- DJ Swamp
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Ronald K. Keys Jr. aka DJ Swamp is an American hip hop DJ/turntablist and hip hop producer. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. In 1996, he took the title of US DMC Champion, his first year entering the tournament. Swamp toured with Beck for four years and later broke away into a solo career with "Never is Now" in 2001. He is known for his roguish antics which differentiate his DJ sets from others' by incorporating record smashing, body mutilation and fire breathing.
DJ Swamp has produced several DJ tools that are considered standards including his infamous "skip-proof" records which have the same sample repeated over and over so that if the needle is bumped it will land in the same sample.
Contents
1996 US DMC tournament
In 1996, as a first time entry, he won the US DMC Championships. He showed up dressed in all black with a beanie cap and long hair. His set ended with Swamp using a technique called a needle drop to play Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water", followed by him smashing his records.
Career with Beck
After winning the 1996 US DMC Championships, Swamp found himself still driving a street sweeper for a living in Ohio. He was making calls looking for gigs and a chance to break into the music scene full time when he heard Beck was going to be in town. He formulated a plan to pose as a reporter and slip in a demo of him mixing and scratching Beck's tracks. He waited for Beck all day but never got to meet him. He did however give his demo tape to Beck's publicist. A few weeks later Beck called Swamp and he joined the tour as Beck's DJ. The two toured together for four years.
Solo career
In the fall of 2000 Swamp began work on his first solo album Never is Now. After the Midnite Vultures tour, Swamp decided that he wanted to explore his own creative ambition. In 2001 he released his first album, Never is Now, which was supported by the successful single "Worship the Robots." The song featured Simple Text voice Fred as the rapper. The text application vocals were chopped up and manipulated to make it more like rap than just spoken test. Also on the album was "Disintegrator" which was featured in the Orgazmo Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Swamp has built a loyal following around the world appearing in festivals, rock shows, hip-hop shows and even raves. His stage performance consists of him DJing, rapping, lighting things on fire, breaking records, and fire-breathing. Crowds that are often overwhelmed by his stage presence and raw sound usually warm up to him because of his crowd interaction and give-a-ways.
Swamp formed Decadent Records in 1998, which allowed him to distribute his scratch tools. His "skip-proof" records are a staple in many turntablist sets.
DJ Swamp has appeared on songs by The Crystal Method, Katy Perry, Supreme Beings of Leisure, Ben Folds, Belinda, Beck, Oblivion Dust, Kid Rock, Hanson, The Bloodhound Gang, Morcheeba, The Dandy Warhols, R.L. Burnside, Faithless, OPM, DEVO, Save Ferris, Say Anything, Dust Brothers, Kool Keith, Sticky Fingaz, Better than Ezra and Vanilla Ice.
Swamp's television appearances: ABC In Concert, The Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Jools Holland, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Much Music, Farmclub.com, MTV Awards, TFI Friday, ESPN's Summer X Games 2000, ESPN /ABC Winter X Games 2001, and Top of the Pops.
He has been featured in Rolling Stone, Spin, Subculture, Ray Gun, Mean[disambiguation needed ], DJ Times, Keyboard, Mixer, The LA Times, and URB.
Releases
- Swamp Breaks DJ Battle Tool (2x12") Decadent Records 1998
- The Skip-Proof Scratch Tool Volume 1 (2x12") Decadent Records 1998
- Waxcraft (2x12") Decadent Records 1998
- The Neverending Breakbeats (2x12") Decadent Records 1999
- Never Is Now ? (2 versions) Lakeshore Records 2001
- Scratch Tools On CD (CDr) Decadent Records 2005
- Skip-Proof Scratch Tool Volume 5 (2x12") Decadent Records 2005
- Never Ending Drum & Bass Loops Vol. 2 (2x12") Decadent Records 2006
- Feed The Hands That Bite You/Challenger Incident (12")Universal Mastering Studios
- Infinite House Loops Vol. 1 (2x12") Decadent Records
- Never Ending Drum & Bass Loops Vol. 1 (2x12") Decadent Records
- The Neverending Breakbeats Volume II (2xLP) Decadent Records
- The Neverending Breakbeats Volume III (2xLP) Decadent Records
- The Neverending Breakbeats Volume IV (2xLP) Decadent Records
- The Skip-Proof Battle Tool Volume 2 (2x12") Decadent Records
- The Skip-Proof Scratch Tool Volume 3 (2x12") Decadent Records
- The Skip-Proof Scratch Tool Volume 4 (2x12") Decadent Records
- Tons Of Tones (12") Decadent Records
Remixes
- Shoulder Holster (Maxi) ? (3 versions) Shoulder Holster (DJ S... China Records ... 1997
- M International Standard (Maxi) ? (2 versions) You Must Learn All Nig... Emperor Norton 1999
- Mighty Mouse (7", Promo, Ltd, Tra) Mighty Mouse Remix Warner Bros. Records 1999
- Space Baby Blast Off (CD, Promo) You Must Learn All Nig... Emperor Norton 1999
