Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

The Unknown DJ

 
Artist: The Unknown DJ

Similar Artists:

The Egyptian Lover, Knights of the Turntables, L.A. Dream Team, The World Class Wreckin' Cru, C.I.A., Chris "The Glove" Taylor, Madrok, Ice-T, Newcleus

Influenced By:

Followers:

Formal Connection With:

  • Active: '80s, '90s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Producer
  • Representative Albums: "The Best of the Unknown DJ
  • Representative Songs: "808 Beats", "Basstronic

Biography

The Unknown DJ pioneered the mid-'80s style of electro popularized by the Egyptian Lover ("Egypt, Egypt") and the World Class Wreckin' Cru ("Surgery"), then went on to produce the trailblazing gangsta rap group Compton's Most Wanted at the end of the decade. Born Andre Manuel, the Unknown DJ recorded only a few 12" singles during the mid-'80s for two small-run West Coast labels, Techno Hop and Techno Kut: "Beatronic" (1984), "808 Beats" (1985), "Let's Jam" (1985), "Basstronic" (1988), "Breakdown" (1988), "X-Men" (1988), and "Revenge of the X-Men" (1988), the latter two also produced by DJ Slip (Terry Allen). These few 12" singles didn't attain much commercial success, yet they proved highly influential, particularly among the techno bass scene that would later emerge in the 1990s (see the Electro Boogie series). Beginning in 1989, the Unknown DJ and Slip put aside the electro they had been producing and joined Compton's Most Wanted, a gangsta rap group that resembled N.W.A. As part of Compton's Most Wanted, the Unknown DJ enjoyed considerable success for a few years as he and Slip produced a trio of popular albums: It's a Compton Thang (1990), Straight Checkn'em (1991), and Music to Driveby (1992). Following these albums, CMW's lead rapper, MC Eiht, embarked on a long solo career and the group dissolved, and with it the Unknown DJ's decade-long stint as a producer. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: The Unknown DJ
Top
The Unknown DJ
Birth name Andre Manuel
Born Detroit, Michigan
Origin Compton, California, U.S.
Genre(s) Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop, Electro
Years active 1986-present
Label(s) Orpheus
Associated acts Compton's Most Wanted
MC Eiht

The Unknown DJ, born Andre Manuel, is one of the pioneers of West Coast hip-hop. He first started produced electro-hop tracks that came out under his own name, the most popular probably being "Beatronic", "808 Beats" and "Let's Jam". He also produced several tracks for Ice-T, among them his first gangsta rap recording, "6 In the Morning" (1986). The Unknown DJ continued as a producer for MC Eiht's crew Compton's Most Wanted. He also produced music for artists such as A.L.T., Brownside, N.W.A., Bobby Jimmy, and King Tee.

External links


 
 
Learn More
Electro Beats (1998 Album by Various Artists)
X-Men (1988 Album by The Unknown DJ & DJ Slip)
Pakito (Electronica Artist, 2000s)

Are there unknown unknowns? Read answer...
How much is a DJ? Read answer...
What rhymes with DJ? Read answer...

Help us answer these
Who is a DJ?
How do you get the unknown?
How do you get unknown?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Unknown DJ" Read more

 

Mentioned in