Daddy Kev
Encyclopedia
Daddy Kev is a prolific underground hip-hop and electronic music producer
, recording engineer and record label
owner. Pitchfork describes him as "one of the Los Angeles underground's most visionary producers... His style exemplifies the steady bleeding of hip-hop culture into the more highbrow aspects of art."
Together with Hive and Shaggy, he founded the Celestial Recordings
record label in 1998. The label's early records included Phoenix Orion's Zimulated Experiencez album and the Celestial Squadron compilation. Kev also produced records by Naptron and Alien Nation, most of the songs characterized by fusing rap with sci-fi samples. His work with AWOL One on Souldoubt (2001) saw Daddy Kev return to a more conventional underground hip hop context. During this era, Daddy Kev would contribute to a number of genre-defining records, including Sole Bottle of Humans
(2000), Myka 9
Timetable (2001), Abstract Rude P.A.I.N.T. (2001), Prefuse 73 Vocal Studies & Uprock Narratives (2001) and Nobody Soulmates (2001).
Although Celestial Recordings folded in early 2002, Kev stayed in Los Angeles to produce and engineer a series of albums including: Busdriver
Temporary Forever
(2002), D-Styles Phantazmagorea (2002), AWOL One Slanguage (2003), The Grouch
Sound Advice
(2003), and Existereo Dirty Deeds & Dead Flowers (2003).
April 2004 brought Busdriver
's Cosmic Cleavage
album, released by Big Dada/Ninja Tune, and produced entirely by Daddy Kev. In July 2004, Kev began work on Mix Master Mike
's Bangzilla album.
Upon the conclusion of work on the Mix Master Mike
album, Kev hatched a plan with business manager Danyell Jariel to start a new record label, Alpha Pup Records
. By the end of 2004, the label was formed, and Kev began mixing the label's first release, Paris Zax's Unpath'd Waters (2005).
In 2005, Alpha Pup quickly hit its stride, releasing the Paris Zax album to critical acclaim, as well as offerings from Mike Boo, Ricci Rucker, Blackbird, and longtime Kev collaborator AWOL One. In 2006, Daddy Kev served as executive producer on albums for Subtitle, Daedelus, Scream Club, and Acid Reign, all released on Alpha Pup. He also returned to the studio with Busdriver
, mixing and recording tracks for RoadKillOvercoat
, which was released on Epitaph in February 2007.
Alpha Pup records also distributes Flying Lotus
's Brainfeeder
label.
Reefer, a collaborative group with Islands
frontman Nick Thorburn
, was announced on the Alpha Pup Web site in April 2007. A flyer depicting coral reefs was displayed on Daddy Kev's MySpace page with the roman numerals of 2008 underneath.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, recording engineer and record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
owner. Pitchfork describes him as "one of the Los Angeles underground's most visionary producers... His style exemplifies the steady bleeding of hip-hop culture into the more highbrow aspects of art."
Together with Hive and Shaggy, he founded the Celestial Recordings
Celestial Recordings
Celestial Recordings was a record label founded in 1998 by producers Daddy Kev and Hive. The label specialized in the underground hip-hop and drum and bass genres, often fusing the two. After the release of more than 40 albums and 12-inches, Celestial Recordings ceased operations in 2002....
record label in 1998. The label's early records included Phoenix Orion's Zimulated Experiencez album and the Celestial Squadron compilation. Kev also produced records by Naptron and Alien Nation, most of the songs characterized by fusing rap with sci-fi samples. His work with AWOL One on Souldoubt (2001) saw Daddy Kev return to a more conventional underground hip hop context. During this era, Daddy Kev would contribute to a number of genre-defining records, including Sole Bottle of Humans
Bottle of Humans
Bottle of Humans is a 2000 album by hip-hop artist Sole. A dispute with anticon.'s distributor caused the album to go out of print until it was remastered and reissued in 2003 with minor changes to the artwork and tracklisting....
(2000), Myka 9
Myka 9
Myka 9 is a musician/rapper from Los Angeles.-History:Originally known as Microphone Mike, in the 80s he was a member of the MC Aces with Aceyalone and Spoon Iodine. As one of the founding members of Freestyle Fellowship, Myka 9 was instrumental in the scene at the Good Life Cafe in the early 90s...
Timetable (2001), Abstract Rude P.A.I.N.T. (2001), Prefuse 73 Vocal Studies & Uprock Narratives (2001) and Nobody Soulmates (2001).
