Kevin Marques Moo[1] (born 1974),[2] better known by his stage name Daddy Kev, is an American record producer, DJ,[3] Grammy Award-winning audio engineer,[4] songwriter and executive from Los Angeles, California.[5] He is the owner of Alpha Pup Records[6] and the founder of Low End Theory.[7] As an audio engineer, Daddy Kev has mixed and mastered albums by Flying Lotus,[8] Thundercat,[9] Kamasi Washington,[10] and Leon Bridges.[11]
Daddy Kev | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Kevin Marques Moo |
Born | 1974 (age 49–50) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupations | |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | |
Website | www |
Early life
editDaddy Kev was born and raised in the Harbor City neighborhood of Los Angeles.[12] As a child, he played piano and trumpet.[13] At the age of 13, he started playing turntables.[13] He graduated from Narbonne High School.[13] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from University of California, San Diego.[14]
Career
editIn 2001, Daddy Kev released an EP, Lost Angels, on Celestial Recordings. It featured guest appearances from the rappers Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Busdriver, Awol One, and Circus.[15][16] In that year, he also released Souldoubt, a collaborative album with Awol One, on Meanstreet Records.[17][18] Another collaborative album with Awol One, titled Slanguage, was released on Mush Records in 2003.[19] 2004 brought Busdriver's Cosmic Cleavage, which was produced entirely by Daddy Kev and released on Big Dada.[20]
In 2006, he founded the weekly Low End Theory club night at the Airliner in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.[21]
In 2012, he founded the studio Cosmic Zoo in Los Angeles along with the rapper Nocando.[22]
At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2016, he was nominated for the Best Dance Recording award for mixing the Flying Lotus song "Never Catch Me" featuring Kendrick Lamar.[23]
At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards held in 2021, he won the Best Progressive R&B Album award for mixing the Thundercat album It Is What It Is.[24]
In July 2021, he started the weekly Scenario club night in Los Angeles, which showcases upcoming artists in the local scene.[25]
In 2022, he self-published a book on audio engineering entitled Audio Dynamics: Compression Techniques for Modern Mixing and Mastering.[26]
At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2023, he was nominated for the Best Historical Album award for mastering the Freestyle Fellowship album To Whom It May Concern....[27]
Style and influences
editPitchfork called Daddy Kev "one of the Los Angeles underground's most visionary producers",[28] while Fact called him "one of underground hip-hop's most respected engineers".[29]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Souldoubt (2001) (with Awol One)
- Number 3 on the Phone (2002) (with Awol One)
- Slanguage (2003) (with Awol One)
- Reefer (2008) (with Nicholas Thorburn, as Reefer)
EPs
edit- Lost Angels (2001)
- Sound Advice (2003) (with The Grouch and D-Styles)
- Killafornia (2005) (with Awol One)
Singles
edit- "Rhythm" (2001) (with Awol One)
Productions
edit- Phoenix Orion – "Scanners", "Millennium Fever", "Dead Men Don't Download", and "Blade Runner" from Zimulated Experiencez (1998)
- Supernatural – "Seven Minutes of Understanding" (1999)
- Alien Nation – "Unicron" (1999)
- Sole – "Famous Last Words" from Bottle of Humans (2000)
- Naptron – "Marvin Meets Seymour Frye Pt. I" (2000)
- Mikah 9 – "First Things Last" from Timetable (2001)
- Abstract Rude – "Frisbee" from P.A.I.N.T. (2001)
- Busdriver – "Mindcrossings", "Suing Sony", and "Single Cell Ego" from Temporary Forever (2002)
- Existereo – "Four Way Window Pain" from Dirty Deeds & Dead Flowers (2003)
- Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique – "Flow and Tell" from Showtyme (2003)
- Neila – "Vertical Trees with Eternal Leaves" from Vertical Trees with Eternal Leaves (2003)
- Busdriver and Radioinactive – "Winthorp & Winthorp" (2003)
