Dust Brothers | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1985 | –present
Members | |
Past members |
The Dust Brothers are a pair of songwriters and producers consisting of E.Z. Mike (Michael Simpson [2] ) and King Gizmo [3] (John King). They are famous for the sample-based music they produced in the 1980s and 1990s, [4] and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys, Odelay , Midnite Vultures and Guero by Beck, the soundtrack to the film Fight Club , and "MMMBop" by Hanson. [5] They are based in Los Angeles, California.
Michael "E.Z." Simpson and John "Gizmo" King started working together as the Dust Brothers in 1985 at Pomona College radio station, KSPC, hosting a weekly hip-hop show called The Big Beat Showcase.
They developed writing and producing skills creating music for their show and DJing and rapping at parties. In 1987, they began writing and producing for the Delicious Vinyl label. [5] There they wrote and produced tracks on Tone Lōc's album, Lōc-ed After Dark , Young MC's debut album Stone Cold Rhymin' , and other Delicious Vinyl releases. [5] They also worked with the Boo Yaa Tribe on the album New Funky Nation , producing several songs on that album.
Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys stopped by mutual friend Matt Dike's apartment, where King and Dike slyly played music intended to be a Dust Brothers album. Horovitz liked what he heard and asked if he could buy the music. [6] The Dust Brothers along with Dike ended up co-writing, producing and mixing the Beastie Boys' second album, Paul's Boutique , considered one of the best albums of all time by Time in 2006. [7] [8] [1]
Beck had the Dust Brothers produce his album Odelay , released in 1996. [5] The album spawned the hits "Where It's At" (#64 on the Hot 100), "Devils Haircut" (#94 on the Hot 100), "The New Pollution" (#74) and "Jack-Ass" (#73). In 1995 the Dust Brothers co-produced Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's second solo album Carved in Stone .
In 1997, they produced a track with Korn called "Kick the P.A." for the Spawn soundtrack; produced the number one hit "MMMBop" for Hanson's first major label album Middle of Nowhere ; and created a song on the #1 soundtrack to the Howard Stern film Private Parts named "Tortured Man", featuring vocals by Stern. The Dust Brothers also co-produced three songs on the Rolling Stones album, Bridges to Babylon . [5]
The next year, the duo were approached by director David Fincher to assemble the score for the film Fight Club , [5] most notably "This Is Your Life", a song featuring lines from the film, including a monologue by the character Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). The same year also saw the Dust Brothers collaborate with Jeymes Samuel aka the Bullitts on the soundtrack for the film Muppets from Space , recording a cover version of the Earth, Wind & Fire song "Shining Star".
In 1999, the two collaborated with Carlos Santana and Eagle-Eye Cherry on Santana's multi-platinum album Supernatural . They received their first Grammy for 'Album of the Year'; after having received numerous nominations for their past work with Beck and as artists for their instrumental song on the X-Files soundtrack. They also recorded, produced and mixed an album by 'hip pop' group 10 Cents named Buggin Out. [9]
In the 2000s, the Dust Brothers had continued success, again collaborating with Beck on the album Guero ; [10] Tenacious D on their self-titled debut; Linkin Park with a track called "With You" on their first studio album Hybrid Theory ; remixing the Styles of Beyond track "Winnetka Exit" on their promotional CD Spies Like Us; and producing the They Might Be Giants album The Else . [11]
The Dust Brothers name and trademark was used by the British duo that eventually became the Chemical Brothers as they began their career. Used as a homage to the American group, they changed their name when they were unable to convince the Dust Brothers to sell the name. [5] Eventually the groups reached an understanding, and the Chemical Brothers' 1997 EP Elektrobank featured a Dust Brothers remix of the title track.
Album | Song | Year | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
Lōc-ed After Dark | Cutting Rhythms; Next Episode; Don't Get Close | 1989 | Tone Loc |
Paul's Boutique | Entire Album | Beastie Boys | |
Escape from Havana | Hip Hop Creature | Mellow Man Ace | |
Stone Cold Rhymin' | Know How; Got More Rhymes | Young MC | |
Just a Poet with a Soul | Give It Here; Do It Baby; God Made Me Funky; Just a Poet | Def Jef | |
New Funky Nation | Rater R; Don't Mess; Once Upon a Drive By; Riot Pump | 1990 | Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. |
Diss You 12" | Diss You (Dust Mix) | King T | |
Trip on This (Remixes) | This Beat Is Technotronic (Dust Mix) | Technotronic | |
It's a Sin 12" | It's a Sin (Hot Peas 'n' Butter Mix/11th Avenue Mix) | Maggie's Dream | |
Mercurotones | Libertine | The Buck Pets | |
The Air You Breathe 12" | The Air You Breathe (Disco Mix) | 1991 | Bomb the Bass |
Angel 12" | Angel (Dust Mix) | Nikolaj Steen | |
Persona Non Grata | Demagogue (Dust Mix) | 1994 | Urban Dance Squad |
Back to Skull | Snail Dust | They Might Be Giants | |
Born to Raise Hell 12" | Born to Raise Hell (Dust Brothers Live & Funky Mix) | Motörhead, Ice-T & Whitfield Crane | |
Whipping Boy 12" | Whipping Boy (Remix) | Ben Harper | |
Richest Junkie Still Alive 12" | Richest Junkie Still Alive (Fired & True Mix) | 1995 | Machines of Loving Grace |
Shoots and Ladders 12" | Shoots and Ladders (Hip Hop Mix) | Korn | |
Bullet (Dust Brothers Remixes) | Bullet (Afro Funk/Classical Instr./Jazz Mix) | Fluke | |
Z-Man's Party 12" | Z-Man's Party (Lounge Mix/Hip Hop Mix) | Nature | |
Lifted 12" | Lifted (Industrial Mix) | XC-NN | |
Cry 12" | Cry (D.B. Remix) | 1996 | Money Mark |
Oh How I Cry 12" | Oh How I Cry (Funk Fuzz Mix) | Brigid Boden | |
Odelay | Entire Album | Beck | |
I'm Your Boogieman 12" | I'm Your Boogieman (Sex on the Rocks Mix) | White Zombie | |
The Dream Machine 12" | The Dream Machine (Norris Stretch Mix) | Sukia | |
Gary Super Macho 12" | Barry Super Macho (D.B. Mix) | 1997 | |
Random EP | Clock | Beck | |
Bridges to Babylon | Anybody Seen My Baby?; Might As Well Get Juiced; Saint of Me | The Rolling Stones | |
MMMBop | Middle of Nowhere | Hanson | |
Elektrobank 12" | Elektrobank (Remix) | The Chemical Brothers | |
Insinuation 12" | Insinuation (Remix) | The Folk Implosion | |
Private Parts (soundtrack) | Tortured Man | Howard Stern | |
Afraid 12" | Lust for Life | Mötley Crüe | |
Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) | Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) [Space Echo Mix] | 1998 | The Offspring |
Peach Head | As You Know (Dust Bros. Remix) | Natural Calamity | |
Half Baked (soundtrack) | Virgin Girl | Smash Mouth & Chopper | |
Mary Jane | Coolio | ||
Dead Man on Campus (soundtrack) | Cowboy Song | Blur | |
We Still Need More (Than Anyone Has) | Supergrass | ||
Orgazmo (soundtrack) | A Sign from God | Cogasm | |
Check It Out | KRS-One | ||
Supernatural | Wishing It Was | 1999 | Santana |
Midnite Vultures | Hollywood Freaks; Debra | Beck | |
Feelin' Alright 12" | Feelin' Alright (Remix) | Len | |
Garçon Glaçon 12" | Nothing New (Remix) | April March | |
Hybrid Theory | With You {additional beating} | 2000 | Linkin Park |
Beastie Boys were an American hip hop/rap rock group from New York City, formed in 1981. The group was composed of Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Michael "Mike D" Diamond. Beastie Boys were formed out of members of experimental hardcore punk band The Young Aborigines, which was formed in 1979, with Diamond on drums, Jeremy Shatan on bass guitar, John Berry on guitar, and Kate Schellenbach later joining on percussion. When Shatan left New York City in mid-1981, Yauch replaced him on bass and the resulting band was named Beastie Boys. Berry left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Horovitz.
Beck David Hansen, known mononymously as Beck, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide-ranging genres. He has musically encompassed folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronica, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 14 studio albums, as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.
Odelay is the fifth studio album by American musician Beck, released on June 18, 1996, by DGC Records. The album featured several successful singles, including "Where It's At", "Devils Haircut", and "The New Pollution", and peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard 200. As of July 2008, the album had sold 2.3 million copies in the United States, making Odelay Beck's most successful album to date. Since its release, the album has appeared in numerous publications' lists of the greatest of the 1990s and of all time.
Paul's Boutique is the second studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989, by Capitol Records. Produced by the Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers, the album's composition makes extensive use of samples, drawn from a wide range of genres including funk, soul, rock, and jazz. It was recorded over two years at Matt Dike's apartment and the Record Plant in Los Angeles.
Just a Poet with Soul is the debut studio album by American rapper and record producer Def Jef. It was released on November 14, 1989, through Delicious Vinyl. The album was produced by the Dust Brothers, Def Jef, and Michael Ross, who also served as executive producer. It features contributions from N'Dea Davenport and Etta James on vocals, Kevin O'Neal on bass, Michael Kory on piano, and Julio G on turntables. The album produced three singles: "Droppin Rhymes on Drums", "Black to the Future" and "Poet with Soul".
