Braintax
Encyclopedia
Braintax was a British hip hop artist and producer. Joe Christie had also recorded or appeared under the pseudonyms Brando Flux and Joey Brains. All of his releases were on his own record label, Low Life Records.
Originally Braintax was a duo, consisting of Christie and DJ T.E.S.T. (real name Aaron Harrow), who also contributed vocals and production. T.E.S.T. departed following the 1997 release of the Future Years
EP and Christie retained the Braintax name; it has since become synonymous with him as a solo artist. On the track "Monsoon Funk" on Panorama
, Christie explained Braintax means "we can all get busy if we use our brains." Braintax's lyrics have made multiple references to spirituality
, healthy eating
, the state of hip hop music
, environmentalism
, and politics
. On Mr. Scruff
's 2002 album Trouser Jazz
, Braintax was featured on the song "Vibrate".
In 2008 Braintax suddenly announced his retirement with the release of his final album titled My Last And Best Album
and also the end of Low Life Records
to the disappointment of many UK hip hop fans.
Originally Braintax was a duo, consisting of Christie and DJ T.E.S.T. (real name Aaron Harrow), who also contributed vocals and production. T.E.S.T. departed following the 1997 release of the Future Years
Future Years
Future Years EP, is an album by British rapper Braintax, which was released on Low Life Records in 1997 solely on 12" vinyl.- Track listing :A Side:# "Future Years "# "Future Years # "Joke's Over...
EP and Christie retained the Braintax name; it has since become synonymous with him as a solo artist. On the track "Monsoon Funk" on Panorama
Panorama (Braintax album)
Panorama is an album by Braintax, released in 2006.-Track listing:# "All I Need" - 3.33# "Can We Skit" - 1.22# "Syriana Style" - 3.38# "Monsoon Funk" - 3.41# "Good or Bad" - 3.42# "Anti-Grey" - 2.59...
, Christie explained Braintax means "we can all get busy if we use our brains." Braintax's lyrics have made multiple references to spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
, healthy eating
Healthy diet
A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve general health. It is important for lowering many chronic health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. A healthy diet involves consuming appropriate amounts of all essential nutrients and an adequate amount of...
, the state of hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. On Mr. Scruff
Mr. Scruff
Mr. Scruff is the recording name of Andy Carthy , a British DJ and artist. He lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University...
's 2002 album Trouser Jazz
Trouser Jazz
Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr. Scruff's second "proper" album Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr. Scruff's second "proper" album Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr....
, Braintax was featured on the song "Vibrate".
In 2008 Braintax suddenly announced his retirement with the release of his final album titled My Last And Best Album
My Last and Best Album
My Last And Best Album was the last album by released by Braintax. It is also the 50th CD release on Low Life RecordsThe album was released on March 10th 2008.-Track listing:# Magnum On Crack - 2.34# Fix Up Come On - 3.58# Retail - 3.27...
and also the end of Low Life Records
Low Life Records
Low Life Records was an independent record label promoting UK hip hop music. It was founded in Leeds by Joseph Christie, Aaron Harrow, Tomas Stewart and Paul Edmeade before being relocated to west London by Christie. The label came to an abrupt end when Braintax announced his sudden retirement from...
to the disappointment of many UK hip hop fans.
Albums
- Biro FunkBiro FunkBiro Funk is the debut album by Braintax, released on Low Life Records in 2001. By the time of the album's release, Braintax was a solo artist - Joseph Christie. Prior to the release of Biro Funk, Braintax had released a number of EPs and 12" singles, originally as a two-piece band. The album was...
(2002) - PanoramaPanorama (Braintax album)Panorama is an album by Braintax, released in 2006.-Track listing:# "All I Need" - 3.33# "Can We Skit" - 1.22# "Syriana Style" - 3.38# "Monsoon Funk" - 3.41# "Good or Bad" - 3.42# "Anti-Grey" - 2.59...
(2006) - My Last And Best AlbumMy Last and Best AlbumMy Last And Best Album was the last album by released by Braintax. It is also the 50th CD release on Low Life RecordsThe album was released on March 10th 2008.-Track listing:# Magnum On Crack - 2.34# Fix Up Come On - 3.58# Retail - 3.27...
(2008)
Singles and EPs
- Fat Head EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(1992) - Future YearsFuture YearsFuture Years EP, is an album by British rapper Braintax, which was released on Low Life Records in 1997 solely on 12" vinyl.- Track listing :A Side:# "Future Years "# "Future Years # "Joke's Over...
EP (1997) - The Travel ShowThe Travel ShowThe Travel Show EP, by British rapper Braintax, was released on Low Life Records in 1999. The album was never released on CD; however, it can be purchased on the Internet as a digital album in MP3 format.- Digital album :# "Tools" — 3:21...
EP (1999) - Hard WorkingHard Working / EscúchameHard Working / Escúchame EP, by Braintax, was released on Low Life Records in 2000. The album was never released on CD; however, it can be purchased on the Internet as a digital album in MP3 format. The track "Escúchame" was re-released on Biro Funk in 2001.- Personale :Braintax produced "First...
(2000) - Don't Drag Me In (2001)
- Riviera Hustle (2002)
- Godnose (2002)
- Chapter Seven - Verse Two EP "Out the Bunker" (2003)
- D90 Rules (2006)
- Run the Yards (2006)
- Syriana Style (2006)
External links
- Braintax at Low Life RecordsLow Life RecordsLow Life Records was an independent record label promoting UK hip hop music. It was founded in Leeds by Joseph Christie, Aaron Harrow, Tomas Stewart and Paul Edmeade before being relocated to west London by Christie. The label came to an abrupt end when Braintax announced his sudden retirement from...
- Braintax Interview on ukhh.com
- Braintax Interview on britishhiphop.co.uk
- Braintax Discography on discogs.com
- Last Braintax Interview on Rapnews.co.uk