Pioneers
UNKNOWN DJ IS THE MASTER OF THE 808
Born: Unknown
Real Name: Andre Manuel
Artist Name: DJ Unknown
The Unknown DJ, born Andre Manuel, is one of the pioneers of West Coast hip-hop. He started as a DJ back in the early 80´s spinning records in Lonzo´s "Eve after Dark". 1983 he first appeared on Captain Rapp´s "Bad Times" produced by Cletus Anderson who was the owner of Saturn Records. On the same label he did his first rappin with Dr. Dre and Daniel Sofer for the title "Rhythm Rock Rap" in 1984. Daniel Sofer was the musical mastermind behind this production and shortly after Unknown hired him to work on the first track recorded on his own Techno Hop label called "Beatronic".
After that Unknown DJ and "Perfect Tommy", which was Daniel Sofers nickname, produced West Coast Classics like "808 Beats" and "Let´s Jam" together. Darryl Davis aka Lyrrad parted in these productions and did the drawings for the famous picture covers and the Techno Hop Logo. 1986 Unknown DJ produced "6 in the mornin" the first Gangsta Rap with Ice T which was the flipside from "Dog´n the Wax".
1988 Unknown DJ foundet the Techno Kut label which was known for productions like "Basstronic" , "Breakdown", "Unknown´s House" and "X-men series". In 1989 Techno Kut released the last record called "C.M.W - This is Compton".
The Unknown DJ continued as a producer for MC Eight's crew Compton´s Most Wanted. He also produced music for artists such as A.L.T., Brownside, H.W.A., Bobby Jimmy, and King Tee. He gave Yella of the World Class Wreckin Cru his name after a song from Tom Tom Club "Mr. Yellow" and he had idea for the song roaches by Bobby Jimmy and the Critters.
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Captain Rapp |
Bad Times |
Saturn |
SAT 2003 |
1983 |
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Daniel Sofer and Dr. Dre |
Rhythm Rock Rapp |
Saturn |
SAT 2008 |
1984 |
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Unknown and Three D |
Beatronic |
Techno Hop |
THR 1 |
1984 |
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The Unknown DJ |
808 Beats |
Techno Hop |
THR 2 |
1984 |
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The Unknown DJ |
Let´s Jam |
Techno Hop |
THR 3 |
1985 |
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Facade |
The Groove |
Techno Hop |
THR 4 |
1985 |
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Jazzy D |
A Wack Girl |
Techno Hop |
THR 5 |
1985 |
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The Organization |
The Big Beat |
Techno Hop |
THR 6 |
1985 |
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Cli-n-tel |
2030 |
Techno Hop |
THR 8 |
1986 |
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Jazzy D |
That´s what I did |
Techno Hop |
THR 9 |
1986 |
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Ice T |
Ya don´t quit |
Techno Hop |
THR 10 |
1986 |
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The Mechanic |
Sweat |
Techno Hop |
THR 12 |
1986 |
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Ice T |
Dog´n the Wax |
Techno Hop |
THR 13 |
1986 |
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Dee Dee |
Ring My Bell |
Techno Hop |
THR-14 |
1986 |
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King Tee With DJ Keith Cooley |
Playbacks A Mutha |
Techno Hop |
THR-15 |
1987 |
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The Best Of Techno Hop Vol.1 |
The Best Of Techno Hop Vol.1 Album |
Techno Hop |
THR-1216 |
1987 |
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King Tee |
The Coolest |
Techno Hop |
THR-17 |
1987 |
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Dezo Daz Featuring DJ Slip |
It's My Turn |
Techno Hop |
THR-19 |
1987 |
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Bobby Jimmy and the Critters |
Snake |
Macola |
MRC-0967 |
1987 |
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DJ Battery Brain |
808 Volt Mix |
Techno Hop |
THR-20 |
1988 |
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DJ Battery Brain And Vicious C |
Get On Off Yo Butt |
Techno Hop |
THR-21 |
1989 |
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C.M.W. (Comptons Most Wanted) |
This Is Compton |
Techno Hop |
THR-22 |
1989 |
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Unknown DJ |
Breakdown |
Techno Kut |
TK-1201 |
1988 |
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Unknown DJ And DJ Slip |
X-Men |
Techno Kut |
TK-1202 |
1988 |
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DJ Battlecat |
D.J.-N-Effect |
Techno Kut |
TK-1203 |
1988 |
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Unknown DJ And DJ Slip |
Revenge Of The X-Men |
Techno Kut |
TK-1204 |
1988 |
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Kyna Antee Aka The Mistress |
Let It Go |
Techno Kut |
TK-1205 |
1988 |
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E.V.I.A.N. And The Atlantis Posse |
Techno City |
Techno Kut |
TK-1206 |
1988 |
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Unknown DJ |
Basstronic |
Techno Kut |
TK-1207 |
1988 |
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Mistress, The & DJ Madame "E" |
I Got Your Wild Thang |
Techno Kut |
TK-1208 |
1989 |
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Professor X |
Professor X (Saga) |
Techno Kut |
TK-1209 |
1989 |
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Mistress, The & DJ Madame "E" |
Mic Jack |
Techno Kut |
TK-1211 |
1989 |
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Lonzo & World Class Wreckin Kru |
Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane Album |
Techno Kut |
TK-1001 |
1988 |
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Mistress, The & DJ Madame "E" |
Leather & Lace Album |
Techno Kut |
TK-2001 |
1989 |
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Unknown DJ |
Unknown's House Album |
Techno Kut |
TK-4001 |
1990 |
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