Phat Kat

Last updated
Phat Kat
Birth nameRonald Christopher Watts
Born (1971-08-26) August 26, 1971 (age 51)
Origin Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active1993–present
LabelsBelow System

Ronald Christopher Watts (born August 26, 1971), better known by his stage name Phat Kat, is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan, best known as a favorite collaborator of the late J Dilla.

Contents

Biography

His career began in the mid-1990s as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and J Dilla on production. The group was short lived however, possibly because of insufficient support/promotion from their label, Payday, but the two continued to collaborate on many occasions afterwards, starting with an appearance on "Fat Cat Song" and its remix, from Slum Village's Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) .

In an interview, he spoke in regards to his time and music creations alongside Dilla, as well as the producer's work ethic:

Dilla didn’t fuck around in the studio. Everybody else had to adjust their style to keep up with Dilla, or if they ever wanted the chance to work with Dilla. You had to be able to knock out your verse in one take. I’ve seen Dilla make beats in 10 minutes. We made that track off of Welcome 2 Detroit in 10 minutes flat. We completed the whole Dedication To The Suckers EP from scratch in less than one night. He did the beats and I laid the verses. We started at 9 p.m. and finished by 12 midnight. [1]

His first full-length album, The Undeniable LP, was released in 2003 on Barak Records. It featured appearances from Slum Village, Dwele and Obie Trice. Kat released a 12-inch single in late 2006 for the song "Cold Steel", produced by J Dilla, he then followed it with his second album, Carte Blanche , on April 24, 2007 on Look Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Guest appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slum Village</span> American hip hop group

Slum Village is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. The group formerly comprised the rappers Baatin (1974–2009) and T3 and the rapper and producer J Dilla (1974–2006). J Dilla left in 2001 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records. Elzhi joined in his absence, after which Baatin also left due to health complications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karriem Riggins</span> American drummer

Karriem Riggins is a multi-talented American musician who has made a name for himself as a Jazz drummer, Hip Hop producer, DJ and songwriter. With a career spanning over two decades, Riggins has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Kanye West, Common, and Diana Krall. His unique style and versatility have earned him critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.

<i>Welcome 2 Detroit</i> 2001 studio album by J Dilla

Welcome 2 Detroit is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla, released on February 26, 2001. The album followed his group Slum Village's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series.

<i>Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)</i> 2004 studio album by Slum Village

Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village, released on June 29, 2004. It was released shortly after Baatin left the group, leaving only T3 and Elzhi.

Jason Powers, better known by his stage name Elzhi, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is a former member of Slum Village and now records as a solo artist. In his youth, he made numerous visits to the Hip-Hop shop in Detroit, taking advantage of open-mic nights hosted by fellow Detroit rapper Proof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Milk</span> American rapper

Curtis Eugene Cross, better known by his stage name Black Milk, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

1st Down was a Detroit hip-hop group consisting of Jay Dee and Phat Kat.

Nicholas Marcell Speed is an American rapper, record producer, and disc jockey from Detroit, Michigan, United States. He has produced tracks for 50 Cent, Mopreme Shakur, Lloyd Banks, M.O.P., Talib Kweli, Phat Kat, Musiq Soulchild, Bishop Lamont, Danny Brown and many more.

Freddie Beauregard, professionally known by his stage name Paradime, is an American rapper and producer from Detroit, Michigan.

The Undeniable LP is the debut album by Detroit rapper and close Slum Village affiliate Phat Kat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilty Simpson</span> American rapper

Byron Dwayne “Guilty” Simpson is an American rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan whose recording career spans more than 20 years. He is signed to Stones Throw Records, and is known for being one of the late producer J Dilla’s favorite rappers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House Shoes</span> American music producer and DJ

Michael Griffith Buchanan, better known as House Shoes, is an American Detroit-born hip hop producer and DJ who lives and works in Los Angeles. He served as a producer on albums by Phat Kat, Proof, Elzhi, Pumpkinhead, Marv Won, J Dilla, Danny Brown, and Quelle Chris among others. He is a three-time Detroit Music Awards winner for Outstanding Hip-Hop DJ.

<i>Carte Blanche</i> (Phat Kat album) 2007 studio album by Phat Kat

Carte Blanche is the second studio album by American Detroit-based rapper Phat Kat. It was released on April 3, 2007, via Look Records. Production was handled by J Dilla, Black Milk, Young RJ and Nick Speed. It features guest appearances from Black Milk, Elzhi, Fat Ray, Guilty Simpson, House Shoes, Lo Louis, Melanie Rutherford, T3 and Truth Hurts.

The following is a list of productions by American hip-hop producer/rapper Black Milk.

<i>Villa Manifesto</i> 2010 studio album by Slum Village

Villa Manifesto is the sixth studio album by Detroit hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on July 27, 2010, via E1 Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J Dilla</span> American record producer and rapper (1974–2006)

James Dewitt Yancey, better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, drummer, rapper and songwriter. He emerged in the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan, as a member of the group Slum Village. He was also a member of the Soulquarians, a musical collective active during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

<i>Sunset Blvd.</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Yancey Boys

Sunset Blvd. is the debut LP by Detroit-based hip hop duo Yancey Boys, released on October 29, 2013 by Yancey Media Group in conjunction with Delicious Vinyl and distributed through Traffic Entertainment Group. The record is built around a recently unearthed batch of music created by Illa J's late elder brother, James "J Dilla" Yancey. The album features the latter's past collaborators like De La Soul's Posdnuos, Slum Village's T3, Common, The Pharcyde's Slimkid3 and Talib Kweli. Additional guests on Sunset Blvd. include DJs Rhettmatic, C-Minus, and J. Rocc as well as rapper Guilty Simpson and R&B singer Eric Roberson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illa J</span> American rapper

John Derek Yancey, better known by his stage name Illa J, is an American rapper, singer, producer and songwriter. from Detroit, Michigan who has released two albums on Delicious Vinyl Records. He is the younger brother of the late hip hop producer, and rapper J Dilla, and a former member of hip hop group Slum Village. He also released a collaborative album as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt. Illa J's second solo album ILLA J came out via the Brooklyn based record label, Bastard Jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatt Father</span> American rapper from Detroit

Shabazz Sinclare Ford, known by his stage name Fatt Father, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is a one fourth part of the Fat Killahz and one half of Twin Towers.

Marvin Eugene O'Neal, professionally known by his stage name Marv Won, is an American rapper and record producer from east side Detroit, Michigan. He is a member of underground hip hop group the Fat Killahz and rap duo Twin Towers. In 2021, he received a Detroit Music Award nomination for Outstanding Rap MC at the 30th Detroit Music Awards.

References

  1. "Spiritualized - Stones Throw Records". stonesthrow.com.