rhyming and the East Coast b-boy rhymes that Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and the Fat Boys were providing in 1985. But the album's high-tech, futuristic production sets it apart from other New York hip-hop of the mid-'80s, and even though one of the LP's tracks is titled "Hardcore Hip-Hop," Mantronix had a hard time appealing to hip-hop's hardcore. Mantronix: The Album actually fared better in dance music, electro-funk, and club circles than it did among hardcore b-boys. But this is definitely a hip-hop record, and it is also Mantronix's most essential release.
If by any means you never heard this chef d'oeuvre, do not miss the chance to hear this quintessential album made by one of the masters of the old school Hip Hop Kurtis Mantronik and his companion MC Tee. Perfect for the break dance lovers, the tracks brings the roots of Hip Hop melted with electro-funk influences. "Needle To The Groove" is a shining example and perhaps the most important tune of this Long Play, even though "Bassline" is another massive hit of that time, specially edited by The Latin Rascals. The Mega-Mix, specially edited by The Diamond Two of Chet Nunez & Charlie Dee is also highly recommended.
Mantronix - The Album 1 (flac 390mb)
This Side
01 Bassline 5:24
02 Needle To The Groove 3:41
03 Mega-Mix 5:49
That Side
04 Hardcore Hip-Hop 6:11
05 Ladies 6:54
06 Get Stupid "Fresh" Part I 3:48
07 Fresh Is The Word 3:48
Bonus
08 Bassline (Club Version)
09 Needle To The Groove (12" Version)
10 Fresh Is The Word (12" Version)
11 Ladies (UK Remix)
xxxxx
Mantronix - The Album 2 (flac 266mb)
01 Bassline (Radio Version)
02 Bassline (Instrumental)
03 Needle To The Groove (Alternate Version)
04 Jamming On The Groove
05 Needle To The Groove (Live Version)
06 Ladies (Live Version)
07 Ladies (A Capella)
08 Get Stupid "Fresh" Part 1 (A Capella)
09 Fresh Is The Word (Radio Version)
10 Fresh Is The Beat
11 Fresh Is The Word (A Capella)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Many Mantronix fans will tell you that the group provided its best and most essential work when it was signed to the small Sleeping Bag label and MC Tee was still on board. Listening to Music Madness, it's hard to argue with that. This 1986 LP, which was Mantronix's second album and its last album before leaving Sleeping Bag for Capitol, is proof of how fresh-sounding and creative Mantronix was in the beginning. The futuristic outlook that defines "Scream," the single "Who Is It," and other tracks sets Music Madness apart from other hip-hop albums that came from New York in 1986; Tee's rapping is very much in the 1980s b-boy tradition, but the club-minded producing and mixing of Curtis "Mantronik" Khaleel is unlike anything you would have heard on a Run-D.M.C. or L.L. Cool J album back then. And that fact wasn't lost on hip-hop's hardcore, which felt that Music Madness wasn't street enough. Mantronik was fond of saying that his goal was to "take rap a step beyond the streets," and this album tended to attract dance music and electro-funk lovers and club hounds more than hardcore hip-hoppers. The Album remains Mantronix's best album, but this excellent LP runs a close second.
Mantronix - Music Madness (flac 244mb)
01 Who Is It 6:05
02 We Control The Dice 3:53
03 Listen To The Bass Of Get Stupid Fresh Part II 4:22
04 Big Band B-Boy 4:40
05 Music Madness 5:23
06 Electronic Energy Of.. 5:29
07 Scream 5:23
08 Mega Mix 5:02
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
And here starts the slow decline of the former electro titans. Kurtis Mantronik seems to have adapted to the sound of his 1988 but his original sound was so unique and part of what made them such a great group. The production is still the saving grace of this album, even though MC Tee has some charisma here and there, like Gangster Boogie. Simple Simon is the other great track here, which just sounds epic in its own way, kind of reminding me of their great first two albums. But that's all this accomplishes, makes you think why you're listening this album when the previous ones are so much better. No surprise then
it was the final album featuring rapper MC Tee. This album skirted the lower regions of the pop charts and had a less abrasive, smoother sound, although the patented dance/hip-hop/urban contemporary fusion hadn't been affected. But overall, it wasn't quite as risky or spirited as their Sleeping Bag records, despite Mantronik's continuing production excellence.
