Blockhead (music producer)
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| Blockhead | |
|---|---|
| File:Blockhead 2014.jpg
Blockhead in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Anthony Simon |
| Also known as | Tony Simon, T. Simon, Tones, Toneslap, Dr. Tony, Tone Capone |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York, United States |
| Genres | Instrumental hip hop, trip hop, downtempo, electronic, IDM |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, DJ |
| Instruments | Sampler |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Labels | Ninja Tune, Mush Records |
| Associated acts | Party Fun Action Committee, Aesop Rock, Illogic, Billy Woods |
| Website | blockheadmusic |
James Anthony "Tony" Simon, better known by his stage name Blockhead, is an American hip hop producer based in Manhattan, New York.
Aside from his solo efforts released on the Ninja Tune label, Blockhead is most associated with producing for Aesop Rock, a rapper for the indie hip hop labels Definitive Jux and Rhymesayers. He is also a member of the comedy hip hop group Party Fun Action Committee and has previously worked with rappers Cage, Hangar 18, Open Mike Eagle and Murs. According to him, his stage name comes from the shape of his head: "While it's not square, it's pretty close." [1]
Contents
Biography
Simon was born and raised in Manhattan. He is the son of the late Sidney Simon, a well-known sculptor in New York City, and Renee Adriance, a social worker. He has one brother and five half siblings.[1][2] From a young age, he loved hip hop—both the lyrical and musical aspects. In his early teens, he and his friends made a group called the Overground where Simon first started making music.[3] As an aspiring MC, he enrolled in Boston University in 1994. He only remained at Boston University for one year, but in that year Simon's real music career began when he first met and starting working with Aesop Rock who was also a student at BU. At this point Simon put aside his ambition to be a MC and focused on producing music.[1]
Discography
Albums
- Music by Cavelight (2004)
- Downtown Science (2005)
- Uncle Tony's Coloring Book (2007)
- The Music Scene (2009)
- Interludes After Midnight (2012)
- Bells and Whistles (2014)
Collaborations
- Dour Candy (with Billy Woods) (2013)
- Capture the Sun (with Illogic) (2013)
Singles
- Insomniac Olympics (2003)
- Sunday Seance / Jet Son (2004)
- Expiration Date (2005)
- Alright (2006)
- Nobody's Smiling (2007) with DJ Signify
Limited edition albums
- Broke Beats (2001)
- The Block Is Hot (2004)
- Block In The Box (2005)
- The Block Is Hot Pt. 2 (2005)
- Peanuts In Your Mouth (2007)
Party Fun Action Committee
- Let's Get Serious (2003)
Productions
- Aesop Rock - "1,000 Deaths" from Appleseed (1999)
- Aesop Rock - "Commencement at the Obedience Academy" "I'll Be OK" "Basic Cable" "Oxygen" "Spare a Match" "Attention Span" "Drawbridge" "The Mayor and the Crook" from Float (2000)
- Aesop Rock - "Daylight" "Save Yourself" "Flashflood" "No Regrets" "The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3" "Bent Life" "The Yes and the Y'All" "9-5ers Anthem" "Shovel" from Labor Days (2001)
- Aesop Rock - "Daylight" "Night Light" "Forest Crunk" "Maintenance" "11:35" from Daylight (2002)
- Murs - "Happy Pillz" from The End of the Beginning (2002)
- Aesop Rock - "Zero Dark Thirty Bonus Track Remix" from Skelethon
- S.A. Smash - "Love to Fuck" from Smashy Trashy (2003)
- Aesop Rock - "Cook It Up" "Babies With Guns" "11:35" from Bazooka Tooth (2003)
- Vordul Mega - "Struggles" from The Revolution of Yung Havoks (2004)
- Cryptic One - "Apocalypse Zone", "Unicycle", "Bicycle", and "Tricycle" from The Anti-Mobius Strip Theory (2004)
- Cage - "Too Heavy for Cherubs" "Stripes" "Scenster" from Hell's Winter (2005)
- Illogic - "An Ocean" from Write to Death (2005)
- Aesop Rock - "Fast Cars" "Number Nine" "Holy Smokes" from Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives (2005)
- Hangar 18 - "The West Wing" "Room to Breathe" from Sweep the Leg (2007)
- Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass" "Bring Back Pluto" "Fumes" "Getaway Car" "The Harbor Is Yours" "No City" "Coffee" from None Shall Pass (2007)
- Isaiah Toothtaker - "Winds Know Better" "Tucson AZ" from Murs 3:16 Presents (2008)
- DJ Signify - "Costume Kids" "1993" from Of Cities (2009)
- Open Mike Eagle - "Billy's Quagmire" from Extended Nightmares Getdown: The Dark Blue Door (2011)
- Illogic - Preparing for Capture (2012)
Remixes
- The Majesticons - "Suburb Party" from "Majestwest Party" b/w "Suburb Party" (2003)
- Her Space Holiday - "Meet the Pressure" from The Young Machines Remixed (2004)
- Cool Calm Pete - "Lost - Blockhead Remix" from "Lost the Single" (2005)
- Omega One - "Off the Horizon" from Memento (2006)
- Del the Funkee Homosapien - "Foot Down" from "Workin' It" (2008)
- Yameen - "Fire" featuring Casual and Georgia Anne Muldrow from Never Knows More (2009)
- Nacho Picasso - "Benjamin Segal" from For the Glory (2011)
- Emancipator - "Nevergreen" from Safe In The Steep Cliffs (2011)
- Fiona Apple - "Hot Knife" from "The Idler Wheel..." (2012)
Compilation appearances
- "The Active Element" with Aesop Rock on Ropeladder 12 (2000)
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Ableton Live users
- American electronic musicians
- Ninja Tune artists
- Living people
- American hip hop record producers
- American hip hop DJs
- Year of birth missing (living people)
- East Coast hip hop musicians
- Musicians from New York City
- Date of birth missing (living people)
