Tommy Flaaten best known by his stage name Tommy Tee, is a Norwegian record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns the 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,...

 Tee Productions

Tee Productions

Tee Productions is considered to be one of Scandinavia's largest Record label production it is hip hop record label owned by Tommy Tee, located in Oslo, Norway...

, which is located in Oslo

Oslo

Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

, Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 and is Norway's leading hip hop

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...

 label. As well, he publishes Norway's only graffiti magazine and hosts a weekly national radio program.

Early Years (1980-1991)

Tommy Tee was first introduced to hip hop culture in the 1980s. He started as a graffiti artist

Graffiti

Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....

 and breakdancer, and later became moved on to music through DJing. He has been a radio and club DJ since mid 80´s - something that sparked his interest in music production.

In 1989, Tee started Norway's first hip hop magazine Fat Cap which has been amongst the world´s big graffiti magazines with international distribution. FatCap just celebrated 20 years of documentation of Aerosol Art FatCap Mag.

Tommy Tee also started doing production work in the late 1980s but got more serious on the music throughout the 90´s. That being said he is credited for creating one of the very first Norwegian Hip-Hop record on wax in 1989. The record "The Crazy Minister" (also Tee´s nickname at the time) appeared on the group Snikk Snakk´s album "More Muffens" in 1989. Tee has also said to have done a lot of tracks and remixes under many aliases from this time. For Ice Cube's

Ice Cube

O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...

 1990 Oslo concert he was the support act. He was the DJ for Norway's first rap group on record. Tee also arranged concerts by Ice Cube, Run DMC, The Fugees

The Fugees

Fugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...

, De La Soul

De La Soul

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...

, A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...

 and 50 Cent

50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...

 in Norway.

Radio program

In 1992, Danish

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

 company Mega Records

Mega Records

Mega Records was a Nashville, Tennessee-based music label that released albums by bands such as Apollo 100 and country and western singer Sammi Smith, as early as the early 1970s...

 appointed Tee as its Norwegian sales manager. Norway's national broadcaster NRK

Norsk Rikskringkasting

The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation , which is usually known as NRK, is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and the largest media organisation in Norway...

 offered him a prime time show on its new P3 network. The show is called "National Rap Show" and is still running. It quickly became popular and has featured guest acts such as Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...

, the Roots

The Roots

The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...

 and Big Pun

Big Pun

Christopher Lee Rios , better known by his stage name Big Pun , was an American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s...

. DJ Herkules is the co-host of the show which is the channels longest lived show to date.

Tee Productions (1995-present)

Tommy Tee started Tee Productions in 1995. He produced his first whole album, jazz artist Helén Eriksen's Standards, in 1996. This album was later released by Blue Note Records

Blue Note Records

Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...

 in Europe and Japan. Eriksen won a Norwegian Grammy as Best New Artist in 1996.

Tee's first album Bonds Beats and Beliefs was released in 1998 becoming Norway's most successful hip hop record. It featured Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...

 on the track "Day by Day" which was released as a single in the US. While the album was not officially released in the US, it did have a following on college radio and in hip hop magazines and also received reviews in Australia, England, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Tee then featured on a compilation album of the artists on his label T.P. Allstars: Norske Byggeklosser debuted in the Norwegian top 5 and was released in the US in late 1999 through Fat Beats Records. It featured US rapper Pete Rock

Pete Rock

Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...

 on the first single "World Renown". The Source

The Source (magazine)

The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...

 said the single was a "contender for Indie Release of the year."

The T.P. Allstars album also featured a collaboration between Swedish artist Petter

Petter Askergren

Petter Alexis Askergren, , who simply uses his given name Petter as a stage name, is a rap artist from Stockholm, Sweden, rapping in Swedish. He debuted in 1998 with the album Mitt sjätte sinne , which became a success and started the Swedish hip hop boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s...

 and TP artist Diaz on the track "Crossing Borders" which was a top ten hit in Scandinavia in 1999. In return, Tee produced two tracks on Petter's album Bananrepubliken which went platinum and won three Swedish Grammy awards in 2001.

In 2004, Tee released a collaborative album with Ken Ring

Ken (artist)

-Career:Ken Kiprono Ring is a Swedish rap artist of Kenyan descent. He was born in Hässelby, a suburb west of Stockholm, Sweden. He got his breakthrough with the song "Mamma", which is about how his mother got sick and died of cancer when he was 13. He released his first studio album "Vägen...

 of Sweden called 2 Legender utan Penger, as well as a single two videos, BB Berättelsen and Måste Seja Hei. He also releases the mixtape series H.E.A.T. (vol1-6) and the album Fred, Frihet & Alt Gratis

Fred, Frihet & Alt Gratis

Fred, Frihet & Alt Gratis is an album released by the Norwegian hip hop group Gatas Parlament.- Track listing :...

 with group Gatas Parlament

Gatas Parlament

Gatas Parlament is a Norwegian group of rap artists. It consists of the brothers Aslak and Elling Borgersrud and DJ Don Martin. All three have strong left-leaning political views, and make their feelings on many things, including American president George W...

 which got international exposure in CNN, XXL, Billboard and more.