Although Celestial Recordings folded in early 2002, Kev stayed in Los Angeles to produce and engineer a series of albums including: Busdriver
Busdriver
Busdriver is a rapper from Los Angeles currently signed to Epitaph Records and Fake Four Inc-History:...
Temporary Forever
Temporary Forever
Temporary Forever is an abstract rap album by hip hop artist Busdriver. It was released in 2002 on the Temporary Whatever label.-Album information:...
(2002), D-Styles Phantazmagorea (2002), AWOL One Slanguage (2003), The Grouch
The Grouch (rapper)
The Grouch , is an MC, producer, and member of the underground hip hop groups the Living Legends, G&E, The CMA and Z&G. He was born in Oakland, California, where he attended Bishop O'Dowd High School.-Solo albums:* 1995 - Don't Talk To Me...
Sound Advice
Sound Advice
Sound Advice was a radio show on CBC Radio. It aired for fourteen years on Saturday afternoons, latterly on CBC Radio 2. The host was Rick Phillips. Its final broadcast was on March 29, 2008....
(2003), and Existereo Dirty Deeds & Dead Flowers (2003).
April 2004 brought Busdriver
Busdriver
Busdriver is a rapper from Los Angeles currently signed to Epitaph Records and Fake Four Inc-History:...
's Cosmic Cleavage
Cosmic Cleavage
Cosmic Cleavage is an album by Busdriver, released in 2004 on the Big Dada record label.-Track listing:...
album, released by Big Dada/Ninja Tune, and produced entirely by Daddy Kev. In July 2004, Kev began work on Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike is an American turntablist and contributing member of the Beastie Boys.-Life and career:Born Michael Schwartz in San Francisco, California, Mix Master Mike is of German and Filipino descent. He first came to prominence upon winning the 1992 New Music Seminar/Supermen Inc...
's Bangzilla album.
Upon the conclusion of work on the Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike is an American turntablist and contributing member of the Beastie Boys.-Life and career:Born Michael Schwartz in San Francisco, California, Mix Master Mike is of German and Filipino descent. He first came to prominence upon winning the 1992 New Music Seminar/Supermen Inc...
album, Kev hatched a plan with business manager Danyell Jariel to start a new record label, Alpha Pup Records
Alpha Pup Records
Alpha Pup Records is a Los Angeles based independent record label and digital distributor, founded in 2004, and noted as an outlet for experimental hip hop and electronic music.-History:...
. By the end of 2004, the label was formed, and Kev began mixing the label's first release, Paris Zax's Unpath'd Waters (2005).
In 2005, Alpha Pup quickly hit its stride, releasing the Paris Zax album to critical acclaim, as well as offerings from Mike Boo, Ricci Rucker, Blackbird, and longtime Kev collaborator AWOL One. In 2006, Daddy Kev served as executive producer on albums for Subtitle, Daedelus, Scream Club, and Acid Reign, all released on Alpha Pup. He also returned to the studio with Busdriver
Busdriver
Busdriver is a rapper from Los Angeles currently signed to Epitaph Records and Fake Four Inc-History:...
, mixing and recording tracks for RoadKillOvercoat
RoadKillOvercoat
RoadKillOvercoat is an abstract rap and alternative hip hop album by Busdriver. It was released on 30 January 2007 by Epitaph Records.-Track listing:...
, which was released on Epitaph in February 2007.
Alpha Pup records also distributes Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus, is an experimental multi-genre music producer from Winnetka, California. His debut album, 1983, was released on Plug Research Records in 2006...
's Brainfeeder
Brainfeeder
Brainfeeder is a record label based in Los Angeles, focusing on electronic music and instrumental hip hop. It was founded by Flying Lotus in 2008, and has signed artists such as Daedelus, Lorn, Ras G, Samiyam, Teebs, The Gaslamp Killer, Austin Peralta, Thundercat, Mono/Poly, Strangeloop and...
label.
Reefer, a collaborative group with Islands
Islands (band)
Islands is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York.-Return to the Sea:In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled Return to the Sea, which was released in April 2006...
frontman Nick Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn is a Canadian musician who has fronted The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highway. He has gone by the stage name "Nick Diamonds."...
, was announced on the Alpha Pup Web site in April 2007. A flyer depicting coral reefs was displayed on Daddy Kev's MySpace page with the roman numerals of 2008 underneath.