- Existereo – "Same Breath" from Crush Groove (2004)
- The Shape Shifters – "Rockin' These Mics", "Kreye Inn", and "Futuristic" from Was Here (2004)
- Busdriver – Cosmic Cleavage (2004)
- Sage Francis – "Dance Monkey" from A Healthy Distrust (2005)
- Awol One – "Everything's Perfect" from The War of Art (2006)
- Subtitle – "Restructure/Reroute" from Terrain to Roam (2006)
- Acid Reign – "Too Kool for Skool" and "Here Comes Trouble" from Time & Change (2008)
- The Grouch – "Shero" from Show You the World (2008)
Select works mastered by Daddy Kev
edit2000s
edit- 2002 - Shockadoom - Freestyle Fellowship
- 2002 - Temporary Forever - Busdriver
- 2003 - Sound Advice - The Grouch
- 2004 - Bangzilla - Mix Master Mike
- 2004 - Cosmic Cleavage - Busdriver
- 2006 - Throw A Fit EP - Daedelus
- 2007 - Reset - Flying Lotus
- 2008 - Early Works For Me If It Works For You II - Dntel
- 2008 - Los Angeles - Flying Lotus
- 2008 - L.A. EP 1 X 3 - Flying Lotus
- 2008 - Ken Can Cook - Kenny Segal
- 2008 - Rap Beats Vol. 1 - Samiyam
- 2008 - Live at Low End Theory - Daedelus
- 2008 - Reefer - Reefer
- 2009 - Drift - Nosaj Thing
- 2009 - Brotha From Anotha Planet - Ras G
2010s
edit- 2010 - Cosmogramma - Flying Lotus
- 2010 - Machines Hate Me - Dibiase
- 2010 - Ardour - Teebs
- 2010 - Midnight Menu - TOKiMONSTA
- 2010 - Shlomoshun Deluxe - Shlohmo
- 2010 - Cerulean - Baths
- 2010 - Camping - Shlohmo
- 2010 - After Parties 1 - Dntel
- 2010 - After Parties 2 - Dntel
- 2011 - The Golden Age of Apocalypse - Thundercat
- 2011 - Endless Planets - Austin Peralta
- 2011 - Bowser - Jonwayne
- 2011 - Collections 01 - Teebs
- 2011 - Creature Dreams - TOKiMONSTA
- 2011 - Complex Housing - Salva
- 2011 - Stade 2 - Mr. Oizo
- 2011 - Outmind - Matthewdavid
- 2011 - Manifestations - Mono/Poly
- 2011 - Life is Full of Possibilites (Deluxe Edition) - Dntel
- 2011 - Ghost People - Martyn
- 2011 - Sam Baker's Album - Samiyam
- 2012 - Until the Quiet Comes - Flying Lotus
- 2012 - The Death of Andrew - Jonwayne
- 2012 - When You're Gone - Lapalux
- 2012 - The Narcissist II - Dean Blunt
- 2013 - Indigoism - The Underachievers
- 2013 - Needs - Giraffage
- 2013 - Stade 3 - Mr. Oizo
- 2013 - Apocalypse - Thundercat
- 2013 - Kenny Dennis LP - Serengeti
- 2013 - Obsidian - Baths
- 2013 - Back on the Planet - Ras G
- 2013 - Rap Album One - Jonwayne
- 2014 - You're Dead! - Flying Lotus
- 2014 - In Return - ODESZA
- 2014 - a toothpaste suburb - Milo
- 2014 - Estara - Teebs
- 2014 - Desiderium - TOKiMONSTA
- 2014 - The Church - Mr. Oizo
- 2014 - Ocean Death - Baths
- 2014 - Vivid Green - Nobody
- 2015 - The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam - Thundercat
- 2015 - The Epic - Kamasi Washington
- 2015 - Jonwayne Is Retired EP - Jonwayne
- 2015 - The Courage of Present Times - Sonnymoon
- 2015 - So the Flies Don't Come - Milo
- 2015 - Hella Personal Film Festival - Open Mike Eagle
- 2015 - Mù Chè Shān Chū - Howie Lee
- 2015 - Plain Speaking - Scallops Hotel
- 2015 - Intermission - Shigeto
- 2015 - In the Moment E & F Sides - Makaya McCraven
- 2015 - Mars Is A Very Bad Place For Love - The Breathing Effect
- 2015 - Sold Out - DJ Paypal
- 2015 - Lil Me - Wiki
- 2015 - Chinese Nü Yr - Iglooghost
- 2015 - Thumbs - Busdriver
- 2015 - Evermore: The Art of Duality - The Underachievers
- 2015 - Shades - Alix Perez & EPROM
- 2016 - All Wet - Mr. Oizo
- 2016 - Callus - Gonjasufi
- 2016 - Labyrinths - Daedelus
- 2016 - Stairs - GASHI
- 2016 - Enter the Gungeon (Original Soundtrack) - Dose One
- 2016 - The Feminine: Act I - Anna Wise
- 2016 - Fool - Jameszoo
- 2016 - Astral Progressions - Josef Leimberg
- 2016 - No Reality - Nosaj Thing
- 2017 - Harmony of Difference - Kamasi Washington
- 2017 - Drunk - Thundercat
- 2017 - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream - Open Mike Eagle
- 2017 - Rap Album Two - Jonwayne
- 2017 - Mandela Effect - Gonjasufi
- 2017 - The Feminine: Act II - Anna Wise
- 2017 - Romaplasm - Baths
- 2017 - Spangle-Lang Lane - Ryan Porter
- 2017 - Triumph - Ronald Bruner Jr.