- For You (12") For You (Swamp Remix),... 75 Ark 2000
- Future Resident (10") Because (DJ Swamp Remix) Tricatel 2000
- Mope (CD, Promo, Single) Mope (The Swamp Remix) Geffen Records, Republic Records, Jimmy * Franks Recording Company 2000
- Les Plus (CD) You Must Learn All Nig... Nippon Columbia 2001
- Lyn (Maxi) ? (2 versions) Feel Me (DJ Swamp Remi... Motor Music 2001
- Naan Commercial Hits (CD) You Must Learn (DJ Swa... Revolution Magazine 2002
- Work It (The Remixes) (CD2) (Maxi) ? (2 versions) Work It (DJ Swamp Remix) Universal Records 2002
- Storm The Studio R.M.X.S. (CD, Comp, Dig) Storm The Studio Tino Corp. 2003
- Yellow Car (12") Yellow Car (DJ Swamp R... Lewis Recordings 2004
- SwampDweller (CD, Dig) Circular Data (DJ Swamp Remix) Swampdweller 2007
Featured Scratching On
- Get Higher (Maxi) ? (3 versions) Get Higher (Rollo And ... Radioactive 1997
- Big Calm (CD, Album) Big Calm Indochina 1998
- Hard To Swallow (CD, Album) Universal Records 1998
- Orgazmo (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD) More Nickelbag Records 1998
- Sunday 8PM (Album) ? (15 versions) Postcards, Hem Of His ... Cheeky Records ... 1998
- Midnite Vultures (Album) ? (2 versions) Nicotine & Gravy, Milk... Geffen Records 1999
- Sunday 8PM / Saturday 3AM (Album) ? (3 versions) Postcards, Hem Of His ... Cheeky Records ... 1999
- Menace To Sobriety (CD, Album) Atlantic 2000
- Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (Album) ? (2 versions) Shakin' Capitol Records 2000
- Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down (Album) ? (3 versions) Got Messed Up, Miss Ma... Fat Possum Records ... 2000
- Braided Hair (Single, Maxi) ? (4 versions) Palm Pictures ... 2001
- El Capitan (CD, Single) El Capitan (SoulChild ... Warner Music (Australia) 2001
- Name Of The Game (CD, Maxi, Promo) Outpost Recordings 2001
- Tweekend (Album) ? (5 versions) Name Of The Game, Name... Outpost Recordings ... 2001
- Community Service (2xLP) Name Of The Game (Hybr... Ultra Records 2002
- Divine Operating System (CD, Album) Ghetto, Catch Me, Get ... Palm Pictures 2002
- Get Away (CD, Maxi) Get Away (Album Version) Palm Pictures 2002
- Resident Evil - Music From And Inspired By The Original Motion Picture (CD, Comp) Name Of The Game (Clea... Roadrunner Records 2002
- Tweekend Album Sampler (2x12") Name Of The Game (Albu... Tiny E Music 2002
- Emotional Technology (Maxi, Album) ? (2 versions) Knowledge Of Self, Dar... Avex Asia Ltd. ... 2003
- Legion Of Boom (Album) ? (4 versions) The American Way V2 Records ... 2003
- Poodle Hat (Album) ? (3 versions) Wanna B Ur Lovr Volcano (2) ... 2003
- Black Magic (12") Black Magic (Clean) Battle Axe Records 2006
- Black Magic (Album) ? (3 versions) Black Magic Battle Axe Records ... 2006
- Afterbirth (CD, Album, Dig) Speakers To The Sneakers 2.99 2007
- Only Death Can Kill You (12", Maxi) Side Road Records 2007
- Reverence / Sunday 8PM (2xCD, Album, RE, Dis) Postcards, Hem Of His ... Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. 2007
- 11i (CD, Album) Swallow Rykodisc 2008
- The Spirit Of Apollo (Album) ? (3 versions) N.A.S.A. Music Anti- 2009
Production
- Mope (Single) ? (2 versions) Mope (The Swamp Remix) Geffen Records ... 2000
- Peppermint (CD, Album) 240 Mango & Sweet Rice 2000
Appears on
- Bastard Eyes by Zilch, "Scratch Your Number (DJ Swamp Remix)" and "Sleasy Jesus (DJ Swamp, Ray McVeigh & Ryder Remix)" 1999
- Kerosene (CD, Maxi) Something To Do Slipdisc Records 1999
- Mope (CD, Maxi, Enh) Mope (The Swamp Remix) Geffen Records 2000
- 1 Giant Leap (CD, Album, Plu) Braided Hair, Passion Festival Mushroom Records 2001
- Brand New History (Album) ? (3 versions) Restless Records ... 2001
- Rockin' The Suburbs (Album) ? (4 versions) Rockin' The Suburbs Epic 2001
- The Attraction To All Things Uncertain (Album) ? (2 versions) Six Degrees Records ... 2001
- United States Of Consciousness Six Year Anniversary (CD) Crowd Control Consciousness Records 2002
- Legion Of Boom (Album) ? (2 versions) The American Way V2 Records ... 2004
- Mr. Anonymous (CD, Album) Not On Label 2005
- Attention Cherie (12") Out Hear Audio 2009
- The Spirit Of Apollo (CDr, Album, Promo) N.A.S.A Music Anti- 2009
- Remixes Vol. 1 (File, MP3, 160) N.A.S.A. Music (LA Rio... Not On Label (LA Riots Self-Released)
- Project 11 Volume 1 (CD, Maxi) Spiraling (Original), ... Hot Sauce Records 2005
Other media appearances
- Orgazmo (Motion Picture Soundtrack) ? (2 versions) Disintegrator Nickelbag Records 1998
- Orgazmo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD, Smplr) Disintegrator Nickelbag Records 1998
- Anarchy In The USA (CD) Disintegrator DMC Publishing 1999
- Wrong Turn (CD, Comp) He's A Killer Lakeshore Records 2003
- Instructions How To Draw Godzilla (CDr) Locked Groove Not On Label 2004
- Live @ 2939 (CDr, Mixed, Comp) Never Ending Drum & Ba... Addict Records 2004
- Baseck vs. SDR (CDr) Locked Groove Not On Label 2005
- Some Bizzare Double Album (2xCD, Comp) Worship The Robots Some Bizzare 2008
References
Categories:- Living people
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