Mix Master Mike

Michael Schwartz
Background information
Birth name Michael Schwartz
Also known as Mix Master Mike
Born (1970-04-04) April 4, 1970
Origin San Francisco, California
Genres Turntablism, hip-hop, rap rock
Occupation(s) Disc jockey
Instruments Turntables
Years active 1989–present
Labels Grand Royal, Capitol
Associated acts Beastie Boys, Invisibl Skratch Piklz
Website www.mixmastermike.com

Michael Schwartz, better known by his stage name Mix Master Mike (born April 4, 1970),[1] is an American turntablist best known for his work with the Beastie Boys.

Life and career

Born in San Francisco, California, Mix Master Mike is of German and Filipino descent.[2] Known as a prolific and internationally influential DJ, Mix Master Mike came to prominence upon winning the 1992 New Music Seminar/Supermen Inc. DJ Battle for World Supremacy in New York City, becoming the first West Coast DJ ever to do so. In the same year, his turntablism collective Rock Steady DJs won the DMC World DJ Championships, establishing Mix Master Mike as one of the pre-eminent DJs in the industry. This success was followed by triumph in the 1993 DMC Championships, this time as part of a duo with DJ Qbert.

Mix Master Mike and DJ Qbert subsequently founded the turntablist group The Invisibl Skratch Piklz with DJ Apollo.

Mix Master Mike's most high-profile work has been with hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. Mix Master Mike worked with the band on Hello Nasty (1998), To The 5 Boroughs (2004), and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011). He also appears on the Beastie Boys single "Alive", which was released in 1999 in support of The Sounds of Science retrospective anthology. From the studio to world tours, Mix Master Mike is now effectively the Beastie Boys' resident DJ, having replaced DJ Hurricane, who was preceded by Doctor Dré (not to be confused with Dr. Dre) who replaced Rick Rubin known as DJ Double R.

In 1994, after winning three consecutive DMC World Championships, it was rumored that Mix Master Mike and Q-Bert were asked to retire from further competition, so as to avoid monopolizing the title.[3] This claim is disputed by the DMC World Championship Website. After retiring from the world of competitive turntablism, Mix Master Mike and Qbert became judges for the 1995 DMC Championships.

Mike has also helped fellow DJs produce their own albums, most notably, Wave Twisters, by DJ Q-bert.

Mix Master Mike is known for his heavy-hitting bass and intricate scratch routines. Mike's solo album Eye of the Cyklops won best electronic album in 2000 at the California music awards.

In 1995, he was honored with The Grand Wizzard Theodore lifetime achievement award from the International Turntablist Federation. He has collaborated with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Lee, Rob Zombie, Fela Kuti and Joss Stone, among others.

In 2002, Mix Master Mike contributed two tracks to Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD created by the Red Hot Organization in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, that raised money for various charities devoted to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease and featured many other contemporary hip-hop and R&B artists. He remade classic Fela Kuti songs, "Interlude: Gimme Shit" and "Water No Get Enemy."

Mix Master Mike is often credited with inventing the Tweak Scratch. The scratch is performed by moving the record back and forth while the platter motor is stopped. The inertia of the platter causes the sounds to slow and drop in pitch in an unusual manner. He is also well known for the unusual technique of using a wah-wah pedal, an effect most commonly used by guitarists, with his turntables.

Mix Master Mike is featured as a secret character that can be obtained through a cheat code in the 2002 snowboarding game SSX Tricky. He also contributed the song "Patrol Knob" to the soundtrack of the NTSC and PAL versions of the 2000 game Jet Grind Radio.

Mix Master Mike is one of 9 artists who participated in thetruth.com’s Remix Project, in which he remixed the Sunny Side song “Tough Love”.

On March 9, 2010 Mix Master Mike was a guest on the Cool Tricks segment of Yo Gabba Gabba. In December, Mix Master Mike provided scratches for a cover of Frank Zappa's "Willie the Pimp", which appeared on the iTunes compilation The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle 2010, featuring rappers Darryl McDaniels and Talib Kweli and singing by Zappa's son, Ahmet Zappa. On Dec 2nd 2010, Skullcandy and Mix Master Mike launched the official Mix Master Mike headphones, released in all major marketplaces including Apple stores, worldwide.

In 2011, Mix Master Mike has joined Travis Barker for a few performances promoting Travis' debut album Give the Drummer Some - On February 10, 2011, performing "Can a Drummer Get Some?" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Travis Barker, Game and Swizz Beatz, and On March 7, 2011, performing "Saturday Night" on Conan with Travis Barker, Transplants and Elvis Cortez. It was then confirmed that Mix Master Mike will be performing with Barker again, joining Barker on his I Am Music Tour supporting Lil Wayne, through March–April 2011.

In June of 2011 it was announced that he was to present a Saturday night show on the alternative radio network Xfm from 6pm-7pm for an initial 13 week period commencing July 9. In May of 2012 Beastie boys along with Mix Master Mike were inducted into the Rock n roll Hall of fame in Cleveland Ohio. In December of 2013 Mix Master Mike became the first turntablist to perform at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for The Kennedy Center Honors in honor of Herbie Hancock, performing "Rockit"

Discography

Albums

EPs, singles, and Mixtapes

Mixtapes

Awards and credentials

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bigfloor.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=29&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
  2. ↑ According to the LA Weekly newspaper, he is of German and Filipino ancestry.
  3. ↑ http://www.snwmf.com/festivalbios/99festivalbios/mixmaster.html

External links

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