Mantronix - In Full Effect (flac 191mb)
01 Join Me Please... (Home Boys - Make Some Noise) 4:22
02 Love Letter (Dear Tracy) 4:27
03 Gangster Boogie (Walk Like Sex... Talk Like Sex) 3:59
04 In Full Effect (In Full Effect) 3:54
05 Get Stupid (Part III) 3:47
06 Simple Simon (You Gotta Regard) 4:03
07 Sing A Song (Break It Down) 4:08
08 Do You Like... Mantronik (?) 3:23
09 Mega-Mix ('88) 4:50
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Mantronix switched labels in the late '80s, moving from the independent Sleeping Bag to the major label Capitol. This was their second Capitol album, and it worked out fine. Although the lineup had now changed, with Bryce Luvah and D.J.D. on board rather than M.C. Tee, the group had another strong single in "Got To Have Your Love," and Capitol was providing Curtis "Mantronik" Kahleel with a bigger push and sharper production and sound. But the underground spirit that permeated Mantronix's Sleeping Bag albums was missing, as was the quirky air that marked their past singles.
Mantronix - This Should Move Ya (flac 245mb)
01 This Should Move Ya 2:55
02 Got to Have Your Love 6:15
03 Sex-N-Drugs and Rock-N-Roll 3:34
04 Tonight Is Right 4:07
05 (I'm Just) Adjusting My Mic 3:25
06 Stone Cold Roach 3:18
07 I Get Lifted 3:32
08 Don't You Want More 3:48
09 I Like the Way (You Do It!) 4:00
10 Get Stupid Part IV (Get On Up '90) 3:08
11 (I'm Just) Adjusting My Mic ('90) [bonus track] 2:50
12 Kinf of the Beast Lesson #1 [bonus track] 1:43
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Today's Artists are all swallowed by the mist of time, yet they were all...fresh. ...... N Joy
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Over and above their standing as one of the best and most innovative groups from hip-hop's golden age, Mantronix provided rap music with its first man-machine, Kurtis Mantronik. A turntable master who incorporated synthesizers and samplers into the rhythmatic mix instead of succumbing to the popular use of samples simply as pop hooks, Mantronik exploited technology with a quintessentially old-school attitude which had little use for instruction manuals and accepted use. After the hip-hop world began to catch up with Mantronik's developments, he moved from hardcore rap to skirt the leading edge of club music, from electro to ragga, techno, and house. And though he never found a rapper worthy of his immense production talents, Mantronik inspired dozens of DJs and beatmeisters around the world during the next decade -- in hip-hop, mainstream dance music, and the new electronica -- even while his records were practically impossible to find (many snapped up, no doubt, by those same aspiring DJs).
Mantronik was born Kurtis Khaleel in Jamaica, though his family soon moved to Canada and ended up in New York by the late '70s. Mantronik soon began DJing around the city and was working behind the decks at Manhattan's Downtown Records when he met MC Tee (born Touré Embden). After the duo had assembled a demo tape, they gave it to William Socolov, president of Sleeping Bag Records. He signed Mantronix soon after hearing it, and released their debut single, "Fresh Is the Word." The track lit up New York's streets and clubs during 1985, and brought the full-length Mantronix: The Album early the following year. Two new singles, "Ladies" and "Basslines," became big street hits as well and even crossed over to join the first wave of hip-hop chartmakers in Britain.
By that time, Mantronik had also begun working on A&R at Sleeping Bag, where he signed EPMD, produced KRS-One's first credit ("Success Is the Word" by 12:41), and helmed other intense tracks by Tricky Tee, Just-Ice, and T la Rock. The second Mantronix LP, Music Madness, continued to keep the duo fresh in the clubs. The increasing popularity of hip-hop gave Mantronix a chance at a major-label contract, and by 1987 the duo had signed with Capitol. In Full Effect emerged the following year, and portrayed Mantronik jettisoning many his more hardcore inclinations in favor of a fusion of dance and R&B, an early precursor to hip-house. The production excursion "Do You Like...Mantronik?" proved that Mantronik's ear for clever beats remained, however. And Mantronix's success in England prompted several of the first sampladelic hits, like "Pump Up the Volume" by M/A/R/R/S and "Theme from S'Express" by S'Express.
