Krafty Kuts
Encyclopedia
Krafty Kuts is an English electronic music
, dance music
and breakbeat
producer and DJ.
His Debut album - Freakshow was released in 2006 on his Against The Grain label and contains guest artists Tim Deluxe and Ashley Slater
from the UK band Freak Power. He had previously released Tricka Technology with fellow producer and DJ A Skillz
.
He recently started his own record label
- Against the Grain.
Krafty Kuts has won "best DJ" three years in a row as well as being honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Breakbeat award at the Breakspoll Awards.
Immersing himself in the music he loved, Martin went on to run a record store in Brighton throughout the 90's, where he built an encyclopaedic knowledge of dance music in all its forms. In 1996 he took the next logical step, transferring his dance-floor knowledge to the studio, creating his own tracks for use in his DJ sets.
His first big break came when a dubplate of Krafty Kuts’ ‘Gimme The Funk’ found its way to Norman Cook who immediately snapped it up for his Southern Fried label. Suitably impressed Ministry of Sound offshoot FSUK Records
signed Krafty to release a string of singles; ‘Funky Elements’, ‘Wild In the Aisles’ (a tribute to Martin’s appearance on TV show Supermarket Sweep
!) and ‘Return of the Elements’.
With his own tracks elevating his profile across the globe Martin mixed his first compilation ‘Slam On The Breaks’. At about the same time, Krafty teamed with fellow-Brighton DJ Skool of Thought to establish the SuperCharged club night which is still running. By 1999, with his all-encompassing club style, Martin entered the studio with Freddy Fresh, long standing studio partner Ed Solo and New York’s Dr Luke to produce a series of beats and skits that eventually made it onto Finger Lickin’ Record's 'Finger Lickin Funk' release.
In the following two years Martin's skills were employed to create music for a Coca Cola advert, PlayStation 2
and Guy Richie’s ‘Mean Machine’ as well as mixing a cover mount CD for Mixmag
. With DJing and music now taking up all of his time, Martin left the record shop, free now to concentrate fully on his creative side. Martin launched both the Against The Grain and SuperCharged labels with club partner Skool of Thought, on which he released the ‘Lost Plates EP’, ‘Lock The Hype’ and ‘Sound Check’.
Following up on a contact made during his record shop days, he began a studio collaboration with up and coming DJ A-Skillz, that resulted in the hip-hop and party breaks album Trickatechnology. The album saw the pair collaborating with Kurtis Blow
, Dr Luke and Freakpower’s Ashley Slater
on a series of compositions.
With the demand for his records and club sets showing no sign of slowing down, Martin took a backseat with the labels and club promotion to focus solely on touring and recording. Working solidly throughout 2006 Krafty completed his debut solo album, Freak Show. Once again the tracks featured a strong cast of collaborators from the Scratch Perverts
, Tim Deluxe and Dynamite MC, to long term associates A-Skillz, Ashley Slater and Dr Luke. Mirroring Krafty Kuts’ universal approach to music and club-culture, the album moved through a myriad of tempos and genres. Freakshow was crowned Album of the Month and its lead single 'Bass Phenomenon' awarded single of the year in 2006 by DJ magazine. The album was following soon after by a Fabriclive compilation mixed by Krafty Kuts.
Martin has since released an installment of the Back To Mine
compilation series. In October 2009 he released the double mix CD "Against The Grain" which features 19 of his previously unreleased re-edits. The release won Best Compilation at the 2010 Breakspoll Awards, with Martin also walking away with another Best DJ award at the ceremony.
In December 2009, Martin released his very own iPhone
application, purpose built for DJs to fire pre-loaded audio samples during their live sets, and is currently working on his second solo album.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
producer and DJ.