- 2017 - The Fisherman Abides - The Breathing Effect
- 2017 - Uprising - Miles Mosley
- 2018 - Who Told You to Think??!!?!?!?! - Milo
- 2018 - Aphelion - Ross from Friends
- 2018 - Heaven and Earth - Kamasi Washington
- 2018 - Overload - Georgia Anne Muldrow
- 2018 - Budding Ornithologists Are Weary of Tired Analogies - Milo
- 2018 - The Optimist - Ryan Porter
- 2018 - Family Portrait - Ross from Friends
- 2019 - Flamagra - Flying Lotus
- 2019 - I C U U C ME Pt. II - Sebastian Mikael
- 2019 - Force For Good - Ryan Porter
- 2019 - Encrypted & Vulnerable - Saul Williams
- 2019 - As If It Were Forever - Anna Wise
- 2019 - Epiphany - Ross from Friends
- 2019 - Zdenka 2080 - Salami Rose Joe Louis
- 2019 - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery - The Comet Is Coming
2020s
edit- 2020 - It Is What It Is - Thundercat
- 2020 - Becoming — Music from the Netflix Original Documentary - Kamasi Washington
- 2020 - Crazy - Kelly Rowland
- 2020 - Purple Moonlight Pages - R.A.P. Ferreira
- 2020 - Anime, Trauma and Divorce - Open Mike Eagle
- 2020 - Photosynthesis - The Breathing Effect
- 2020 - Sea Monster - Joey Pecoraro
- 2020 - The Room - Ricky Reed
- 2020 - These Days - St. Panther
- 2020 - Ryan Porter (Live at New Morning, Paris) - Ryan Porter
- 2021 - bob's son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel - R.A.P. Ferreira
- 2021 - Gold-Diggers Sound - Leon Bridges
- 2021 - Duets | Golden Gate Bridge - Nate Mercereau
- 2021 - Under the Lilac Sky - Arushi Jain
- 2021 - Primordial Waters - Jamael Dean
- 2021 - Greatness / Places - St. Panther
- 2021 - BLK VINTAGE - BLK ODYSSY
- 2021 - the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures - R.A.P. Ferreira
- 2021 - shut the fuck up talking to me - Zack Fox
- 2021 - When There's Love Around - Kiefer
- 2021 - To Whom It May Concern... - Freestyle Fellowship
- 2022 - Ozzy's Dungeon - Flying Lotus
- 2022 - PHILEO - Sebastian Mikael
- 2022 - Component System with the Auto Reverse - Open Mike Eagle
- 2022 - 5 to the Eye with Stars - R.A.P. Ferreira
- 2022 - Resilience - Ryan Porter
- 2022 - SUNDAYS EXPANSION - Nate Mercereau
- 2022 - Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam - The Comet Is Coming
- 2022 - wood tip - Zack Fox
- 2022 - LUME - Jeff Rona
- 2023 - Ojai Orange Grove Concert - Nate Mercereau
- 2023 - Intergalactic Warp Terminal 222 - Lionmilk
- 2023 - PHILEO Deluxe - Sebastian Mikael
- 2023 - Live in Venice - Nate Mercereau
- 2023 - Saana Sahel - Colloboh
- 2023 - Akousmatikous - Salami Rose Joe Louis
- 2023 - SOUTHEND LEGEND - KingTrey
- 2023 - Another Triumph of Ghetto Engineering - Open Mike Eagle
- 2023 - The Fall Collection - Hemlock Ernst & Height Keech
- 2023 - It's Ok, B U - Kiefer
- 2023 - How To Capture Playful - Pink Navel & Kenny Segal
- 2023 - Coffee - Delilah Montagu
- 2024 - Subtle Movements - Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau & Carlos Niño
- 2024 - the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap - R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura
- 2024 - Without Words - Delilah Montagu
- 2024 - Delight - Arushi Jain
- 2024 - Paradigm Shift - Sebastian Mikael
- 2024 - This Ain't the Way You Go Out - Lucy Rose
- 2024 - Night Reign - Arooj Aftab
Awards and nominations
editAward | Year of ceremony | Nominee / work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grammy Awards | 2016 | Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar – "Never Catch Me" | Best Dance Recording | Nominated | [30][31] |
2021 | Thundercat – It Is What It Is | Best Progressive R&B Album | Won | [32][33] | |
2023 | Freestyle Fellowship – To Whom It May Concern... | Best Historical Album | Nominated | [34] |
References
