Godfather Don
Encyclopedia
Godfather Don is a New York City
hip hop
record producer. He was in Cenobites with Kool Keith
and The Groove Merchantz with Victor Padilla, The Beatnuts
production team. He has been "a creative force within New York City's underground hip-hop scene" since he appeared with debut in 1991.
. The album established the Godfather as an MC influenced by the blatant, hard-hitting style of Chuck D
. A few years later, the Don appeared on and produced the Ultramagnetic MC's' The Four Horsemen
, which led to a collaboration with that group's standout, Kool Keith. The Cenobites EP was issued on Fondle 'Em Records
, which was started by New York b-boy, DJ, and man about town Bobbito Garcia. The material on the EP had originally been recorded as gags or promos for Garcia's underground hip-hop radio show on New York's WKCR
. The Cenobites EP was then reissued by Fondle 'Em as a full-length LP. Throughout the 1990s, Godfather Don continued to work as a producer, working on tracks from Kool Keith, Hostyle, and Ayatollah
, among others. In 1999, he released his second album, Diabolique, on which his flow was very similar to the bludgeoning raps of his 1991 debut. The album included cameo appearances from Kool Keith and Sir Menelik, and appeared on the Hydra Entertainment
imprint, for which Godfather Don continued to record, releasing several 12" singles and Instrumental hip hop albums.
In the 2000s, Don was known for his work with Screwball
, a Queensbridge hip hop group, producing much of their 3 albums.
In 2007, Don resurfaced with 'The Slave Of New York E.P.': an EP of previously-unreleased archive material in association with hip-hop website Diggers With Gratitude who tracked him down and worked on putting this project out. 150 copies of this six track vinyl E.P. were released, with the first 45 copies having signed sleeves. The material used was recorded before and during his time with Hydra, with the title track coming directly from a cassette that Don had given to Bobbito to play on WKCR
. Due to the resurge in interest, Don was then asked to release a CD compilation of material by another label, titled The Nineties Sessions, out now.
On May 21, 2011 Don dropped another EP of previously unreleased material titled "The Reformation Circa. 1999" a collabortive effort between Mic-el The Don, (who featured on tracks from the "Diabolique" album)and Godfather Don. The EP was recorded sometime in the late 1990s, it is one of Godfather Don's last full bodies of work in the hip-hop genre before he moved on to a career in Jazz music.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
record producer. He was in Cenobites with Kool Keith
Kool Keith
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
and The Groove Merchantz with Victor Padilla, The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu is Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights...
production team. He has been "a creative force within New York City's underground hip-hop scene" since he appeared with debut in 1991.
Biography
Godfather Don first appeared in 1991 with Hazardous, released on the Select RecordsSelect Records
Select Records is an American record label. Among its most popular acts were Chubb Rock, AMG, The Jerky Boys, Kid 'n Play, UTFO, Whistle, and The Real Roxanne...
. The album established the Godfather as an MC influenced by the blatant, hard-hitting style of Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
. A few years later, the Don appeared on and produced the Ultramagnetic MC's' The Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen (album)
The Four Horsemen is the third studio album by Ultramagnetic MC's. Godfather Don, who produced tracks 2, 4, 5, and 8, helped to incorporate a darker, jazzier sound than the group's previous work. "Checkin' My Style" and "See the Man on the Street" were originally recorded in 1992 during Godfather...
, which led to a collaboration with that group's standout, Kool Keith. The Cenobites EP was issued on Fondle 'Em Records
Fondle 'Em Records
Fondle ‘Em Records was a record label based in New York City, New York. It was founded and owned by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia from 1995 to 2001. Bobbito formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” a program Bobbito...
, which was started by New York b-boy, DJ, and man about town Bobbito Garcia. The material on the EP had originally been recorded as gags or promos for Garcia's underground hip-hop radio show on New York's WKCR
WKCR
WKCR-FM is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.-History:...
. The Cenobites EP was then reissued by Fondle 'Em as a full-length LP. Throughout the 1990s, Godfather Don continued to work as a producer, working on tracks from Kool Keith, Hostyle, and Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...
, among others. In 1999, he released his second album, Diabolique, on which his flow was very similar to the bludgeoning raps of his 1991 debut. The album included cameo appearances from Kool Keith and Sir Menelik, and appeared on the Hydra Entertainment
Hydra Entertainment
Hydra Entertainment is a hip hop record label specializing in Instrumental hip hop. They are most notable for their Hydra Beats series of instrumental albums by prominent hip hop producers...
imprint, for which Godfather Don continued to record, releasing several 12" singles and Instrumental hip hop albums.
In the 2000s, Don was known for his work with Screwball
Screwball (group)
Screwball is a New York City hip hop group, with members Hostyle, KL, Blaq Poet, & Solo. Their debut Y2K The Album was released in 2000 on Tommy Boy Records. The album yielded two singles; "H-O-S-T-Y-L-E" and the surprising and virtually unbroadcastable "F.A.Y.B.A.N."...
, a Queensbridge hip hop group, producing much of their 3 albums.
In 2007, Don resurfaced with 'The Slave Of New York E.P.': an EP of previously-unreleased archive material in association with hip-hop website Diggers With Gratitude who tracked him down and worked on putting this project out. 150 copies of this six track vinyl E.P. were released, with the first 45 copies having signed sleeves. The material used was recorded before and during his time with Hydra, with the title track coming directly from a cassette that Don had given to Bobbito to play on WKCR
WKCR
WKCR-FM is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.-History:...
. Due to the resurge in interest, Don was then asked to release a CD compilation of material by another label, titled The Nineties Sessions, out now.
On May 21, 2011 Don dropped another EP of previously unreleased material titled "The Reformation Circa. 1999" a collabortive effort between Mic-el The Don, (who featured on tracks from the "Diabolique" album)and Godfather Don. The EP was recorded sometime in the late 1990s, it is one of Godfather Don's last full bodies of work in the hip-hop genre before he moved on to a career in Jazz music.
Discography
- 1991: Hazardous
- 1994: Cenobites (EP & LP)
- 1998: Diabolique
- 2007: The Slave Of New York E.P. (Limited Edition)
- 2007: The Nineties Sessions
- 2009: The Ill Funk Freaker EP (Limited Edition)
- 2010: Donnie Brasco (Previously Unreleased Third Official Studio Album)
- 2010: Properties of Steel (Single Collection)
- 2011: The Reformation Circa. 1999 E.P.
External links
- On The Go magazine Interview (1997)
- [ Allmusic]