His Debut album - Freakshow was released in 2006 on his Against The Grain label and contains guest artists Tim Deluxe and Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
from the UK band Freak Power. He had previously released Tricka Technology with fellow producer and DJ A Skillz
A Skillz
A.Skillz is an English breakbeat, big beat, and dance musician.He has worked across the UK at FabricLive, Spectrum, Chew The Fat, Supercharged, The Boutique and Sugarbeat as well as gigs around the world at major events, festivals and music industry parties such as The Hit Factory , WMC and Field...
.
He recently started his own 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,...
- Against the Grain.
Krafty Kuts has won "best DJ" three years in a row as well as being honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Breakbeat award at the Breakspoll Awards.
History
Inspired by the hip-hop and electro sounds that surrounded him, Martin first stepped behind a pair of decks when he entered a DJ competition as a complete novice, surprisingly making it all the way to the finals. This early success prompted him to perfect his art and set about teaching himself turntable techniques such as cutting and scratching that was to become the core of his DJ sets.Immersing himself in the music he loved, Martin went on to run a record store in Brighton throughout the 90's, where he built an encyclopaedic knowledge of dance music in all its forms. In 1996 he took the next logical step, transferring his dance-floor knowledge to the studio, creating his own tracks for use in his DJ sets.
His first big break came when a dubplate of Krafty Kuts’ ‘Gimme The Funk’ found its way to Norman Cook who immediately snapped it up for his Southern Fried label. Suitably impressed Ministry of Sound offshoot FSUK Records
FSUK Records
FSUK Records is a subsidiary of Ministry of Sound.Standing for "The Future Sound Of The United Kingdom", FSUK was the Big Beat off-shoot of Ministry Of Sound set up to cover the Big Beat sound and spawned a series of compilations mixed by various DJs...
signed Krafty to release a string of singles; ‘Funky Elements’, ‘Wild In the Aisles’ (a tribute to Martin’s appearance on TV show Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep is an American television game show. Part of the format was similar to other team-based quiz shows; the other part was a live-action race through a supermarket, a novel concept at the time...
!) and ‘Return of the Elements’.
With his own tracks elevating his profile across the globe Martin mixed his first compilation ‘Slam On The Breaks’. At about the same time, Krafty teamed with fellow-Brighton DJ Skool of Thought to establish the SuperCharged club night which is still running. By 1999, with his all-encompassing club style, Martin entered the studio with Freddy Fresh, long standing studio partner Ed Solo and New York’s Dr Luke to produce a series of beats and skits that eventually made it onto Finger Lickin’ Record's 'Finger Lickin Funk' release.
In the following two years Martin's skills were employed to create music for a Coca Cola advert, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Guy Richie’s ‘Mean Machine’ as well as mixing a cover mount CD for Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
. With DJing and music now taking up all of his time, Martin left the record shop, free now to concentrate fully on his creative side. Martin launched both the Against The Grain and SuperCharged labels with club partner Skool of Thought, on which he released the ‘Lost Plates EP’, ‘Lock The Hype’ and ‘Sound Check’.
Following up on a contact made during his record shop days, he began a studio collaboration with up and coming DJ A-Skillz, that resulted in the hip-hop and party breaks album Trickatechnology. The album saw the pair collaborating with Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
, Dr Luke and Freakpower’s Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
on a series of compositions.
With the demand for his records and club sets showing no sign of slowing down, Martin took a backseat with the labels and club promotion to focus solely on touring and recording. Working solidly throughout 2006 Krafty completed his debut solo album, Freak Show. Once again the tracks featured a strong cast of collaborators from the Scratch Perverts
Scratch Perverts
The Scratch Perverts are a collective of turntablist DJs from London, formed in 1996 by Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and DJ Renegade.-Biography:The Scratch Perverts originally consisted of 4 members; Tony Vegas, Renegade, First Rate and Mr Thing. The Scratch Perverts later expanded to an 8-member...