As of 2005, Tee Productions has seven artists on its roster including Tee himself, Diaz, Warlocks, Opaque, Son of Light, The Loudmouf Choir and Gatas Parlament.

In January 2007, Tee signed A-Lee to Tee Productions.

Tommy Tee's recent work includes producing the song "Church" on Sean Price's

Sean Price

Sean Price is an American rapper and member of the hip hop supergroups Boot Camp Clik and Random Axe. He came to fame as one-half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruckus, or in short Ruck, along with partner Rock. He also is featured in the video game NBA 2K11 as a playable...

 2007 album Jesus Price Supastar

Jesus Price Supastar

Jesus Price Supastar is the second album by rapper Sean Price, released on January 30, 2007 through Duck Down Records. It was originally planned for release on September 19, 2006, then was pushed back to October 31, and was pushed back for a third time, to a final date in January 2007...

, two songs on the album "Ghetto Warfare" by M.O.P.

M.O.P.

M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on...

, and five songs off the Smif-n-Wessun

Smif-N-Wessun

Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...

 album "The Album" (2007).

In 2008 Tee signed newcomer Jesse Jones to Tee Productions.

Tommy Tee released a street-album entitled "No Studio No Time" with artists like Grafh, Masta Ace, Agallah, Tim Dog, AG, Party Arty, Large Professor, JoJo Pellegrino and many more to warm up for the new official album.

Tommy Tee released his newest album Studio-Time 5. October 2009. The album was highly praised in media and won a Norwegian Grammy (SPellemannsprisen) for best Rap/Hip-Hop album of the year.

Albums (as artist/producer)

• Bonds, Beats & Beliefs (1998)
• T.P. Allstars: Norske Byggeklosser (1999) (with other Tee artists)
• Various: ScandalNavia vol.1 (2000) (with various Scandinavian artists)
• Back To Work (2005)Official Tee Prod. mixtapealbum
• 2 Legender utan Penger with Ken Ring (2004)
• Tommy Tycker Om Mej (2005)
• No Studio No Time (2007)
• Absolute Music Tee (2007)
• 3 The Hard Way (EP Collection) (2009)
• No Pain No Profit (EP) (2009)
• Studio-Time (2009)

Singles (as artist/producer)

• Takin Ova (feat. N-Light-N, Diaz, Warlocks, Opqaue & Father Blanco)(1998)
• Takin Ova US (feat. Shabam Sahdeeq, Mr. Eon, A.L., Joe Sexxx)(1998)
• Crossing Borders (feat. Diaz & Petter)(1999)
• International Connects (feat. Mike Zoot & El Da Sensei)(1999)
• Day by Day (feat. Talib Kweli and Punchline & Wordsworth) (1999)
• Blood Rush (feat. F.T. & P-Dap) (1999)
• World Renown (feat. Pete Rock, Mike Zoot, Large Pro & AG)(2000)
• What's Your Name (feat. Nice N Smooth) (2002)
• BB Berättelsen (2004) with Ken Ring
• Måste Seja Hei (2004) with Ken Ring
• Gimme Dat (feat. Stat Quo, Rah Digga & Young Zee) (2006)
• Feelin' It (feat. JoJo Pellegrino & Noora Noor) (2007)
• Drabant (feat. Jesse Jones, Ken Ring & Saigon) (2008)
• Først & Fremst (feat. Jesse Jones & Lars Vaular
  Lars Vaular
  Lars Nesheim Vaular is a rapper, and songwriter from Åsane, Bergen, Norway. He started rapping in 2003. He has worked with Tungtvann, Side Brok, Jan Eggum, Fjorden Baby!, and John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen....
  
  ) (2009)
• Keep Talking (feat. Madcon, A-Lee, Noora Noor & Loudmouf Choir) (2009)
• About That Girl (feat. CL Smooth, Tshawe (Mad Con) and Son of Light) (2009)
• Meet The Legends (feat. Bun B & Supa Sayed) (2010)
• Plocka Han (Ken Ring & Tommy Tee feat. M.O.P) (2011)

All Tee Productions release are available at iTunes and most other digital music outlets world wide.

