Pioneers
ANTRON THE SCRATCHMATIC
Born: 18. December 1966
Real Name: Anthony Mabin
Artist Name: Antron
Representing Los Angels - Founder of Wracket DJ Antron akak Anthony ScratchMatic, Always the baddes MF in the room, like King Midas, turning everything into gold, always continues to innovate and reach new levels of achievement in everything he touces. Truly a West Coast Innovator, and originator, his history still undiscover, is imortalized in underground circles. Ant, quoted by People Magazine, and can be found in the film 5th Element continues to move through the industry´s back doors and side streets making his mark. Currently teamde up with former high school friend Emackillent, who previously recorded the hit record "Helluva, Brotherhood Creed Caoline Alle/MCA" will take their art to a new level. Back in the day, before the West was won, his first group know as Jam Crew made a name in Norwalk, CA ripping up the turntables like no one´s ever seen before at that time.
Following in the footsteps of DJ Swan from San Diego, and Grandmaster Flash (seen on tour at San Diego Sports Arena) Matic moved to LA and started out doing house party’s with Kid Frost, and rocked set’s at the Troubadour, SkateRanch (Santa Ana), Pico Rivera Sports arena, World On Wheels and the Park Jams and swap meets. With the best mixed tapes circulating, he then Created LA’s first Mix Record 12” Scratch Matic “Sound Of The Street” which circulated in the late 80’s and was played late nights on KJLH. Next following in the footsteps of current LA turntable god EGYPTIAN LOVER, His next crew known as Funk Army was with former Partner (DJ Juan Gibson aka Tha Swami). They created the underground 12” called "Swami Scratch" , that was pressed by the fledgling label, now know as Thump records. Funk Army toured local spots and did live shows. They split up after the now famous scene at regional park, over a dispute over ownership of the freakshow on the dancefloor 12”.
Matic then started as the DJ of LA’s famous underground hiphop club Radiotron after wining LA’s first DJ battle contest at the Radiotron, which was the crossroads of LA’s early hiphop roots. (Matic changed his name to DJ ANTRON after the judge called him that after winning the contest). Then just 18 years old, Antron was staff DJ and instructor along with (OZ Rock – NYC Breakers, Keith Silverflash – musician, Mr. Animation – Hip/hop Choreographer) at the club and day center which was the home of Breakdancers, MCs, graffiti artists and Dj’s. Antron was the DJ at Radiotron for the Cable show Breakdance from Coast to Coast, Hosted by Jazzy D and Darlene with ICE T, where Darlene was discovered (the girl on ICE T’s record cover). He then went on to tour and DJ at clubs such as Marshalls’ Ballroom, Club Metro (riverside), and dj’d with Joe Cooley, Arabian Prince, and Mr. Mixx (2 live crew).
Moving from the club’s to the studio he engineered and made beats for the pioneer record label Rappers Rap Disco Co. Record Label and Other Hollywood production companies, one of which discoverd and launched the group Atlantic Star, and just getting started in rap, had groups such as Easy E, and Tone loc at the time (before they were big). Antron produced the single "EARTHQUAKE" in 1987, that would have established him as the Westcoast leader, that record was never released - then the label folded. ("Earthquake" was an Uptempo westcoast battle record, with the illest scratchin on wax ever heard in '87. Similar to Dr. Dre's "Surgery". This was the sound of LA at the time). "EARTHQUAKE" featured LA's hottest female rap group at that time - 2 Counts Ice, who toured with KDAY radio station. 2 Counts Ice battled guy crews on stage and won. Kelly "Screaming K" from 2 counts ICE went on to do the International Hit "What have you done for me lately Rap" by King MC , which some of Wracket Crew Co-produced.
After this Antron was in the process of creating his own label with Ichiban. This led him to Memphis where He Co-produced with BarKay’s James Alexanders Son Jazzy Pha on Elektra. Production credits include WestCoast Rap – Rhino, Jazzy Pha – Elektra, Rappers Rapp
Records, Parliament Records, Jam Krew Records, Street Solid, and production work with the Ohio Players on his independent label. Antron also produced Local Artists, Jazzy D, King M.C., Psycho (Insane Poetry), Mika 9 (freestyle fellowship), and Clientele (World Class Wreckin Cru) and collaborations with former Lynch Mob. With interests in Film and Video and Computers, Antron worked on projects such as Michael Jackson’s “Ghosts Video”, Rolling Stones “Love Is Strong”, Digital Underground, Bone Thugs and Harmony, and Easy E music videos.
As the film work started taking off, Antron has worked on (True Lies, Apollo 13, WaterWorld, 5th Element, Batman&Robin, Devils Advocate, Eve’s Bayou, StarTrek Insurrection, XMEN, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas) And I almost forgot to mention Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon!!!!! Taking a break from film, Antron has put his old crew back together and is back in the studio for 2001.
Interview with Antron January 2007
Which musicians influenced you at the beginning of your career?
Bar-Kays, Grandmaster Flash, and Egyptian Lover was King on the West Coast period. He'd be on stage at the L.A. Sports areana with Uncle Jamms Army rocking the Turntables & 808 drum machine.
When did you started working as a DJ ?
1982 started Mad Jam, at Norwalk High School. Mad Jam was Mark-Anthony-David. We split up and I started Jam Crew. My mix tapes circulated around and then Scratchmatic was born.