, Tim Deluxe and Dynamite MC, to long term associates A-Skillz, Ashley Slater and Dr Luke. Mirroring Krafty Kuts’ universal approach to music and club-culture, the album moved through a myriad of tempos and genres. Freakshow was crowned Album of the Month and its lead single 'Bass Phenomenon' awarded single of the year in 2006 by DJ magazine. The album was following soon after by a Fabriclive compilation mixed by Krafty Kuts.
Martin has since released an installment of the Back To Mine
Back to Mine
Back to Mine is a series of mix albums, usually mixed by renowned DJs or composers of electronic music. The compilations usually feature artists other than the artist compiling the album, and are based on what the artist would play at home after a night out, rather than as part of a nightclub...
compilation series. In October 2009 he released the double mix CD "Against The Grain" which features 19 of his previously unreleased re-edits. The release won Best Compilation at the 2010 Breakspoll Awards, with Martin also walking away with another Best DJ award at the ceremony.
In December 2009, Martin released his very own iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application, purpose built for DJs to fire pre-loaded audio samples during their live sets, and is currently working on his second solo album.
Singles
- Krafty Kuts - The Funky Elements EP (FSUK)
- Krafty Kuts - Return of the Elements EP (FSUK)
- Krafty Kuts - Wild in the Aisles EP (FSUK)
- Krafty Kuts - Gimme the Funk (Southern Fried)
- Krafty Kuts - Ya Don't Stop (Lacerba - Promo only)
- Krafty Kuts - Chunks of Funk/Back to the top (Lacerba Promo Only)
- Krafty Kuts - Salsa Boogaloo (Lacerba Promo Only)
- Krafty Kuts - Step It Up feat. TC Islam (Lacerba Promo Only)
- Krafty Kuts - Ghetto Funk (Always Read The Label)
- Not Just Gigolos - Stop the Nonsense (Howlin 7")
- Not Just Gigolos - Take me to the disco (Howlin 7")
- Not Just Gigolos - Can't You See (Howlin 7 ")
- Not just Gigolos - Passion Eternal (Against the Grain Promo Only)
- Atari Playboys - Be There in Ten Minutes/The Funk Is (ATG Promo Only)
- Krafty Kuts - Dangerous/Funky Ass Beats (Finger Lickin')
- Krafty Kuts - Ill Type Sound/Snatch It/Keep It On/Come Alive (FLR)
- Krafty Kuts - Street Freaks/Get Funky (Against the Grain)
- Krafty Kuts - Lock the Hype/Smash your Breaks (Against the Grain)
- Krafty Kuts - Don't Stop/ Funky Ass Beats (Ed Solo Breaks Mix) (ATG)
- Krafty Kuts & A SkillzA SkillzA.Skillz is an English breakbeat, big beat, and dance musician.He has worked across the UK at FabricLive, Spectrum, Chew The Fat, Supercharged, The Boutique and Sugarbeat as well as gigs around the world at major events, festivals and music industry parties such as The Hit Factory , WMC and Field...
