Gunkhole Featuring D-styles

4 superb turntablists and a livedrummer deliver topnotch next-level turtablism !! Featuring: the incredible D-STYLES, ACE, RICCI RUCKER and MIKE BOOGIE ------------------ D-STYLES: ------------------ In underground hip hop circles around the world; D-Styles is the name most associated with innovative turntable scratching. Thanks to the popularity of the Internet and the explosion of scratch videos, D-Styles is influencing turntablists and scratch artists around the world. His approach differs from the highly technical, yet repetitive scratching that currently dominates the scene in that it emphasizes musical composition and style. D-Styles’ unique sound emerged from a long period of self-imposed isolation following his disillusionment with the battle scene of the early 1990s. He wanted his own style apart from popular trends of the time: "I went back to the blackboard and decided to find myself,” he says. "Like how a snake sheds its skin, I wanted to shed the effects of my influences because it was so clear who I was trying to imitate." During this period of introspection, D-Styles expanded his musical horizons beyond the turntable, working with drum machines and samplers. "I wanted to make my own beats and scratch over my own music," he explains. It was also during this time that D-Styles became a member of the multi-talented and immensely popular World Famous Beat Junkies, an association that continues to this day. A major turning point in D-Styles’ career came in 1996 when Qbert asked him to join the world-renowned Invisibl Skratch Piklz (ISP), which also featured Mixmaster Mike of the Beastie Boys, and fellow Beat Junkie, DJ Shortkut. Between 1997 and 2001, D-Styles toured with ISP and performed in various countries around the world. He describes his time with the group as having broadened his mind to the potential of scratch music. "After joining ISP, I took scratching more seriously," he remarks. "Instead of battling, now the competition was with each other. Q, Mike and Short were so into the music and ahead of the time that it forced me to keep up and advance myself." One obvious result of that advancement was the electrifying "Razorblade Alcohol Slide," D-Styles’ all-scratch song that was featured on Qbert's Wave Twisters album. D-Styles left ISP in 2001 and since then, has been concentrating on his own music as well as collaborations with the Beat Junkies. On Halloween 2002, Beat Junkie Sound released D-Styles’ most acclaimed work to date: the highly anticipated solo album Phantazmagorea, a collection of songs composed entirely from scratching. “The missing element of scratching is that people aren’t performing their songs live,” says D-Styles. “And that’s where I want to take it.” At the Phantazmagorea Release Party, the much-publicized “D-Styles Sextet” composed of D-Styles and fellow Beat Junkies, performed live renditions of D-Styles’ songs, set to visual imagery resulting in one of the most unique and unforgettable scratch shows to date. D-Styles’ most recent musical exploration is as a member of the Bastard Language Tour, a quintet of avant-garde and highly skilled scratch musicians whose live act will soon be coming to a city near you. ------------------ MIKE BOOGIE ------------------ Name: Mike Boogie Age: 27 Occupation: Turntable Musician Currently Residing in: Brooklyn New York (via San Francisco Bay Area) Began Djing in: 1990 Available Musical Releases and Appearances: Scetchbook (LP), Sound in Color Records (2003) - Soul Canvas (Break Record), Epitome of Fresh Music (2003) - Tableturns 4 Year Anniversary DVD ( Performed alongside Qbert, Dj Radar, and Melo-D) - Stanton Magnetics Turntable Mechanics Workshop Part 2 video - Cut From Behind (Track for Turntables By The Bay Vol.2), Hip-Hop Slam Records (2002) - Food Around The Corner (Break Record), Tabletools Records (2002) - Tabletools Release Party Vermont (Video) - 427/ Business Deals 12” single (Provided Scratches), ABB Records (2000) - Tableturns Calm After the Storm (Video) - etc... Well renowned in the scratch music world for his work with the Turntable Band Ned Hoddings, Dstyles, and Tableturns Presents, Mike Boogie continues his mission to take his listeners into emotional musical soundscapes never thought possible through use of the turntables. “Mike Boogie is one of the most soulful, expressive scratchers I’ve ever heard, His style is like singing to my ears.” Sugarcuts of Tableturns ------------------ RICCI RUCKER ------------------ Ricci Rucker has been scratching for seven years. In that period he has learned an amazing number of styles and techniques. His seemingly bionic hands allow him to scratch at lightning speed, often keeping pace with rhythm tracks exceeding 170 beats per minute. Ricci, also known as Nicks is perhaps best known for his phenomenal scratch drumming. “It’s like he’s got a metronome right inside his brain”, one admirer observed. Indeed, his ability to create the most complex rhythms and change time signatures in stride makes him the envy of turntablists everywhere. His vast array of skills notwithstanding, Ricci Rucker is not content with merely soloing and displaying his own talents; he orchestrates and motivates the musicians around him, composing songs where his own contribution might be a simple phrase or piano chord. He envisions a much larger picture where several notes or sounds converge to make a song. “As long as it’s funky, I’m cool with it”, he explains. To that end, Ricci will draw upon any sound from any genre, not limiting himself to a particular style: “Everything and everybody influences me,” he says; and that diversity can be heard in the texture and depth of his music. You can hear him for yourself on his upcoming releases: SCETCHBOOK (October 2003): Created along with Mike Boogie, it’s the second album created entirely from turntables. FUGA DA VOI (December 2003/January 2004): This is the first hybrid jazz album built around the turntable. ------------------ DJ ACE ------------------ Seattle native, Giovanni Taylor aka Dj Ace is still trying to find himself. He began his music career in the fifth grade, playing the snare drum. As he got older, he progressed to a full kit and in high school he played drums in the marching band. In 1986 he began scratching, and shortly thereafter began experimenting with drum machines. Dj Ace soon acquired a reputation for his beats and scratches, collaborating with several local emcees. In 1990, Sir Mix-a-Lot protégé, Kid Sensation was a hot on the charts and he hired Ace to be his full-time deejay. During the next two years, Ace performed with the Kid Sensation entourage at concerts around the Pacific Northwest; he also scratched and got a production credit on the LP “Power of Rhyme.” In 1992, Ace and his partner MC Dope merged with another group, Major League Players to form Six in the Clip (later known as Prose and Concepts). Over the next four years, the group played nearly 100 shows, and released two records, one of which was for the label Loosegroove that was owned by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard. In addition to serving as the group dj and co-producer, Ace performed as an emcee as well. One of the highlights of his time with Prose and Concepts was when they opened for Pearl Jam at a large Seattle venue. The group disbanded in 1996, but Dj Ace had already embarked on a new direction. In the previous year, at the West coast DMC Championship, Ace had seen and heard things that blew his mind, including the famous ‘Flare” scratch. Since that time, Ace has concentrated on scratching, receiving inspiration from all the turntable legends of 1990s including the Invisibl Skratch Piklz and World Famous Beat Junkies. He has won numerous Seattle-Area dj competitions; and in 2003, he competed in the DMC USA Finals. Dj Ace is currently a drummer and scratcher for the band, Gunkhole.