Kato (producer)

Last updated
Kato
Birth nameChristopher Ju
Also known asKato on the Track
BornDecember 25, 1986 (1986-12-25) (age 36)
Origin Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
GenresHip hop, R&B
Occupation(s)Record Producer
Instrument(s)Propellerhead Reason
Years active2006–Present
LabelsNastyTrax (Current), Funk Volume, SMKA Productions (Former)
Website www.katoonthetrack.com

Kato (born Christopher Ju, December 25, 1986) is an American record producer. Originally hailing from Fairfax, Virginia, in 2006, he moved to Atlanta where he currently resides. Notable artists he has worked with includes Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, Jarren Benton, Roscoe Dash, Rittz, Lil' Scrappy, Kalenna (Diddy Dirty Money), Dumbfounded, and Abhi The Nomad, with whom he has released two split extended plays, Abhi vs Kato in 2020, and Abhi vs Kato II: Gold Standard in 2023. His name 'Kato' comes from the 1960s television show The Green Hornet, where Bruce Lee plays the role of Kato. In September 2013, he signed with American rapper Hopsin's record label Funk Volume as an in-house producer.

Contents

Biography

Chris was born and raised in Fairfax, Va. where he attended elementary and high school. As a child, Chris had aspirations of being a model/actor as well as Tae Kwon Do star. Even at a young age Chris pursued these dreams passionately, landing several local jobs. He was also highly interested in vexing his older sister.

During his early college years, he attended Drexel University in Philadelphia where his love for creating hip-hop music began. While in Philadelphia, he started a rap duo with a high school friend - C.U.R.E. (Can't Underestimate Real Emcees), where he took on the alias 'Inkarnation' and played the dual role of emcee/producer. They soon released a demo that included 4 self-produced tracks. Shortly after, he relocated to Flowery Branch, Ga. where he lived with his family for a year. He continued to produce and record music throughout this time, also taking on a new alias - 'Kato'. [1]

During the next few years, his parents divorced and he moved around between midtown and north Atlanta, where he currently resides. He also attended Georgia State University for two years before dropping out to pursue music full time.

In 2008, Kato was selected to perform at Atlanta's first Kollaboration event, a nationwide talent showcase for Asian-Americans. He was selected again in 2010 for the 3rd annual Atlanta Kollaboration show. [2] He has performed in much of the Southeastern U.S. region, as far up north as Philadelphia. Kato's music has also been featured on mixtapes and popular sites like The Source Magazine, [3]

On September 18, 2013, Kato announced that he had signed to Hopsin's Funk Volume record label as a producer. [4] Kato released his album "Kato's Revenge", in February 2014, which featured guest appearances from Dizzy Wright, Chamillionaire, Chris Webby, Rittz, and Irv Da Phenom. [5] He announced December 2016 that he would be the founder of his NastyTrax Label.

Discography

Studio albums/mixtapes/extended plays

AlbumAlbum details
Kato EP
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Ears and Voices
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
T.I.M.E. Vol. 1
  • Released: August 1, 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
T.I.M.E. Vol. 2
  • Released: June 18, 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
T.I.M.E. Vol. 3
  • Released: June 11, 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
SMKA Presents: A Kato Production
  • Released: July 14, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Funk Volume Presents: Kato's Revenge
  • Released: February 19, 2014
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Formats: Digital download
Pathomania
  • Released: June 5, 2015
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Formats: Digital download
Wake Up Cake Up
  • Released: June 4, 2018
  • Label: NastyTrax Music
  • Formats: Digital download
Abhi Vs Kato (with Abhi The Nomad)
  • Released: November 4, 2020
  • Label: Undercurrent
  • Formats: Digital download
Abhi Vs Kato II: Gold Standard (with Abhi The Nomad)
  • Released: February 24, 2023
  • Label: Undercurrent
  • Formats: Digital download

Production credits

List of song with production credits, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
YearArtistAlbumTracks
2008Above AveMissionDon't Be Hard On Yourself
Every Time
Sip Of Life
2009Tommy Lee SoulGo
Dumbfoundead Rapper-O's
Thirsty FishParty Snatchers
Adrift Da BelleReal Song
2010Mike PetroneCrank It (Feat. Lil' Scrappy)
GradyI Go Hard (Feat. Roscoe Dash)
Vox MergerMore Reasons
The CanzBananas (Feat. Young Lyxx, Niko Villamor, and FKi)
2011 Jarren Benton Huffing Glue with Hasselhoff Justin Bieber (Feat. Elz Jenkins) [6]
Most Interesting (Skit) [7]
30k Feet (Feat. Elz Jenkins) [8]
Losin It [9]
Elz JenkinsFallin' Off The Floor
2012 Jarren Benton Freebasing with Kevin Bacon Freebasing [10]
Billion Bucks (Feat. Jon Conner & Rittz) [11]
Skitzo [12]
Shut Up Bitch [13]
G.E.D. (Feat. Laws & 4-IZE) [14]
Turbo Ozone (Feat. Poodie the Byz) [15]
CES Cru 13Livin’ Life [16]
Dizzy Wright The First AgreementHotel Stripper (Feat. Jarren Benton)
2013 Jarren Benton My Grandma's Basement Razor Blades and Steak Knives (Feat. Hemi) [17]
Life In the Jungle [18]
Don't Act [19]
Big Rube (Interlude) (Feat. Big Rube) [20]
My Adidas [21]
Bully (Feat. Vinnie Paz) [22]
I Deserve It [23]
We On (My Own Dick) (Feat. Dizzy Wright and Pounds) [24]
OJ (Feat. Elz Jenkins) [25]
2014 Chamillionaire End of a Knife
Chris Webby R.A.D. (Roll A Doobie)
2015 Jarren Benton Slow MotionYou Don't Know Me (Feat. Hemi) [26]
Alladat [27]
W.H.W. (Feat. Sy Ari da Kid) [28]
Diamonds & Fur (Feat. R. City) [29]
Hallelujah (Feat. Dizzy Wright & SwizZz) [30]
Silence (Feat. Sareena Dominguez) [31]
San E 모두가 내 발아래 On Top of Your Head (feat. MC그리
Ces Cru Recession ProofRecession Proof [32]
Famished [33]
2016 Jarren Benton Slow Motion Vol. 2 Slow Motion Intro [34]
Anarchy [35]
Locksmith The Lock SessionsGrime [36]
2017 Ces Cru Catastrophic Event Specialists Rubble (Feat. Rittz) [37]
Famished (Remix) (Feat. JL, Kutty Slitz, PERSEPH1, & Trizz) [38]
2018 Jarren Benton Yuck Fou [39] Collide (Feat. Evans Desir) [40]
Money Bag (Feat. Jay Park) [41]
Godzilla (Feat. Oba Rowland & B.o.B.) [42]
Don't Need You (Feat. Hopsin) [43]
The Shooter (Feat. WHATEVER WE ARE) [44]
Chewbacca [45]
Out Of Mud [46]
2019UBIUnder Bad InfluenceGameshow [47]
What It Takes [48]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

