Monte Booker

Last updated
Monte Booker
Birth nameAhmanti Booker
Born (1995-03-27) March 27, 1995 (age 28)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • DJ
Instrument(s)
Years active2013–present
Labels Zero Fatigue

Ahmanti Booker (born March 27, 1995), professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is part of the musical collective Zero Fatigue, and has worked with artists such as Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Sango, Ari Lennox and JID, among others. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Monte Booker grew up in the South Side of Chicago listening to artists such as Outkast, Gucci Mane, Radiohead and Coldplay. [3] He started producing in 2011 with FL Studio incorporating trap music and jazz as well as organic sounds in his music. [4] In 2013, he met St. Louis artists Smino, Jay2 and Bari through studio manager Chris Classick, and joined the collective Zero Fatigue, along with Ravyn Lenae. He also became a member of Soulection Radio and released an EP on October 23, 2015, as part of their White Label series. The song "Kolors" became a viral hit in 2020 from TikTok streams, entering the Spotify's Viral 50 Charts. [5]

Booker went on to produce projects for Zero Fatigue such as blkjuptr , Moon Shoes, Midnight Moonlight, blkswn , Noir , and MSTRGLSS. [6] In 2016, he also worked with Chicago artists Noname, Mick Jenkins, and Saba on the albums Telefone , The Healing Component , and Bucket List Project .

In 2019, Booker was invited to Dreamville's recording sessions for the compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III by J. Cole. He produced three songs on the album, "Late Night", "Spin Move", and "Passcode". [7] In 2020 and 2021, he has worked with other artists including Spillage Village and VanJess. [8] On February 1, 2021, Booker released an instrumental mixtape titled Lil Sounds Tape. [9]

Artistry

Monte Booker has credited producers such as Timbaland, Flying Lotus, The Neptunes, and Kanye West, as his major influences. Speaking about this, he said "what [they were] doing with music kind of inspired me to incorporate my influence to make it my own type of vibe." [10] [3] His sound has been described as percussive and organic production with "an eclectic amalgamation of Hip-Hop, R&B, and melody-heavy electronic sounds." [11]

Discography

Extended plays

Instrumental mixtapes

Production discography

2014

Smino - Smellin Like a Re-Up - Single

2015

Smino - S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck [12]
Ravyn Lenae - Moon Shoes [13]
Monte Booker - Soulection White Label: 016
Smino - Blkjuptr [14]
Smino - Ciabatta - Single

2016

Smino - Kajun - Single
Ravyn Lenae - Alive - Single
Noname - Telefone [15]
Mick Jenkins - The Healing Component [16]
Saba - Bucket List Project [17]

2017

Ravyn Lenae - Midnight Moonlight [18]
Sango - De Mim, Pra Você
Smino - Blkswn [19]
Roseangelica - Butta - Single
Bari - Protein - Single
Hoosier Scott - Shade Spectrum
Didi Park - Neon Bandages
Zero Fatigue - Manegos - Single [20]
Monte Booker - KOMPANY - Single

2018

Phoelix - TEMPO
KYLE - Light of Mine
Smino - NØIR [21]
Bari - The Prefix
Zara Bash - Heaven on Earth

2019

Young Pink - MSTRGLSS
Ash Jetson - 814CK.HO13
Monte Booker - Interstellar - Single
Jay2 - 4 Tha Wait
MFnMelo - What a Life - Single
MFnMelo- Everybody Eats
ICECOLDBISHOP - Creep - Single
Smino - High 4 Da Highladays

2020

Dreamville - Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut [22]
Ravyn Lenae - Insecure: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 4
Hansel Mac - Limbo
Smino - Madden NFL 21 [23]
Spillage Village - Spilligion [24]
Femdot - Buy One, Get One Free Vol. 1
Bari - Fuck It... Burn It All Down
Plvto - Hangout 4
Florence The Infinite - This Ain't That
Lord Red - Tired

2021

Monte Booker - Lil Sounds Tape
VanJess - Homegrown [25]
Jay2 - Send Heartss
Symphani Soto - Energy - Single
reggie - Ain't Gon Stop Me - Single [26]
Felly - Everybody Loves You - Single
Vince Staples - Vince Staples
Pink Siifu - Gumbo'!
Shane Eagle - Skydream - Single
Maxo Kream - Weight of the World
Mick Jenkins - Elephant In the Room

2022

Saba - Few Good Things
JayBaby TheGreaty - Orange Belt
Ravyn Lenae - Hypnos
JID - The Forever Story
Pandi - #Batposting
Mavi - Laughing So Hard It Hurts
Smino - Luv 4 Rent

Tours

Headlining
Supporting

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afropunk Festival</span> American black music festival

Afropunk Festival is an annual arts festival that features music, film, fashion, and art produced by alternative black artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noname (rapper)</span> American rapper from Illinois

Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known professionally as Noname, is an American rapper, poet, and record producer. Since 2019, she has run the Noname Book Club, which focuses on radical texts by authors of color. She is also one third of the musical supergroup Ghetto Sage with the rappers Smino and Saba.