- Peaches (Finger Lickin' Funk) - Krafty Kuts & A.Skillz-Gimme The Breaks/Tricka Technology (FLR)
- Krafty Kuts & A.Skillz -Tricka Technology & Ain't It Funky Remixes/Fort Knox 5 & Ed Funk (FLR)
- Krafty Kuts - Lost Plates EP (ATG)
- Krafty Kuts & C5 Joyriders - Take It (ATG)
- Krafty Kuts & Skool Of Thought - Soundcheck (Supercharged)
- Krafty Kuts & Ed Solo - Bunkabusta (Against The Grain)
- Krafty Kuts - Rip U Apart / The ILL Funk (Deep Cut Recordings)
- Krafty Kuts - Uptight / Where's The Noise (Deep Cut Recordings)
- Krafty Kuts & Tim Deluxe - Bass Phenomenon (ATG)Orig & Jesse Rose Remix
- Krafty Kuts & Tim Deluxe - Bass Phenomenon (ATG)Friction Remix/The Funk Is
- Krafty Kuts Feat Yolanda - Tell Me How U Feel (ATG) Orig & Basketball Jam
- Krafty Kuts Feat Yolanda - Tell Me How U Feel (ATG) Kid Kenobi & Rogue Element & Young Punx Remix
- Krafty Kuts Feat Dynamite MC - There They Go (ATG) & Accapella
- Krafty Kuts Feat Dynamite MC - There They Go (ATG) Bodysnatchers Remix
- Krafty Kuts & DJ Icey - Through The Door - (Supercharged)
- Krafty Kuts - Freakshow 2007 Remix / Bring Back The Funk/ DJ Tools (ATG)
- Krafty Kuts vs The Freestylers - Dynamite Love - Liberator Music Oz Only
- Krafty Kuts vs The Freestylers - Dynamite Love/Beerchucker (ATG) 8 July
Albums
- A-Skillz + Krafty Kuts - Tricka Technology (Finger Lickin) (2003)
- Krafty Kuts - Freakshow (Against The Grain) (2006)
- Krafty Kuts - Freakshow (Liberator Music) Big Day Out Ltd Edition Release, Australia Only
Remixes
- Laid Back - Wait for the Break (Bolshi)
- Sounds of Vancouver - Take It (Manifesto/Against The Grain)
- Stakker Humanoid - Humanoid (Jumpin' and Pumpin')
- Flying Steps - In the Arena (Jive/Pepper)
- Jurassic 5 - Quality Control (DMC)
- Elwood - Sun Down (Palm Pictures)
- Utah Saints - Power to the Beats (Echo/Chrysalis)
- Utah Saints - Funky Music (Echo/Chrysalis)
- Detroit Grand Pubahs - Sandwiches (Jive/Pepper)
- Arthur Baker - Breakers Revenge (DMC)
- Big Yoga Muffin - Tragedies of Life- Promo Only (Echo/Chrysalis)
- 2 in Da Bush - In Effect (Finger Lickin')
- Flint - Everybody's Funkin' (Finger Lickin')
- Dead Prez - Bigger than Hip Hop (DMC)
- Furry Phreaks - Soothe (FSUK)
- Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Sidewalk)
- JVC Force - Strong Island (Sidewalk)
- Resident Filters - Get on It (Lacerba)
- Captain Funk - Twist and Shout (Reel Musiq)
- Tin Man - 18 Strings (DMC)
- Angel Lee - What's Your Name (WEA)
- Praga Khan - Injected With Poison (Nukleuz)
- Friendly - The Bump & Grind (Fat! Recordings)
- Freestylers - Punks (Against The Grain)
- Santos - No Ticket No Ride (Mob)
- Junior Senior - Move Your Feet (Crunchy Frog)
- The Showtime EP - Krafty Kuts & The Mexican Remix(Dynamo Productions)
- Afrika Bambaataa - Funky Heroes (Acetate)
- Influenza - Prozac Nation (Pure Phunk)
- Afrika Bambaata - Radio Free (A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts Mix) -(Fort Knox 5 Rec)
- Loose Cannons - Got It All Wrong (Fat Fox)
- IVD - Inspiration (Deep Cut Recordings)
- Fatboy Slim - Champion Sound (Skint )
- Young Punx - Rock All (MofoHifi)
- Scratch Perverts - Stand By (Supercharged)
- Fatboy Slim - Ya Mama (2005 Skint) Fatboy Slim's Greatest Remixes
- Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought - When I Was A Yout (ATG)
- Krafty Kuts - Freakshow (ATG)
Unreleased Edits, Re-Rubs & Remixes
- Tim Healy & Marc Adamo -Ghetto Blaster (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- Nadastrom - Pussy (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- A-Trak - Say Whoa - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Laidback Luke&Steve Angello vs Robin S-Show Me love(KK Remix)
- Deadmau5 & MC Flipside- Hi Friend (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- Micky Slim - Downward Wonk (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- Micky Slim - Hit The Club (Stupid Fresh Remix Krafty Kuts Rub)
- Micky Slim & Marc Brown-U Know What's Up(Krafty Kuts Remix)
- South Rakkas Crew - Mad Again- Krafty Kuts vs Fake Blood Remix
- Fake Blood - Blood Splashing (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- Fake Blood - Mars - Krafty Kuts vs Beatvandals Mix
- Autodidakt - S**T Your Rack- Krafty Kuts vs Proxy Mix
