Mark Anthony Duffus | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Anthony Duffus |
| Also known as | Blak Prophetz, Audio Kingz |
| Born | Walsall, England |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, rapper |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Kold Sweat, Digital Jukebox, Demon |
| Website | www |
Mark Duffus, also known as Blak Prophetz, is a British rapper and producer from the West Midlands in England where he formed the group Blak Prophetz in the early 1980s.
Since 1979, Duffus has been a rapper, songwriter, record producer, drummer and DJ whose inspiration came from his father, who was also a DJ from Jamaica. [1] Other tracks by Sure Shot under a different name i.e. the Audio Kingz appear on an album titled The Wheel Project released by Ruff N Ready Records [2] in 1990. The initial song was named "The Sure Shot Dope Tracks Pt 1". [3]
Blak Prophetz' first known track was called "Fax on Wax" which was released by the London record label Kickin Records, now considered rare and has fetched up to £30 in auctions. [4]
During the song's verses, Duffus made references to early rap groups like the Sugarhill Gang and Cold Crush Brothers. [5] It achieved a number 9 in the UK Echo's Jazz Charts which was compiled by Steve Chandler in the 18 May edition of Echoes magazine in 1991. [6] John Mayor, a contributing writer for Mixmag , described the song as a "cool jazz attack for Ladbroke Grove's pavement posse." [5]
John Slater, a reviewer for Hip Hop Connection magazine researched Duffus's past and during the review he touched on how his parents travelled from Jamaica in the '50s and how his father, who was a DJ, inspired his love for making music. Slater also went on to describe how Duffus was regularly tasked with "humping massive sound systems around" with his father. These would have been large speakers often carried around when his father was doing a show or was involved in a possible sound clash. [1]
He eventually left Kickin Records to sign a new record deal with London's new hip hop record label Kold Sweat Records based in Ladbroke Grove. Kold Sweat was run by Tony Powell who was also the Managing director of Pinnacle Entertainment and was home to some of the UK's prime hip hop acts of that era including the Son of Noise. Their new single titled "Chapter One" was recorded in 1992 and shortly after this release, Duffus decided to relocate to London to pursue his musical career. [7]
Kenny Grogan, another writer for Mixmag , featured the new song in the April edition awarding the song a 4 out of 5 rating. With an ending remark "mooody", Grogan expressed his acknowledgement of the decreasing hip hop vinyl saying "homegrown hip hop is hard to find". He praised the existence of the song and went on to say: "It should help the rest of the world of decreasing hip hop vinyl". [8]
Whilst Blak Prophetz was working on new material, Kold Sweat decided to close their doors for business for good but this did not stop him from pursuing his career. In 1998, he decided to release a new single via his own production outfit called 'Fatt Jointz' or 'FJ Entertainment' called "Money & Guns" which caught the attention of well known DJs including Tim Westwood of BBC Radio 1. Westwood included the single in his favorite 'Top 10 Flava's Singles', describing the Prophetz as "old skool survivors" and praised Duffus's reshuffle of the band and previous relocation to London. [6]
A new article by a reporter called Tee Max from Echoes magazine focused on Duffus's new life in London, his settling into the London life and becoming a father for the first time. "Money and Gunz" grew popular in his hometown back in the Midlands as Max would continuously make reference to the fact that it was a favourite on Birmingham's Choice FM DJ One Step Ahead show. Duffus's extensive record collection would often pop up during the discussion as his huge vinyl stack was the backdrop of the interview photo but he was secretive about which samples he used. [9]
In November that same year, a writer named Mike Lewis of Hip Hop Connection drew on a more serious issue which was affecting British hip hop acts throughout the UK during that period. Lewis knew that many UK acts were finding it almost impossible to gain recognition overseas and that UK hip hop was somewhat struggling for exposure. It was a touchy subject that was not usually openly discussed in the media by UK rap artists but during the interview the Prophetz were not afraid to speak openly about this issue. [10]
During 2003, Blak Prophetz was somewhat put on hold for a short period so that Duffus could complete other projects with other musicians like the remix project for Kwame Kwaten of D-Influence and Warren Stacey who was managed by Kwaten at that time. He requested Duffus's production skills on a duet track called "Hot for You" which featured Stacey and was released on Brownsugar Records, distributed by Avex Group, Japan. It was called "The WS Project" located on an album called Soul Essentials Vol. 6, released by Avex. [11]
Blak Prophetz were back releasing a 12-inch called "With FX", from their coming album that year entitled 2nd Coming. It was released in New York and distributed through TRC Distribution, in Los Angeles on vinyl and was a feature in the Blues & Soul magazine by writer Ryan Proctor during October 2005. [12]
During that same period came the cross-collaboration release of the 2nd Coming album which included other rap artists. The album attracted some negative critical attention from Tadah of UrbanSmarts.com magazine who declared:
"As we start with talking about the lyrics, let's end with talking about the lyrics. The potential of what the Blak Prophetz really can do appears on "Still a Kid." This struggle-and-strives tale was done shockingly real and is a hundred times better than the tried and tired battle rhymes on here. Even though the level of the braggadocio only reflects the down earth rap music this is. This is nothing fancy or flashy, but some gritty, grassroots type traditional rap music. Good as such, but in no way spectacular." [13]
Despite lacking positive critical attention from Tadah, the track from the album titled "What Is Rap" was selected by Bartle Bogle Hegarty whose client Mentos chose to use for the global Mentos Fruity 3 High Rider advert campaign. [14]
It also caught the attention of Notion Magazine also known as Notionmag. Notion's writer, Loriann Luckings conducted an insight into the band's progression focusing on how they had travelled and pushed their way through the ranks saying;
“The lads went to the big smoke in 1996 to distribute, sell and promote themselves and their music. They soon got signed to record label Kold Sweat Records and formed as the Blak Prophetz. Sure Shot is regarded highly for his remixing and production skills, having worked with artists including the likes of Justin Timberlake and Jason Jermaine. He is what is known commonly as the background guy – the one who does a lot of the hard work and takes very little commercial credit." [15]
During an interview in the 1 August 1991 edition of Hip Hop Connection , [1] Slater asked Blak Prophetz what they thought of the new emerging success of the US rap group Public Enemy. A response came from a temporary member at that time namely Willie B who responded stating that "Public Enemy stayed where the money was" (meaning that PE remained attached to a record label that was run by a white management). Willie applauded Professor Griff's move to Luke Records, which was run by a team of black individuals. The statement outraged Chuck D, the main member of PE, who later responded directly Willie in issue 34 stressing that there was no black system and that 'Griff' still has to deal with a white ran system. [16]
Duffus managed to earn a publishing deal with 2 Entertain which is now controlled by the BBC and Demon Music Group. Since the album, there have been other releases, including "What Is Rap" which was used in the Global TV commercial for Mentos Fruity 3 Gum. [14] Whilst working on the Blak Prophetz next album, he has also been involved other productions for Joyce Sims [17] under the name of 'The Soul Garden (Funk Division)' (his personal jazz/funk production band). [18] He is also an A&R Consultant for Tune Tribe's new London music consultancy company, Arising Artists.
A politically themed song called "What the F## Pt. 1" was released towards the end of 2013. During that same period, the song became popular and the author and founder of Hip Hop Foundation magazine, Karl Smith, reviewed and praised the song describing it as "slamming", stating: "It touches on issues amongst today’s youth." [19]
Duffus also runs the record label Digital Jukebox Records where he manages other recording artists such as Yvonne Curtis [20] [21] [22] and also reggae artist Dawn Penn who he attended the BET Awards 2013 ceremony with, after BET Television invited them both as special guests to walk the red carpet along with other A-list celebrities and for a performance which took place at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California. The event consisted of a "reggae segment" where Penn performed her hit single "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" in front of other celebrities including Nicki Minaj, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown and others. Performing alongside Penn were other international reggae stars including Beenie Man and Chaka Demus & Pliers. [23]
Having previously been involved in voice overs for Hasbro games, Duffus rekindled his interest by getting involved in children's stories and took on board a selected team of voice over experts including his daughter Alicia Duffus who contributes in script writing and released a short story titled No Competition on 24 December 2020 which was reviewed by Mkuu Amani of Toronto Caribbean [24] who said, "The audio-story, which offers a humorous take on a classic tale about an over-confident, fast-running hare, aims to encourage more youngsters to read books and enjoy audio stories. The episode enlists Anthony’s vocal talents, the versatile artist performing all of the character voice overs, including the hare’s role, a character with a distinctly Caribbean personality."
In March/April 2021, Loose Ends and jazz musician Dexter Wansel was also signed to the label Digital Jukebox Records to release his new album The Story of the Flight Crew to Mars, reviewed by Soul Walking [25]
Jazz rap is a fusion of jazz and hip hop music, as well as an alternative hip hop subgenre, that developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. AllMusic writes that the genre "was an attempt to fuse African-American music of the past with a newly dominant form of the present, paying tribute to and reinvigorating the former while expanding the horizons of the latter." The rhythm was rooted in hip hop over which were placed repetitive phrases of jazz instrumentation: trumpet, double bass, etc. Groups involved in the formation of jazz rap included A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, De La Soul, Gang Starr, and Jungle Brothers.