Pivot Gang is a hip hop collective of independent rappers based out the west side of Chicago. The group originated from the Austin neighborhood in 2011. The four founders consist of brothers Saba and Joseph Chilliams, their cousin John Walt, and their high school friend MFnMelo. Other artists who commonly collaborate with the group include Lucki Eck$, Martin $ky, Ausar, Noname, and DJ Damnage, along with others.

Malcolm Martin, professionally known as Thelonious Martin or King Thelonious is an American hip hop record producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of the Chicago collective Savemoney.

<i>The Healing Component</i> 2016 studio album by Mick Jenkins

The Healing Component is the debut studio album by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on September 23, 2016, by Cinematic Music Group.

Tahj Malik Chandler, better known by his stage name Saba, is an American rapper and record producer. He grew up in the Austin neighborhood of the West Side of Chicago. He is a co-founder of the musical collective Pivot Gang with his brother Jerrel Chandler, their late cousin Walter Long Jr, their high school friend Logan Yutters, Jevunte Wheeler (squeakPivot), and Jimmy. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Smino and Noname.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smino</span> American rapper (born 1991)

Christopher Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Smino, is an American rapper. Smino is the founder of the musical collective Zero Fatigue with Bari, Monte Booker, Jay2, and Ravyn Lenae. He is one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Saba and Noname. Smino is signed to Downtown Records and Interscope.

<i>Telefone</i> (mixtape) 2016 mixtape by Noname

Telefone is the debut mixtape by American rapper Noname. Originally announced in 2012, the mixtape faced numerous delays and was finally released four years later on July 31, 2016, as a free digital download. It features guest appearances from Saba, Ravyn Lenae, Raury, and Smino among others.

<i>Bucket List Project</i> 2016 studio album by Saba

Bucket List Project is the debut studio album by American rapper Saba. It was released on October 27, 2016 by Saba Pivot, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JID</span> American rapper (born 1990)

Destin Choice Route, better known by his stage name JID, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is a part of the musical collective Spillage Village, founded by EarthGang in 2010. He signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2017. He is also a member of the hip hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with Smino, Buddy, and Guapdad 4000. His fluent rapping style and usage of wordplay has been highly acclaimed by several music critics.

<i>blkswn</i> 2017 studio album by Smino

blkswn is the debut studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on March 14, 2017 with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravyn Lenae</span> American singer

Ravyn Lenae Washington is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago who is currently signed to Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group. She is also a member of the musical collective Zero Fatigue. Her debut EP, Moon Shoes, was released independently in 2015 and reissued by Atlantic Records in 2016. Her follow-up EP, Midnight Moonlight, was released in 2017. In addition to performing at several music festivals, Lenae has also toured with SZA on her Ctrl Tour and Noname on her Telefone Tour.

Cameron Osteen, better known by his stage name Cam O'bi, is an American record producer, singer-songwriter and audio engineer. He has produced for Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Mick Jenkins, Noname, J. Cole, Bas, Saba, and Isaiah Rashad. His upcoming debut album is titled Grown Ass Kid.

<i>Room 25</i> 2018 studio album by Noname

Room 25 is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Noname. Recorded in about a month's time, the album chronicles the two years since the release of Noname's debut mixtape Telefone, most notably her move from Chicago to Los Angeles and an intense, short-lived romantic relationship.

<i>Noir</i> (Smino album) 2018 studio album by Smino

Noir is the second studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on November 8, 2018, with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records and distributed by Interscope Records.

<i>blkjuptr</i> 2015 EP by Smino

blkjuptr is the second extended play by American rapper Smino. It was released on December 11, 2015 with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records. The EP was later re-released on June 3, 2016 on all digital platforms. Production was handled by Monte Booker, who previously worked with Smino on his S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck EP. He would go on to produce the bulk of his debut album, 2017's blkswn. Guest features came from Jay2 and Julien Bell.