Soon after In Full Effect, MC Tee left to join the Air Force. Mantronik replaced him with Bryce Luvah (the cousin of LL Cool J) and DJ Dee (Mantronik's own cousin). With 1990's This Should Move Ya, Mantronik made the move from hip-hop into more straight-ahead house. With vocalist Wondress in tow, a pair of Mantronix singles stormed the British Top 20, including the Top Five "Got to Have Your Love." He still used the rappers, but continued to work in dance with 1991's The Incredible Sound Machine. As a group entity, Mantronix disappeared at that point. Mantronik began producing other acts -- mostly female vocalists or freestyle acts -- and later exited music altogether. He returned in the mid-'90s as a breakbeat elder statesman, recording as Kurtis Mantronik and providing remixes for EPMD, Future Sound of London, and Doctor Octagon. A Mantronix respective and several album reissues began filtering out in 1999, and Mantronik began recording a new group album later that year.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Curtis "Mantronik" Khaleel was often quoted as saying that his mission was to "take rap a step beyond the streets," and the innovative producer/mixmaster accomplished that goal on Mantronix's debut album, Mantronix: The Album. This excellent 1985 LP was way ahead of its time; while the rapping of Mantronix's partner MC Tee is pure mid-'80s New York hip-hop, the production is anything but conventional. On gems like "Needle to the Groove," "Bassline," and the hit "Fresh Is the Word," you can hear the parallels between Tee's rhyming and the East Coast b-boy rhymes that Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and the Fat Boys were providing in 1985. But the album's high-tech, futuristic production sets it apart from other New York hip-hop of the mid-'80s, and even though one of the LP's tracks is titled "Hardcore Hip-Hop," Mantronix had a hard time appealing to hip-hop's hardcore. Mantronix: The Album actually fared better in dance music, electro-funk, and club circles than it did among hardcore b-boys. But this is definitely a hip-hop record, and it is also Mantronix's most essential release.
If by any means you never heard this chef d'oeuvre, do not miss the chance to hear this quintessential album made by one of the masters of the old school Hip Hop Kurtis Mantronik and his companion MC Tee. Perfect for the break dance lovers, the tracks brings the roots of Hip Hop melted with electro-funk influences. "Needle To The Groove" is a shining example and perhaps the most important tune of this Long Play, even though "Bassline" is another massive hit of that time, specially edited by The Latin Rascals. The Mega-Mix, specially edited by The Diamond Two of Chet Nunez & Charlie Dee is also highly recommended.
Mantronix - The Album 1 (flac 390mb)
This Side
01 Bassline 5:24
02 Needle To The Groove 3:41
03 Mega-Mix 5:49
That Side
04 Hardcore Hip-Hop 6:11
05 Ladies 6:54
06 Get Stupid "Fresh" Part I 3:48
07 Fresh Is The Word 3:48
Bonus
08 Bassline (Club Version)
09 Needle To The Groove (12" Version)
10 Fresh Is The Word (12" Version)
11 Ladies (UK Remix)
xxxxx
Mantronix - The Album 2 (flac 266mb)
01 Bassline (Radio Version)
02 Bassline (Instrumental)
03 Needle To The Groove (Alternate Version)
04 Jamming On The Groove
05 Needle To The Groove (Live Version)
06 Ladies (Live Version)
07 Ladies (A Capella)
08 Get Stupid "Fresh" Part 1 (A Capella)
09 Fresh Is The Word (Radio Version)
10 Fresh Is The Beat
11 Fresh Is The Word (A Capella)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Many Mantronix fans will tell you that the group provided its best and most essential work when it was signed to the small Sleeping Bag label and MC Tee was still on board. Listening to Music Madness, it's hard to argue with that. This 1986 LP, which was Mantronix's second album and its last album before leaving Sleeping Bag for Capitol, is proof of how fresh-sounding and creative Mantronix was in the beginning. The futuristic outlook that defines "Scream," the single "Who Is It," and other tracks sets Music Madness apart from other hip-hop albums that came from New York in 1986; Tee's rapping is very much in the 1980s b-boy tradition, but the club-minded producing and mixing of Curtis "Mantronik" Khaleel is unlike anything you would have heard on a Run-D.M.C. or L.L. Cool J album back then. And that fact wasn't lost on hip-hop's hardcore, which felt that Music Madness wasn't street enough. Mantronik was fond of saying that his goal was to "take rap a step beyond the streets," and this album tended to attract dance music and electro-funk lovers and club hounds more than hardcore hip-hoppers. The Album remains Mantronix's best album, but this excellent LP runs a close second.
