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TUTOR – KING OF THE BEATS (KOTB)

Si Spex is best known as one half of hip-hop production unit “The Creators”. Through The Creators Si has had over 30 releases spanning over 10 years, climaxing with the 2000 release of there internationally acclaimed L.P “the Weight” on Wall of Sounds Bad Magic imprint.Si Spex’s workload over the last decade reads like a who’s who of Hip Hop talent. In fact his first official release as The Creators was the remix of Nas’s all-time classic “It aint hard to tell” (Columbia U.K 1995) For the remainder of the 90’s most of The Creators output was upon UK/US label Blind-Side which culminated in the 96 release of there first mini L.P ‘The Creators have a master plan‘. This is now a rare and sought after item that has over the years commanded quite a high price in Japan.

After there spell on Blind side records The Creators launched there own imprint ‘Creative entertainment’ and released the killer 12” ‘Execution expert’ feat long time collaborator Big Kwam. This record made some noise over the pond with Hot 97’s Funkmaster flex championing it and even jacking the stabs for a production on one of his mix tape tracks.

After this initial success The Creators set about working on their most ambitious project to date. A full-length long player featuring the cream of Hip Hop’s underground talent. After numerous trips to the States and countless hours in the lab the L.P was complete. The only problem was that it had become too big for them to release them self’s so in stepped Wall of Sound records and the rest is history. The Weight featured artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, Mad Lib, El Da Sensei, Phill The Agony, and the Scratch Perverts to name but a few. The L.P picked up much praise with some tracks gaining Radio One daytime play. After the L.P and a couple of additional Creators releases including the top 40 B-Side remix of Dilated Peoples Expansion team, Si and Julian decided to disband The Creators and go there separate ways.

Since going solo Si has worked on a number of projects, most notably the 2003 release ‘Fly Like A Seagull’ on Illicit Records. An epic take on the cut and paste genre, this record is widely credited as utilizing the most individual samples in any dance music record. (GrandSlam magazine).

Throughout this time Si’s D.Jing capabilities were also very much in demand, spinning at countless clubs and festivals throughout Europe and as far as New York. Some D.Jing highlights include opening for Hip Hop inventor Kool Herc in Dublin, touring Europe with Ugly Duckling, Rocking the dance tents at Reading and Leeds festivals and also being the D.J support for hip hop Heavyweights such as KRS One, the Beatnuts, Guru, Razell, GZA, Black eyed peas, flava flav, DITC, to name just a few.

Si along with the unsung heroes features in both of the King Of The Beats (KOTB) films. Firstly as one half of The Creators and more resently solo in the sequal KOTB 2. As with the King Of The Beats movies Si is more than happy to pass on all of his 20 + years beat building experience and looks forward to sharing it with the students embarking on the King Of The Beats course.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
“The Creators” Productions
The R.A.T.S -Original Ghetto Youth 12 ” (white label indie/uk)
Mcm-Straight on Up (BMG/UK)
Two Face (aka Natural Elements)-NYC/Hey Hey Hey (Blindside/USA)
Big Kwam-Regardless 12″ (Blindside/USA)
Phi-Life Cypher-Rhyme of The Times (Jazz Fudge/UK)
Ambivilanve-E.P. (Creative Entertainment/Japan)

TV/FILM
The Creators-Heartpound (Used As channel 4 Jingle to promote new season)
The Creators-The Music (Excert Used As Jingle on MTV For Over 3 Years)
The Creators feature in UK hip hop documentary “The Pioneers” as well as a number of similar films and TV appearances.
The Creators feature in the film “King Of The Beats (KOTB)” where they compete with other hip hop producers to make the best beat in a day.
Si Spex features in the follow up “King Of The Beats 2”

AWARDS
McGavin Convention USA (The Creators, Best New Hip Hop Producers in 1997)
UK Hip hop awards (The Creators, Best Hip Hop Producers 2000)

C@NTACT: sispex@tiscali.co.uk