Popular music of the United Kingdom in the 1980s built on the post-punk and new wave movements, incorporating different sources of inspiration from subgenres and what is now classed as world music in the shape of Jamaican and Indian music. It also explored the consequences of new technology and social change in the electronic music of synthpop. In the early years of the decade, while subgenres like heavy metal music continued to develop separately, there was a considerable crossover between rock and more commercial popular music, with a large number of more "serious" bands, like The Police and UB40, enjoying considerable single chart success.
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machines, with an immediate origin in early hip hop and funk genres. Records in the genre typically feature heavy electronic sounds, usually without vocals; if vocals are present, they are delivered in a deadpan manner, often through electronic distortion such as vocoding and talkboxing. It palpably deviates from its predecessor boogie by being less vocal-oriented and more focused on electronic beats produced by drum machines.
There are several subgenres of reggae music including various predecessors to the form.
UK rap, also known as British hip hop or UK hip hop, is a music genre and culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/hip-hop. British hip hop can also be referred to as Brit-hop, a term coined and popularised mainly by British Vogue magazine and the BBC. British hip hop was originally influenced by the dub/toasting introduced to the United Kingdom by Jamaican migrants in the 1950s–70s, who eventually developed uniquely influenced rapping in order to match the rhythm of the ever-increasing pace and aggression of Jamaican-influenced dub in the UK. Toasting and soundsystem cultures were also influential in genres outside of hip hop that still included rapping – such as grime, jungle, and UK garage.
The Stalag riddim is a popular reggae riddim, which came to prominence in the 1980s. It was originally written and recorded as "Stalag 17" by Ansel Collins and released by Winston Riley's Techniques record label in 1973. The riddim has been used on hundreds of derivative records.
Asher D is an English rapper who was part of a successful partnership with reggae artist Daddy Freddy, known as the duo Asher D and Daddy Freddy. His name was later used by another English rapper.
Brazilian hip hop is a national music genre in Brazil. From its earliest days in the African-Brazilian communities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the genre has grown into a countrywide phenomena. Rappers, DJs, break dancers and graffiti artists are active across the complete spectrum of society blending Brazil's cultural heritage with American hip hop to form a contemporary musical fusion.
Hip Hop Connection (HHC) was the longest running monthly periodical devoted entirely to hip hop culture. It was described by rapper Chuck D as "the most important magazine in the world".
Freddie Beauregard, professionally known by his stage name Paradime, is an American rapper and producer from Detroit, Michigan.
Soul Jazz Records is a British record label based in London. Outside of releasing records, the label also publishes books, occasionally films and performs as a DJ set. The music releases labels from a variety of genres, including reggae, house, hip hop, punk rock, jazz, funk, bossa nova and soul.
Cedric "Ced-Gee" Miller is an American hip hop producer and rapper from the Bronx, New York. He is best known as a member of Ultramagnetic MCs. He received special thanks for his production on Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded, and he produced Tim Dog's "Fuck Compton". He has also worked alongside Antoinette, Bill Cosby, Blak Prophetz, Doug E. Fresh, Jeff Redd, Paperboy, Spaceman Patterson, Sybil, and Treacherous Three.
Rhythm Killers is an album by Jamaican musical duo Sly and Robbie, released in May 1987 by Island Records. By the time of the album's recording, Sly and Robbie had transitioned away from their prolific work in the reggae genre. They spent the 1980s experimenting with electronic sounds and contemporary recording technology on international, cross-genre endeavors, which influenced their direction for Rhythm Killers.
Kold Sweat Records was a British independent record label specializing in hip hop music, based in Askew Road, London. The label was founded in 1990 by Tony Powell, who was the Managing Director, CEO at MCA Records between 1987 and 1992. Upon leaving MCA, Powell created Kold Sweat which was considered as a small project specific to the hip hop genre. He later employed Angelo Starr as recording engineer who was brother to the late Edwin Starr. The label had originally been created as an alternative to directly address the growing and popular trend of the emerging new and unsigned British rap acts throughout the UK.
Yvonne Curtis is a singer of Jamaican descent. She has lived in the United Kingdom since the early 1960s. She became the lead singer of The Serenaders and often travels back and forth from the Caribbean Islands performing as a reggae and soca artist.
Digital Jukebox Records began as a British hip hop record label under the name of FJ/Fatt Jointz Recordings in the early 1990s which has been an underground source for the success of some recording artists ever since. Label head Mark Duffus had very close musical links with many prominent East Coast / New York record producers and musicians.
The Funk Division, also known as The Soul Garden earlier from 1994, is a soul jazz and funk group formed in 2005 by Mark Duffus in Walsall near Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Dee Shy is a British rapper. She has been rapping since the mid-1980s alongside her husband Darren Mason from the French band SKO (RME) who were originally a Birmingham-based commercial rap trio from the UK who were signed to Sony BMG France under NRG Music.
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