Zero Fatigue is an American musical collective and independent record label with a split-base in both St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. The collective was founded by Smino and includes artists and producers Monte Booker, Ravyn Lenae, JayBaby TheGreaty, and Nosidam. The label is run by Chris "Classick" Innumerable.

Zoi Harris, better known by her stage name Jean Deaux is an American musician. She is known for her involvement in multiple genres and creative mediums. Her debut EP Krash was released in October 19, 2018.

<i>Luv 4 Rent</i> 2022 studio album by Smino

Luv 4 Rent is the third studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on October 28, 2022, with Zero Fatigue under license to Motown. The album includes guest appearances from J. Cole, Doechii, Fatman Scoop, Cruza, Lucky Daye, Phoelix, Cory Henry, Ravyn Lenae, Lil Uzi Vert and Reggie.

<i>Hypnos</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Ravyn Lenae

Hypnos is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Ravyn Lenae. It was released on May 20, 2022, through Atlantic Records. The album includes guest appearances and production from Monte Booker, Steve Lacy, Kaytranada, Fousheé, Mereba, Smino, Sango, Luke Titus, IAmNobodi, Phoelix and Teo Halm. The artwork of the album was shot by Quil Lemons.

References

  1. ↑ Terry, Josh (7 August 2016). "Interview: How St. Louis rapper Smino found his path in Chicago". Chicago Tribune.
  2. ↑ Mahadevan, Tara. "Chicago's Zero Fatigue Collective Comes to St. Louis for the Biggest Vibes Showcase Yet". River Front Times.
  3. 1 2 Brinkley, Vanice (4 January 2019). "Monte Booker's Hip-Hop & Soul Productions Are Based in Found Sound". Bandcamp.
  4. ↑ Drake, David (4 February 2016). "Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries". Pitchfork.
  5. ↑ "Monte Booker's 2015 Smino Collaboration "Kolors" Is Experiencing A TikTok-Fueled Resurgence". Genius.
  6. ↑ "Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries". Pitchfork. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Chesman, Donna-Claire (25 February 2019). "Monte Booker Only Loves Music—Fame Is Second". DJBooth.
  8. ↑ "Spillage Village Returns With Their Fourth Compilation Album 'Spilligion'". OkayPlayer. 25 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Miller, Austin (2 February 2021). "Monte Booker Lays Down Masterful Beats On New Mixtape, 'lil sounds tape'". This Song is Sick.
  10. ↑ "Why Monte Booker matters: A look into the future of Chicago's sound". Kulture Hub. 17 September 2017.
  11. ↑ ""Not no Fame Shit, None of That": An Interview with Smino & Monte". PassionWeiss. 13 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Premiere: Listen to Smino's 'S!CK S!CK S!CK' EP". Complex.
  13. ↑ "EP: RAVYN LENAE - MOON SHOES". The Le Sigh.
  14. ↑ Galil, Leor (16 December 2015). "Smino is one of the best up-and-coming rappers in Chicago's underground scene". Chicago Reader.
  15. ↑ "The Making of Noname's 'Telefone'". Complex.
  16. ↑ Lilah, Rose (August 26, 2016). "Mick Jenkins Reveals Tracklist For "The Healing Component"". Hotnewhiphop.com.
  17. ↑ "Saba – Bucket List Project". Consequence of Sound. 28 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Ravyn Lenae: Midnight Moonlight EP Album Review". Pitchfork.
  19. ↑ Tanzer, Myles (March 8, 2017). "Smino Announces Debut Album 'blkswn'". The Fader.
  20. ↑ "Zero Fatigue Releases Posse Track "Manegos" Following 'Swanita' Tour". Vibe. 6 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "Smino Announces "NØIR" Tracklist Featuring Bari, Jay2, Valee & More". HotNewHipHop. 7 November 2018.
  22. ↑ "Dreamville Unveil 'Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut': Stream It Now". Billboard. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  23. ↑ "Backstage Pass - Single by Smino, Monte Booker & The Drums on Apple Music". 14 August 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020– via Apple Music.
  24. ↑ "Spillage Village drop new album, Spilligion". The Fader.
  25. ↑ "VanJess Perfected Their Own R&B Sound on the 'Homegrown' EP". OkayPlayer. 5 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "reggie Drops New Song "Ain't Gon Stop Me": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 17 March 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.