Check Your Head is the third studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on April 21, 1992, by Grand Royal and Capitol Records. Three years elapsed between the releases of the band's previous studio album Paul's Boutique (1989) and Check Your Head, which was recorded at the G-Son Studios in Atwater Village in 1991 under the guidance of producer Mario Caldato Jr., the group's third producer in as many albums. Less sample-heavy than their previous records, the album features instrumental contributions from all three members: Adam Horovitz on guitar, Adam Yauch on bass guitar, and Mike Diamond on drums.
Adam Keefe Horovitz, popularly known as Ad-Rock, is an American rapper, guitarist, and actor. He was a member of the hip-hop group Beastie Boys. While Beastie Boys were active, Horovitz performed with a side project, BS 2000. After the group disbanded in 2012 following the death of member Adam Yauch, Horovitz has participated in a number of Beastie Boys-related projects, worked as a remixer, producer, and guest musician for other artists, and has acted in a number of films.
Mark Ramos Nishita, known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011.
Guero is the ninth studio album by American musician Beck, released on March 29, 2005, by Interscope Records. It was produced with John King and Mike Simpson of the Dust Brothers, who had worked with Beck on his 1996 album Odelay, as well as Tony Hoffer.
"Where It's At" is a song by American alternative rock musician Beck, released in May 1996 by DGC and Bong Load as the first single from his fifth album, Odelay (1996). Beck wrote the song in 1995 with its co-producers John King and Michael Simpson, and premiered it at Lollapalooza the same year, in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay. He has performed the song often since 1995, frequently experimenting with the music and lyrics. Its music video was directed by Steve Hanft.
Guerolito is the second remix album by Beck, released in the US on December 13, 2005 and in the UK on January 23, 2006. It features all of the songs from regular edition of Guero in remixed forms by a variety of artists, with the addition of "Clap Hands", originally found on the special limited edition of Guero.
Mario Caldato Jr., also known as Mario C., is a Brazilian-born record producer and studio engineer best known for his work with Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson in the US, Marcelo D2 and Seu Jorge in Brazil.
"Shadrach" is a song by American hip hop group Beastie Boys from their second studio album Paul's Boutique (1989). It was released as the album's second single on October 30, 1989, as a 7-inch vinyl backed with the non-album track "And What You Give Is What You Get". Both songs appear on the EP An Exciting Evening at Home with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (1989).
"Devils Haircut" is a song by the American musician Beck, released in December 1996 by DGC Records as the second single from his fifth album, Odelay (1996). Both co-written and co-produced by Beck, the song peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 23 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. Its music video was directed by Mark Romanek and filmed in New York City. Melody Maker ranked "Devils Haircut" number six in their list of "Singles of the Year" in 1996, while Q Magazine included it in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.
"The New Pollution" is a song by American musician Beck, released in February 1997 by DGC Records as the third single from his fifth album, Odelay (1996). It was written by Beck with John King and Michael Simpson, and produced by Beck with Dust Brothers. The song samples "Venus" by Joe Thomas. In the US, "The New Pollution" peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. In Europe, it was a top-10 hit in Iceland, peaking at number nine. The music video for the song was directed by Beck himself.
John King, also known as "King Gizmo", is an American music producer and one-half of the Los Angeles–based duo the Dust Brothers. As the Dust Brothers, King and Michael "E.Z. Mike" Simpson are noted for their dense sample-based music, notably on the Beastie Boys' 1989 album Paul's Boutique, and later in 1996 with Beck's Odelay.
Michael Simpson, also known as "E.Z. Mike", is an American record producer. Along with John King, he makes up one-half of the Los Angeles-based producing duo the Dust Brothers, who co-wrote and produced many critically acclaimed records including the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique and Beck's Odelay. He won a Grammy Award for his song writing & production on Santana's Supernatural album in 1999. He has also done producing on his own - most notable is his work with the Eels.
Stone Cold Rhymin' is the debut album by the American rapper Young MC. It was released in 1989 on Delicious Vinyl and was later re-issued by Rhino Records. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. The third track, "Bust a Move", was Young MC's biggest hit and is his best-known song, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Australia. His follow-up single, "Principal's Office", reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also nominated for "Best Rap Video" at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.
Matthew William Dike was an American music executive, record producer, and DJ. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Delicious Vinyl in 1987. In the 1980s, Dike was artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's studio assistant and he worked on the Beastie Boys album Paul's Boutique (1989). He co-wrote and produced the song "Bust A Move" (1989) by Young MC, and co-produced "Smart Girls" (1991) by Brian Wilson.