Mantronix Makes Inroads In British Pop - But Black Duo Still Waiting For A U.S. Hit

BY BRIAN CHIN

NEW YORK Lately, the continuing story of pop inroads made by American black music overseas is being substantially written by producer/artist Mantronik. His productions on the New York-based Sleeping Bag label have reached Britain’s top 60 singles charts three times in six months, though none has crossed over as pop hits at home despite significant dance and black charts showings. Mantronik is the studio tag of Curtis Khaleel, who gave up his studies in aerospace engineering and video directing to score a top 20 U.K. hit within a year of taking up music. Khaleel is half of the duo Mantronix, along with McTee. The Mantronix rap "Ladies" was a top 60 hit last winter, The follow up "Bassline," on the British 10 Records, is currently in the top 40. Most notably, the dance hit "(You Are My) All And All," a Mantronik production licensed by Sleeping Bag Record to London Records, peaked at No. 16 on the U.K. charts. "I learned production as I went along a year ago", says Khaleel. "I bought a drum machine, played at home, and went with friends to studios to watch." He echoes a recent statement by Arthur Baker to the effect that any piece of musical equipment could potentially be the nucleus of a first record. Aside from occasional DJ spots at Manhattan’s Roxy and Danceteria, making music was no more than a hobby. "I was the store DJ at Downtown Records and McTEE was an customer, says Khaleel. "I had an idea to make a beat/scratch records. I thought of it was a demo, but he thought of it was a finished record. "The track turned out to be the first Mantronix single, "Fresh Is The Word." Total costs of the track was $800; $600 for one and a half days of studio time and $200 for mastering. Sleeping Bag Records signed the duo and immediately arranged for an bum to be recorded. "It was never suggested that we hire anyone to produce ‘Mantronix: The Album,’" says Khaleel. "And I thought I could do it myself. By the time I did ‘Fresh’ just by playing with keyboards, I had a rough idea of what to do. Producing and r&b vocal record was far more complicated, Khaleel admits. He was assigned the record after production had already started, eventually stripping it down and recutting the track substantially. "I don’t really play, but you can construct things by touching the keys and sequencing., "Khaleel says. He ascribes the favorable reception of his records in the British market simply to the fact that "they’re more open to new things. ‘Basslines’ was r&b /hip hop and ‘Ladies’ was r&b. He says both were more melodic than the usual rap fare of the vocalists "dis-ing" each other. Regard for his own production instinct, in fact, left Khaleel wishing he had more input from his British licensees when remixes of "Ladies" and "All And All" were requested. They just said, ‘Do what you feel. ‘That bothered me." Mantronix has already made several U.K. appearances, including one with Kurtis Blow. Despite having little live performing experience, Khaleel is confident about the duo’s live act. "We’ll have keyboards and the sampling machines," he says. "We’ll put the bass in their face and the snare…..somewhere."

Source: Billboard 1986