Production credits

• The Crazy Minister by Tommy Tee/Snikk Snakk (1990)[albumtrack]
• Standards by Helén Eriksen (1996)[whole album]
• Top Notch by Warlocks (1998) [3 songs]
• Deep Green by N-Light-N (1997)[whole album]'
• Lovevirgin by Helén Eriksen (1998)[whole album]
• Mic Knights by Warlocks (1998) [3 songs]
• Bananrepubliken by Petter (1998) [2 songs]
• Mitt Hem Blir Ditt Heim by Ken Ring (1999) [2 songs]
• 2050 by Diaz (2000) [whole album]
• Trilogy by Souls of Mischief (2000) [2 songs]
• Gourmet Garbage by Opaque (2001)[whole album]
• Afterlife by Warlocks (2001) [2 songs]
• EP by Son of Light (2002) [whole album]
• Velkommen Hjem Andres by Diaz (2002) [whole album]
• Soundscience remix by Souls of Mischief ft. Del (2003) [single]
• The Great Escape by Paperboys (2003) [3 songs]
• It's All a Mad Con by MadCon (2004) [1 song]
• Klikk by SkillsMissseBaren (2004) [1 song]
• Planet Ph3 by Phenomena 3 (2004) [3 songs]
• Fred, Frihet & Alt Gratis by Gatas Parlament (2004) [4 songs]
• Difficult to Understand by The Loudmouf Choir (2004) [2 songs single]
• Neverending Story by Warlocks (2005) [1 song]
• Marxmen by MOP (2005) [1 song]
• Appointment with the Underground by Zombi Squad (2006) [3 songs]
• Jessheimfanden by Diaz (2006) [2 songs]
• Ghetto Warfare by MOP (2006) [1 song]
• Get Dirty Radio by AG (DITC) (2006) [2 songs]
• Disgusting by Bestruck (2006) [3 songs]
• Kohi De Browny by Kohinoor (2006) [5 songs + executive producer]
• Jesus Price Superstar by Sean Price (2007) [1 song]
• Antligen Hemma by Ken Ring (2007) [4 songs (3 singles)]
• The Album by Smif N Wessun (2007) [5 songs]
• Kidsa har Alltid Rett by Gatas Parlament (2008) [5 songs]
• Im The One by Mira Craig (2009) [single]
• When Tomorrow Comes by Mira Craig (2009) [album track]
• Smile by Mira Craig (2009) [album track]
• TBA by Mira Craig (2009) [album track]
• Først & Fremst by Mange Schmidt ft. Thomas Rusiak (2009) [album track]
• En Mann by Ken Ring (2009) [album track]
• Jag Gråter by Ken Ring (2009) [album track]
• Bror by Ken Ring (2009) [album track]
• Kör På by Ken Ring (2009) [album track]
• G-Optified (Tommy Tee Theme) by Saigon (2009) [album track]
• Copping Pleas) by Saigon (2009) [album track]
• Sannhets Serum by Joddski ft. Ida Maria (2010) [album track]
• Den Siste Revejakta by Joddski (2010) [album track]
• Lift It Up by Son of Light (2010) [single]
• Sminke by Karpe Diem ft. Masta Ace (2010) [album track]
• Kem Skøt Siv Jensen by Lars Vaular
  Lars Vaular
  Lars Nesheim Vaular is a rapper, and songwriter from Åsane, Bergen, Norway. He started rapping in 2003. He has worked with Tungtvann, Side Brok, Jan Eggum, Fjorden Baby!, and John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen....
  
   (2010) [album track]
• Utenfor Oslo, Utenfor Overalt by Lars Vaular
  Lars Vaular
  Lars Nesheim Vaular is a rapper, and songwriter from Åsane, Bergen, Norway. He started rapping in 2003. He has worked with Tungtvann, Side Brok, Jan Eggum, Fjorden Baby!, and John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen....
  
   ft. Nephew (2010) [album track]
• Helt om Natten Helt om Dagen by Lars Vaular
  Lars Vaular
  Lars Nesheim Vaular is a rapper, and songwriter from Åsane, Bergen, Norway. He started rapping in 2003. He has worked with Tungtvann, Side Brok, Jan Eggum, Fjorden Baby!, and John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen....
  
  ft. Jesse Jones (2010) [album track]
• Kommer Aldri Inn by Jesse Jones (2010) [single]
• 12 Blokker og 1 vei Inn by Jesse Jones (2011) [full album]
• War of The Words by Son of Light (2011) [Full Album]

Mixtapes

• Florrockin (1993)
• Beasts from the East vol.1. (1994)
• Beasts from the East vol.2. (1994)
• New York State of Mind (1995)
• Stikking' vol. 1 & 2' (m/Diaz) - 1995)
• Ol´ to the New. (1999)
• Basic Education (m/Dj Herkules) (2001)
• Girls, Girls, Girls (2003)
• H.E.A.T. vol.1-6 (2004/2005)
• Golden Era (2006)

External references

• [ Tommy Tee Allmusic article]
• Tommy Tee on Myspace