Press release by UGHH.com

"When K-Def mentioned to his friends at Redef that he knew pioneering producer 45 King, it led to two questions: "What is he up to and when can we work with him?" The 45 King was only a phone call and a 10 minute drive away. After initiating the recording session, K immediately went into A&R mode to complete "Back to the Beat," an instrumental exhibition that features the two producers trading ideas.


During the last several years, K-Def has arguably proven to be the hardest working man in the production business, consistently releasing at least 4 albums of brand new conceptual material annually. From working under Marley Marl in the early 90's to producing for P. Diddy in the late 2000's, K-Def's career has eclipsed two decades, but it was a man by the name of DJ Mark the 45 King who inspired K years before his professional career began. The 45 King has been behind some the biggest names in hip-hop and beyond, from Gangstarr, Eric B & Rakim, to Jay-Z, Eminem and even Madonna.

Conceptually, it is not the first release of it's kind as some may remember 45 King collabs with Louie Louie or the T.C.S. in the late 80's/ early 90's. Sonically, the album is composed of 2 personalities that communicate, compliment and compete while the audience is engaged. 45 King leads the show while K-Def is his lead soloist. In pure form, both identities are on display showcasing the technicality in simplicity taking a "crawl before you walk" approach. In the immortal words of T. La Rock, Redefinition Records is proud to present "Back to the Beat". There's more than enough hard drums and catchy samples to live up to the title. Thank you K-Def for making history in 2014 with the 45 King."

"We visited legendary hip-hop producer & 7" encyclopedia, The 45 King, at his home in New Jersey for an extended DJ set. This guy has produced some of the biggest hip-hop tracks of the past 25 years (Stan, Hard Knock Life, The 900 Number) so it was a stand-up pleasure for him to grace us with an exclusive mix." - Boiler Room TV

Audio download of 45 King's set available at http://boilerroom.tv/recording/45-king/

45 King Part 1 from The Cut on Vimeo.

DJ Mark "The 45 King" is a pioneer raised within the tradition of early Hip Hop DJs of The Bronx. Known for a vast record collection of breaks used as the foundation for producing numerous classics for The Flavor Unit and one of Hip Hop's most famous beats "The 900 Number", Mark has survived the times while leaving a strong influence of traditional boom-bap for generations to come. DJ Revolution shows appreciation for the legacy of The 45 King by recalling the significance of his early work in sampling, loops and breakbeat innovation, to high-profile projects with Eminem and Jay-Z. Long live the DJ and vinyl.

Watch part 2 of their interview here.