Mantronix - Music Madness (flac 244mb)
01 Who Is It 6:05
02 We Control The Dice 3:53
03 Listen To The Bass Of Get Stupid Fresh Part II 4:22
04 Big Band B-Boy 4:40
05 Music Madness 5:23
06 Electronic Energy Of.. 5:29
07 Scream 5:23
08 Mega Mix 5:02
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
And here starts the slow decline of the former electro titans. Kurtis Mantronik seems to have adapted to the sound of his 1988 but his original sound was so unique and part of what made them such a great group. The production is still the saving grace of this album, even though MC Tee has some charisma here and there, like Gangster Boogie. Simple Simon is the other great track here, which just sounds epic in its own way, kind of reminding me of their great first two albums. But that's all this accomplishes, makes you think why you're listening this album when the previous ones are so much better. No surprise then
it was the final album featuring rapper MC Tee. This album skirted the lower regions of the pop charts and had a less abrasive, smoother sound, although the patented dance/hip-hop/urban contemporary fusion hadn't been affected. But overall, it wasn't quite as risky or spirited as their Sleeping Bag records, despite Mantronik's continuing production excellence.
Mantronix - In Full Effect (flac 191mb)
01 Join Me Please... (Home Boys - Make Some Noise) 4:22
02 Love Letter (Dear Tracy) 4:27
03 Gangster Boogie (Walk Like Sex... Talk Like Sex) 3:59
04 In Full Effect (In Full Effect) 3:54
05 Get Stupid (Part III) 3:47
06 Simple Simon (You Gotta Regard) 4:03
07 Sing A Song (Break It Down) 4:08
08 Do You Like... Mantronik (?) 3:23
09 Mega-Mix ('88) 4:50
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Mantronix switched labels in the late '80s, moving from the independent Sleeping Bag to the major label Capitol. This was their second Capitol album, and it worked out fine. Although the lineup had now changed, with Bryce Luvah and D.J.D. on board rather than M.C. Tee, the group had another strong single in "Got To Have Your Love," and Capitol was providing Curtis "Mantronik" Kahleel with a bigger push and sharper production and sound. But the underground spirit that permeated Mantronix's Sleeping Bag albums was missing, as was the quirky air that marked their past singles.
Mantronix - This Should Move Ya (flac 245mb)
01 This Should Move Ya 2:55
02 Got to Have Your Love 6:15
03 Sex-N-Drugs and Rock-N-Roll 3:34
04 Tonight Is Right 4:07
05 (I'm Just) Adjusting My Mic 3:25
06 Stone Cold Roach 3:18
07 I Get Lifted 3:32
08 Don't You Want More 3:48
09 I Like the Way (You Do It!) 4:00
10 Get Stupid Part IV (Get On Up '90) 3:08
11 (I'm Just) Adjusting My Mic ('90) [bonus track] 2:50
12 Kinf of the Beast Lesson #1 [bonus track] 1:43
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Now we're talking. Absolute genius. The Music Madness album is perfection. "Love Letter", from In Full Effect, would have been a top 5 US single - except it was about 5 years too early. They're back in print now (or were, at least), but through most of the 90s, those two albums on CD were almost in Holy Grail territory, especially Music Madness.
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