The Kleptones

The Kleptones, aka Eric Kleptone is a DJ from Brighton in the United Kingdom who has produced several internet-only mashup albums. Typically he mixes rock/R&B instrumentals with rap and hip-hop vocals. His name is a parody of the famous guitarist, Eric Clapton, and a play on the fact that he is a "klepto of tones" (that is, he "steals" others' music).

History

His first release was a mix of "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by the The Flaming Lips with hip-hop/rap vocals and various soundbites from television programs and movies entitled "Yoshimi Battles the Hip-Hop Robots".

"A Night at the Hip-Hopera" was his break-through and most highly acclaimed album which fused Queen's rock music with rap vocals & many soundbites from movies (such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off) and other sources. On November 8 2004, Waxy, the main site that hosted "A Night at the Hip-Hopera", received a cease & desist notice from the Walt Disney Company (Hollywood Records) for illegal sampling of songs by Queen, similar to the banning of DJ Danger Mouse's "The Grey Album".

"From Detroit to J.A." was created originally for the radio program "The Rinse", XFM, London, UK and was originally broadcast on January 23 2005. Subsequently it was released as an internet-only album which this time fused R&B instrumentals with Pop, Rap, and R&B vocals.

In 2006 he released "24 Hours", a double length album. The release of "24 Hours" was preceded by three EP length releases, "EP1", "EP2" and "EP3". Each EP was available for download for a limited time -- EP2 replaced EP1, and in turn was replaced by EP3. EP3 itself was removed when "24 Hours" was released.

In May 2006 the groundbreaking Creative Commons-licensed film project A Swarm of Angels announced the Kleptones as soundtrack producers.

On December 7 2006 Eric Kleptone posted a podcast, titled "Hectic City" on the Kleptones' blog, stating that the intention is to make it a weekly release. The podcast contains mash-ups by the Kleptones, and other mash-up artists.

Discography

Albums

* 2003 "Yoshimi Battles the Hip-Hop Robots"
* 2004 "A Night at the Hip-Hopera"
* 2005 "From Detroit to J.A."
* 2006 "24 Hours"
* 2007 "Live'r Than You'll Ever Be - Bestival 2007"

EPs

* 2003 "Never Trust Originality"
* 2006 "EP1"
* 2006 "EP2"
* 2006 "EP3"

Non-album singles

*2002 "Madonna Is A Breeder" - 4:48
*2003 "Bling Crosby" - 2:25
*2004 "Bo Rhap" - 6:50
*2006 "Careless Or Dead (Bootie Version)" - 4:44

External links

* [http://www.kleptones.com/ The Kleptones Official Site]