edit- ^ Walker, Chris (August 29, 2014). "How Daddy Kev Uses Low End Theory as a Talent Incubator". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Daddy Kev". Resident Advisor. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Bourgelle, Fabrice (April 2, 2014). "Slinking In LA: Daddy Kev Plays Tour Guide". Clash. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (March 14, 2021). "Thundercat Wins Best Progressive R&B Album at 2021 Grammys". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Mike (May 28, 2010). "Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Episode 100: Daddy Kev". Kinda Neat. 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Fintoni, Laurent (February 11, 2013). "Interview: Daddy Kev". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Fintoni, Laurent (August 26, 2015). "How Flying Lotus Built Brainfeeder, His Spiritual Little Empire". The Fader. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (February 24, 2017). "Here Are The Full Credits For Thundercat's Drunk Album". The Fader. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ Dwyer, Alex (May 3, 2017). "How The LA Beat Scene Brought Jazz Back". Forbes. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ Bromwich, Jonah (July 23, 2021). "Leon Bridges: Gold-Diggers Sound". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ Pirone, Kristy (February 3, 2015). "Sounds of LA: Daddy Kev". Daily Bruin. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c Bell, Max (May 16, 2016). ""I'm Going To Make Records Until I'm Dead": An Interview with Daddy Kev". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Bell, Max (May 4, 2016). "When It Comes to L.A.'s World-Renowned Beat Scene, Daddy Kev Does It All". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ DiBella, M.F. "Lost Angels – Daddy Kev". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Juon, Steve (May 29, 2001). "Daddy Kev – Lost Angels E.P. – Celestial Recordings". RapReviews.com. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Van Groningen, Tony (September 1, 2003). "Daddy Kev & Awol One – Souldoubt – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Quinlan, Thomas (May 1, 2001). "Awol One & Daddy Kev – Souldoubt". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Heaton, Dave (June 1, 2003). "Awol One and Daddy Kev: Slanguage". PopMatters. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Dahlen, Chris (July 25, 2004). "Busdriver: Cosmic Cleavage". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Brown, August (October 4, 2009). "Low End Theory: High-concept music". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Fintoni, Laurent (September 12, 2015). "Inside Cosmic Zoo, the studio at the heart of L.A.'s beat scene". Fact. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Medved, Matt (December 7, 2015). "Grammy Nominations 2016: Dance Nominees Are Deserving, But Can't Catch a Major Category Break". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ Freiman, Jordan (March 15, 2021). "Thundercat's 'It Is What It Is' Wins Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album". CBS News. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Weiss, Jeff (2023-03-16). "After the death of the Airliner, who are the next heirs to L.A.'s underground throne left behind by Low End Theory?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Lejarde, Arielle (November 10, 2022). "Low End Theory founder Daddy Kev publishes book on mixing and mastering". The Fader. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Willman, Chris (November 15, 2022). "Grammy Awards nominations 2023: The complete list". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Shepherd, Julianne (March 27, 2003). "Awol One / Daddy Kev: Slanguage". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Daddy Kev drops essential mastering advice on Twitter". Fact. June 21, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. February 15, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Grammy.com page for Kevin Marques Moo". Grammy.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved Feb 1, 2022.
- ^ "Thundercat Wins Best Progressive R&B Album For 'It Is What It Is'". Grammy.com. March 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees". The New York Times. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.