- Proxy - Dancing In The Dark - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Slyde - Frequency - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Plump DJ's Vs Krafty Kuts & Dynamite MC - Intermission
- Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor - Krafty Kuts Re - Rub
- Parker - Western Soul (Miles Dyson Mix) - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Miles Dyson - Anthem - Krafty Kuts & Adsorb Remix
- Rye Rye - Wassup Wassup - Crookers vs Krafty Kuts Mix
- Crookers vs Ursula 1000 - Want You To Push It - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Crookers vs Kriss Cross - Jump - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Crookers - Knobbers - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Machines Don't Care - Afro Jackers - Krafty Kuts Mix
- Herve - Cheap Thrills - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Herve - Get Up - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Larry T Feat Princess Superstar - Licky Better - Herve vs Krafty Kuts Remix
- Top Billin - Bitches Up In Here - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Larry T Feat Princess Superstar - Licky Better - Herve vs Krafty Kuts Remix
- Mstrkrft - Vu Vu Vu - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Jude Sebastien - Rubberman - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Prodigy vs Twocker - Smack My Bitch Up - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Coburn vs Twocker - We Interrupt This - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- CJ Bolland vs Twocker - Sugar Daddy - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Gunman vs Twocker - 187 Lockdown - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Sebastien Leger - Falling Down - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- The Subs - F**k That S**t - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Alex Metric - Stressed Thriller - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Alex Metric - We R Prostitutes - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Alex Metric - Monster Hospital - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Stupid Fresh - Get The F**k Up - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Shadowdancer - Soul Acides Club - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Shadowdancer - Are We Now - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Boys Noize - Shine Shine - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Drumattics vs Lisa - People Hold On - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Hook & Sling - Hooked Up - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- The Kills-Cheap & Cheerful-Sebastian Mix (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub)
- Sebastian - Baba O'Reily (Krafty Kuts Remix)
- Sebastian - Momy - Krafty Kuts Re -Rub
- DJ Medhi - Signatune - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Justice - Stress Auto Remix (Krafty Kuts Edit)
- Justice - DVNO - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Justice - Phantoms Pt 2 - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- ZZT - Lower State Of Consciousness - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Swen Webber - Samba Da Bochum - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Armand Van Helden Vs M Class - Koochy - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Basskleph vs Dre - You Can Do It - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Partyshank - Penis vs Vagina - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Dirty Funker - Enter Sandman - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- The Doors vs Dirty South - This Is The End - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub
- Josh Wink - Higher State - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Chromeo - Needy Girl - Krafty Kuts Remix
- The Clash - Should I Boot - Krafty Kuts Remix
- Krafty Kuts - A Krafty Symphony
Mix Albums
- Smirnoff Promo Mix With A.Skillz
- Slam the Breaks On (Lacerba)
- Slam the Breaks On II (Lacerba)
- Ministry Interactive PlayStation 2 (Ministry of Sound)
- These Are The Breaks (DMC) (2003)
- Boxfresh Exclusive Mix with A Skillz
- Circus vs Chibuku (Mixed by Yousef & Krafty Kuts) (Carioca)
- Fuzzy Breaks (Mixed by Krafty Kuts & Q45) (Central Station Records)
- FabricLive.34 (2007)
- Fabric Radio Promo Mix Only
- Back To Mine (DMC) (2008)
- Against The Grain (Against The Grain Records)(2009)