My dad used to manufacture Speakers and Amplifiers called Trans-Amp and he gave me all his equipment. I had a wall of ElectoVoice powered Bass cabinets, and the worlds first Digital Turntable, the Technique 1900.
How did you get your artistname Antron?
I was Anthony-scratchmatic, till I won the DJ battle at Radiotron, and Dave Guzman started calling me Anthony-Tron, and I said, yea, Ant-Tron.
What was your first own music project ?
Scratchmatic "Sound of the Street" was my first 12" mix record, but Brothers Surpreme "We can´t be held Back" was my first time in the studio programming beats.
Did you ever visit the famous Radio in LA and met Ice T or Egypt?
Around 1984 we were looking for Radio, but could never find it. We heard the local Breakdancers were meeting there. But around early 1985, Breakers Only Store in Hollywood had a Battle DJ contest, that I won which led to a job at Radiotron. Ice-T is older than me, and was already an established LA hip/hop Icon by the time I arrived at Radio. We passed each other, but ended up as rival's from different clicks. I was in a Video called breakdance from coast to coast, Ice-T, Jazzy D, and Darlene were the hosts and I was the DJ.
How was your relationship to other artists from the West Coast like Lonzo, Dre, DJ Unknown or Ice T?
We used to battle everyone back then, so we were rivals. Radiotron was the battleground.
Did you ever visit one of the famous Uncle Jamms Army Parties in the Sports Arena ?
Was just starting in 83, and Egypt was already the "God" of dj's in Los Angeles. We used to travel to the LA Sports Arena just to see Egypt on the Turntables. I've since been in the studio with Egypt. I used to work with Egypt's brother Dave in the studio back in 1987.
What was your part in the Song "The Swami Scratch" ?
I did some scratching on it, I programmed some beats, but I don't remember if it was used or not.
Can you tell us the story bout your DJ Battle with Juan G and why you won?
It wasn't a battle against Juan G, but it was the finalists from LA's first DJ Battle contest. There were at least 3 or 4 of us. Cyco from Insane Poetry Known as Arabian Knight at the time took 3rd place, Juan G 2nd. Cyco told me at the end of the contest, "man you f#cked it up" everyone else tried to get complicated and have a routine, but you just went up there, dropped the needle and f#cked it up.
How did you came to the Brother Surpreme project and can you tell us what exactly was your part in this production?
K-Rock-G wasn't feeling the track they were trying to put down at the studio for Rappers Rap label, so he called me up and said, yo-I think you need to come down here with your 808 drum machine and show these fools.
Tha Swami send us a flyer from 1986 anouncing a live performance by the Brother Surpreme. Did you part in this event?
No, we parted ways after Radiotron
Can you tell us something bout the Label Street Talk and his owner Ben Weisman?
Ben Weisman and his Brother Len, had about 20 rap groups and they put me in charge of the studio as engineer & producer of my own projects. This was right during King Mc's "What have you done for me lately recording" , I helped mix that, but I was just starting then.
What soundequipment did you use for you productions ?
808 drum machine, oberheim modules, roland-s550.
Can you tell us the story bout the legendary Earthquake record and why was it never official released?
The distributor of Street Talk passed away (Lou) and that killed that project. Len & Ben Weismann were focusing on artists, and not me the in-house engineer.
When did you produced Antrons Revenge and was it ever released?
I re-used that track for a Jam Kru release "Can He do it"
Where there any other mixrecords like Sratchmatic - Sound of the Streets you worked on?
I made a scratchmatic II which we never released. It's on one of my reels somewhere.
Can you tell us the story how you met Kid Frost back in 1983?
I first started dj'ing with a group named Champagne Explosion, and they took me to a high school jam in Santa Fe Springs, that Frost was playing, I guess they wanted to check out Frost. I yelled up to Frost on stage and I asked him if I could get down on the tables "cause you aint ever seen anything like this before". They gave me a shot, so I ripped a scratch with a knob fader, and in 2 seconds Frost said "your hired". Then he put me down on every promotion in Norwalk & Montebello under the name of Jam Crew.
Can you explain the influence Kday had on the early West Coast Rap scene?
Kday was everything back in the day. It's all we had to listen too.
When you think back in time was your greatest memoriable moment
Working with the Ohio Players in the studio for a remake of Skin Tight, & Meeting James Alexander from the Bar-Kays to do some co-production on his son Phalon Alexander's (Jazzy Pha) first solo album.
Can you describe your relationship to Macola Records and to the owner Don McMilllan and what role does Macola played for the West Coast Rap Movement?
I never worked with Macola, I worked with Erika records, a small pressing plant trying to compete with Macola. Everyone that first came out on the west coast, went through Macola.
Can you name your personal top five electro songs from back in the days
Electric kingdom - Twilight 22
Clear - Cybotron
Jam On It - Newcleus
Pac Jam - The Johnson Crew
Planet Rock - SSF
What are you doin today?
How old are you now?
I stopped aging at 29 almost 10 years ago, lol. I'm the youngest of all the old school artists of that day.
Do you have some old photos, flyer or promo material we can add to your interview?
Yea, I'll send you a picture of me on stage at „Radiotron“.
|
Scratchmatic |
Sound of the Street |
LAS |
5600 |
1984 |
 |
Brothers "Supreme" |
We can´t be held back |
Street Talk |
ST 1003 |
1985 |
 |
Antron |
Earthquake |
Street Talk |
ST 1007
Testpressing |
1986 |
 |