U.k. A&r Manager Taps Current Beats
By Stephanie Lopez
Saturday, September 30 2000
Saturday, September 30 2000
Published on AllBusiness.com
LONDON BRIDGES: Thad Baron, urban A&R manager at London-based Universal Music Publishing (UMP), is a man on a mission. He's working on several projects in an effort to "bridge the trans-Atlantic gap with elements of hip-hop and reggae."
One of those projects is Spacek, signed to Universal-Island U.K. The London trio consists of vocalist Steve Spacek; drummer Morgan Zarate, who used to work with rapper Maxi Jazz before he joined dance act Faithless; and Johannesburg-born guitarist and graffiti artist Edmund Cavill. Mos Def, a fan of the group, has signed the act to his Good Tree label for the U.S.
Spacek, whose music integrates London-influenced hip-hop, R&B, jazz, reggae, and house, caused a buzz last fall with the self-released promotional single "Eve."
The single is set for major release in mid-November. It will include remixes by Common, Slum Village producer J-Dee, and U.K.'s eclectic beats merchants Attica Blues.
"Our music is intimate, raw," says Steve Spacek. "It's about honesty."
Says Baron, "Spacek has the international crossover fusion of hip-hop, beats, and 21st century soul."
Managed by Jason Knight and John Cracknell of South London-based Aphole Still Music Management, Spacek is working on its debut album—tentatively titled "Sexy Curvatia." It's slated for release in first-quarter 2001. Among the tracks is "Count Down," which features Black Thought of the Roots, female rapper Bahamadia, and members of Slum Village.
For the dancehall connection, Baron has set his sights on former hip-hop journalist T-Love. She's the co-founder of Pickininny Records, which released Jurassic 5's "Jurassic 5" EP and single "Concrete Schoolyard," as well as T-Love's own EP, "The Return Of The B-Girl." The Pickininny label has pacted with Virgin for the world, Astralwerks/Virgin for the U.S., and Parlophone/EMI for the U.K.
"T-Love was signed by UMP about two years ago by Ruth Rothwell, our head of dance," recalls Baron.
While working on her first-quarter 2001 debut album, "Long Way Back," the South London-based T-Love also has a couple of 12-inch singles coming out via Ninja Tune. The first will be "Witch-Bitch? (B-Girls Anthem)"/"Queen Mood Swing (QMS)" in October.
Among Baron's other projects are Taz and Kojo. The UMP/U.K.-signed writer/producers are the sons of U.S. R&B singer P.P. Arnold and operate Los Angeles-based Big Yatch Productions. Their current credits include producing Hitman, an MC featured on "Dr. Dre—2001." Dr. Dre is expected to add his production skills to the MC's album, which is set for 2001.
In early September, another Baron project was released:
One of those projects is Spacek, signed to Universal-Island U.K. The London trio consists of vocalist Steve Spacek; drummer Morgan Zarate, who used to work with rapper Maxi Jazz before he joined dance act Faithless; and Johannesburg-born guitarist and graffiti artist Edmund Cavill. Mos Def, a fan of the group, has signed the act to his Good Tree label for the U.S.
Spacek, whose music integrates London-influenced hip-hop, R&B, jazz, reggae, and house, caused a buzz last fall with the self-released promotional single "Eve."
The single is set for major release in mid-November. It will include remixes by Common, Slum Village producer J-Dee, and U.K.'s eclectic beats merchants Attica Blues.
"Our music is intimate, raw," says Steve Spacek. "It's about honesty."
Says Baron, "Spacek has the international crossover fusion of hip-hop, beats, and 21st century soul."
Managed by Jason Knight and John Cracknell of South London-based Aphole Still Music Management, Spacek is working on its debut album—tentatively titled "Sexy Curvatia." It's slated for release in first-quarter 2001. Among the tracks is "Count Down," which features Black Thought of the Roots, female rapper Bahamadia, and members of Slum Village.
For the dancehall connection, Baron has set his sights on former hip-hop journalist T-Love. She's the co-founder of Pickininny Records, which released Jurassic 5's "Jurassic 5" EP and single "Concrete Schoolyard," as well as T-Love's own EP, "The Return Of The B-Girl." The Pickininny label has pacted with Virgin for the world, Astralwerks/Virgin for the U.S., and Parlophone/EMI for the U.K.
"T-Love was signed by UMP about two years ago by Ruth Rothwell, our head of dance," recalls Baron.
While working on her first-quarter 2001 debut album, "Long Way Back," the South London-based T-Love also has a couple of 12-inch singles coming out via Ninja Tune. The first will be "Witch-Bitch? (B-Girls Anthem)"/"Queen Mood Swing (QMS)" in October.
Among Baron's other projects are Taz and Kojo. The UMP/U.K.-signed writer/producers are the sons of U.S. R&B singer P.P. Arnold and operate Los Angeles-based Big Yatch Productions. Their current credits include producing Hitman, an MC featured on "Dr. Dre—2001." Dr. Dre is expected to add his production skills to the MC's album, which is set for 2001.
In early September, another Baron project was released:
