DJ Head | |
---|---|
Birth name | Kevin Bell |
Born | September 12, 1971 |
Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Producer |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Shady (former) |
Kevin Bell (born September 12, 1971), professionally known as DJ Head, is a three-time Grammy Award winning hip-hop producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan. He's best known for producing and co-producing songs for Eminem, Xzibit, Jay-Z, D12, Valid, Obie Trice, Bizarre, and as Eminem's original touring deejay from 1997 to 2002.
Kevin Bell was raised in Detroit, attended Gesu Elementary School and is a graduate of Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, Michigan (class of 1989), and is a Michigan State University alumni (Bachelor of Science, Engineering 1994). He also attended the Detroit Community Music School, studying Classical and Jazz Piano (1978–1989).
While working for a radio station, he and Proof released 3 versions of his W.E.G.O. mixtape series from 1993 to 1996.
His television appearances include: Saturday Night Live (w/ Eminem), MTV Spring Break (w/ Eminem, Xzibit, Dr. Dre), Top of the Pops (w/ Eminem, Dido), Grammy Awards (w/ Eminem), EMA's (w/ Eminem), and Multiple national and International tours. He appeared in the 8 Mile film, as the DJ for the rap battle scenes, inspired by the real life Saturday afternoon emcee battles at Maurice Malone's Hip Hop Shop in Detroit. In a recent round table discussion on Shade 45, DJ Head was credited by Eminem for introducing him to the music of 50 Cent, via a mix tape the DJ purchased by chance on the street in New York City. This led to 50 Cent later being signed to a multimillion-dollar recording contract with Shady, Aftermath, and Interscope Records.
Albums
Extended plays
Tracks
The Marshall Mathers LP is the third studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on May 23, 2000, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was produced mostly by Dr. Dre and Eminem, along with The 45 King, the Bass Brothers, and Mel-Man. Recorded over a two-month period in several studios around Detroit, the album features more introspective lyricism, including Eminem's thoughts on his rise from rags to riches, the criticism of his music, and his estrangement from his family and wife. A transgressive work, it incorporates horrorcore and hardcore hip hop, while also featuring satirical songs. Featured appearances include Dido, RBX, Sticky Fingaz, Bizarre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Nate Dogg, and D12.
The Slim Shady LP is the second studio album and major label debut by American rapper Eminem. It was released on February 23, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Recorded in Ferndale, Michigan following Eminem's recruitment by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, the album features production from Dr. Dre, the Bass Brothers, and Eminem himself.
Slim Shady EP is the only extended play by American rapper Eminem, released on December 10, 1997, through the Detroit-based record label Web Entertainment. Unlike his debut album Infinite, Slim Shady EP helped Eminem gain the interest of CEO Jimmy Iovine and West Coast hip-hop rapper and producer Dr. Dre, who subsequently signed Eminem to his Aftermath Entertainment record label, and served as executive producer on his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP (1999).
Obie Trice III is an American rapper. He was signed to fellow Detroit rapper Eminem's Shady Records in 2002, where he released the albums Cheers (2003) and Second Round's on Me (2006). Trice formed his own record label, Black Market Entertainment, upon leaving Shady. He does not use a rap name like most rappers, instead using his birth name on stage.
D12 are an American hip hop collective and former supergroup from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1996, the group achieved mainstream success with its lineup of de facto leader Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Mr. Porter, Kuniva and Swifty McVay.
Rufus Arthur Johnson, better known by his stage name Bizarre, is an American rapper, best known for his work with the Detroit-based hip hop group D12.
DeShaun Dupree Holton, known professionally as Proof, was an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he was a member of the groups 5 Elementz, Funky Cowboys, Promatic, Goon Sqwad, and D12. He was a close childhood friend of rapper Eminem, who also lived in Detroit. Proof was often a hype man at Eminem's concerts.
Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg, after the highly successful release of Eminem's The Slim Shady LP in 1999.
Aston George Taylor Jr., professionally known as Funkmaster Flex, is an American DJ, rapper, record producer, and host on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. In 1992, he became host of the first hip hop radio show on Hot 97 in New York, which was a pop radio station at the time.
Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Montgomery is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, and is one half of the hip hop duo PRhyme with producer DJ Premier. He was also one quarter of the Shady Records hip hop group Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked. Alongside his recording career, Montgomery served as a ghostwriter for Puff Daddy and Dr. Dre. Online magazine About.com ranked the rapper as one of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)".
Devil's Night is the debut studio album by American hip-hop supergroup D12. It was released on June 19, 2001, by Shady Records and Interscope Records. It was also the first album to be released on Shady Records, although the label had been active since 1999. Production was primarily handled by Eminem and Dr. Dre, with contributions by Mr. Porter, DJ Head, and Jeff Bass. The album features guest appearances by Obie Trice, Truth Hurts, and Dina Rae.
Denaun Montez Porter, also known by the stage names Mr. Porter, Kon Artis, and more recently simply Denaun, is an American rapper and record producer. He was a member of Detroit hip hop group D12 until its disbandment in 2018.
Goliath Artists is an American management company and record label founded by Shady Records president and co-founder Paul Rosenberg, based in New York City, New York and Detroit, Michigan.
Luis Edgardo Resto is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and keyboardist who has worked closely with rapper Eminem since his third major-label album The Eminem Show. He is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised in Garden City, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclaimed as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Eminem's global success and acclaimed works are widely regarded as having broken racial barriers for the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him widely controversial, he came to be a representation of popular angst of the American underclass and has been cited as an influence for many artists of various genres.
The Outsidaz were an American hip hop collective from Newark, New Jersey, perhaps best known through their affiliation with fellow New York-area, New Jersey rappers the Fugees and Detroit-area rappers D12.
Philip G. Atwell is an American music video, television commercial and feature film director. Starting out as a music video producer, he took up directing in 1999. Often co-directing with Dr. Dre, he has helped out with many music videos for Eminem and other hip hop artists.
Paul D. Rosenberg is an American music manager and former entertainment attorney.
Welcome to: Our House is the second and final studio album by hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, consisting of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9". The album was released on August 28, 2012 via Shady Records and Interscope Records. This would also be their only major label album before disbanding on April 26, 2018.
Kamran Rashid Khan, known professionally as Lazarus, is a Detroit-based American rapper, songwriter and physician of Pakistani descent. He is known for his singles "GODFLOW", "Break the Walls" and "Man on a Mission" along with his songs "Drug of Choice", "Open Heart Surgery", "Underdog", "MTBK" and "Decapitation Chamber" featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bizarre, Royce da 5'9", Bohemia and Ghostface Killah respectively.