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References

  1. ↑ "ROCKIN' the SUBURBS: Nestled in quiet Flowery Branch is Hall County's…". archive.gainesvilletimes.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "04fef Blogging Platform". Kollaborationatlanta.org.
  3. ↑ "The Source - Jarren Benton - 'Shut up B*TCH' (Prod. By Kato)". www.thesource.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kato Announces Signing! - YouTube". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  5. ↑ "Kato "Kato's Revenge" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream | Get the Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX". www.hiphopdx.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Elz Jenkins) – Justin Bieber , retrieved 2021-03-02
  7. ↑ Jarren Benton – Most Interesting (Skit) , retrieved 2021-03-02
  8. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Elz Jenkins) – 30k Feet , retrieved 2021-03-02
  9. ↑ Jarren Benton – Losin It , retrieved 2021-03-02
  10. ↑ Jarren Benton – Freebasing , retrieved 2021-03-02
  11. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Jon Connor & Rittz) – Billion Bucks , retrieved 2021-03-02
  12. ↑ Jarren Benton – Skitzo , retrieved 2021-03-02
  13. ↑ Jarren Benton – Shut Up Bitch , retrieved 2021-03-02
  14. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. 4-IZE & Laws) – G.E.D. , retrieved 2021-03-02
  15. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Poodie the Byz) – Turbo Ozone , retrieved 2021-03-02
  16. ↑ Ces Cru – Livin' Life , retrieved 2021-03-02
  17. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Hemi) – Razor Blades and Steak Knives , retrieved 2021-03-02
  18. ↑ Jarren Benton – Life In The Jungle , retrieved 2021-03-02
  19. ↑ Jarren Benton – Don't Act , retrieved 2021-03-02
  20. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Big Rube) – Big Rube (Interlude) , retrieved 2021-03-02
  21. ↑ Jarren Benton – My Adidas , retrieved 2021-03-02
  22. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Vinnie Paz) – Bully , retrieved 2021-03-02
  23. ↑ Jarren Benton – I Deserve It , retrieved 2021-03-02
  24. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Dizzy Wright & Poundz) – We On (My Own Dick) , retrieved 2021-03-02
  25. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Elz Jenkins) – OJ , retrieved 2021-03-02
  26. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Hemi) – You Don't Know Me , retrieved 2021-03-02
  27. ↑ Jarren Benton – Alladat , retrieved 2021-03-02
  28. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Sy Ari da Kid) – W.H.W. , retrieved 2021-03-02
  29. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. R. City) – Diamonds & Fur , retrieved 2021-03-02
  30. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Dizzy Wright & SwizZz) – Hallelujah , retrieved 2021-03-02
  31. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Sareena Dominguez) – Silence , retrieved 2021-03-02
  32. ↑ Ces Cru – Recession Proof , retrieved 2021-03-02
  33. ↑ Ces Cru – Famished , retrieved 2021-03-02
  34. ↑ Jarren Benton – Slow Motion Intro , retrieved 2021-03-02
  35. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. EARTHGANG) – Anarchy , retrieved 2021-03-02
  36. ↑ Locksmith – Grime , retrieved 2021-03-02
  37. ↑ Ces Cru (Ft. Rittz) – Rubble , retrieved 2021-03-02
  38. ↑ Ces Cru (Ft. JL, Kutty Slitz, PERSEPH1 & Trizz) – Famished (Remix) , retrieved 2021-03-02
  39. ↑ "Yuck Fou by Jarren Benton". Genius. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  40. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Evans Desir) – Collide , retrieved 2021-03-02
  41. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Jay Park) – Money Bag (Album Version) , retrieved 2021-03-02
  42. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. B.o.B & Oba Rowland) – Godzilla , retrieved 2021-03-02
  43. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. Hopsin) – Don't Need You , retrieved 2021-03-02
  44. ↑ Jarren Benton (Ft. WHATEVER WE ARE) – The Shooter , retrieved 2021-03-02
  45. ↑ Jarren Benton – Chewbacca , retrieved 2021-03-02
  46. ↑ Jarren Benton – Out the Mud , retrieved 2021-03-02
  47. ↑ UBI – Gameshow , retrieved 2021-03-02
  48. ↑ UBI – What It Takes , retrieved 2021-03-02

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