Birth Through Knowledge

The roots of BTK began with a chance meeting of Lo-Ki and Stone Groove on a subway in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://jimkellywriter.com/wp-content/uploads/articles/cm/CM_BTK.pdf|title=BTK Weaving Tapestry Rap|work=Canadian Musician Magazine|volume=Jan/Feb 1999)}} Their early musical influences were Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. The group independently released an EP titled Birth Through Knowledge in 1995.[https://voir.ca/albums/b-t-k-birth-through-knowledge/ "B.T.K. Birth Through Knowledge Ignition/BMG, 1998"]. Voir Album Guide, Laurent Saulnier 2 September 1998

BTK's single "Corncob Pipe" was included on the sampler disc that Korn released alongside Follow the Leader and they won the 1997 MuchMusic Best Independent Video Award for "Superchile" after the song had been in heavy rotation on the station. They became the first indie band to open the main-stage at Edgefest '97.{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/I/I_Mother_Earth/1997/04/22/746131.html|title=Edwin to leave band after Edgefest gig|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801003849/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/I/I_Mother_Earth/1997/04/22/746131.html|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=dead}} Jam!, via canoe.com

After signing to the now-defunct Ignition Records (an alternative rock label affiliated with Tommy Boy Records), BTK released their only full-length album, also titled Birth Thru Knowledge, in 1998.[http://www.spacecityrock.com/issue2/reviews/rev-B.html "BTK Birth Through Knowledge"]. Space City Rock, Issue 2. The album was an upbeat mixture of rap, hip hop and guitar work.[http://web.textfiles.com/ezines/CONSUMABLE/c980928.txt "REVIEW: B.T.K., _B.T.K._ (Ignition)"]. CONSUMABLE ONLINE, Issue 156, 28 September 1998. by Franklin Johnson

Also in 1998, BTK opened for Beastie Boys,{{cite web|url=http://www.beastiemania.com/gigog/show.php?g=19980815|title=BeastieMania.com - Gigography}} Kid Rock,{{cite web|url=http://djrankings.org/DJ-SPINZ|title=SPINZ - Official global DJ Ratings}} and played several dates with Our Lady Peace, including Summersault Festival in Shediac, New Brunswick.{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/O/Our_Lady_Peace/1998/08/22/pf-748532.html|title=Band set to tumble into Summersault|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731235306/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/O/Our_Lady_Peace/1998/08/22/pf-748532.html|archive-date=31 July 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/O/Our_Lady_Peace/ConcertReviews/2004/09/29/pf-648817.html|title=Thompson Arena, London - Feb. 9, 1998|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731231815/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/O/Our_Lady_Peace/ConcertReviews/2004/09/29/pf-648817.html|archive-date=31 July 2017|url-status=dead}} Drummer Matt DeMatteo left the band in 1998 to continue his work as a recording engineer.

They performed along with Alanis Morissette during her 1999 Junkie Tour.{{cite book|author=Karen Fournier|title=The Words and Music of Alanis Morissette|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhwUBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA75|date=16 January 2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-3069-3|page=75}} and performed in Toronto at the El Macombo.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20000204234522/http://chartattack.com/road/reviews/1999/19990305-btk.html "Live Reviews: B.T.K. March 5, 1999 The El Mocambo, Toronto, ON"]}}. Chart Attack, review by Jim Kelly. Also that year, their music video for "Peppyrock" was nominated for MuchMusic Best Video.

BTK was nominated for a Juno Award in 1999 in the Best Alternative Album category (ultimately losing to Rufus Wainwright).{{cite book|title=Celine Dion leads Juno Award nominations|work=CMJ New Music Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0g89SsTeWUC&pg=PA7|date=15 February 1999|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|pages=7–|issn=0890-0795}} The band's last known performance was at the Warehouse in Toronto in December 1999.

After the group disbanded, DeMatteo worked for two recording studios and then opened Record High Productions in December 2000. Bassist Adam Carlo rejoined his brother in his previous thrash metal band Razor in 2002. Turntablist DJ Spinz continued as a DJ, served as art director for Sudden Def Recordings, became part-owner of the promotion company Soul in Motion. Drummer Sam Cino continued performing as a drummer with several Ontario groups.[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/microbunny-dead_stars "Microbunny Dead Stars"]. Exclaim!. By Tabassum Siddiqui, 1 Jan 2006[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/king_cobb_steelie-destroy_all_codes "King Cobb Steelie Destroy All Codes"]. By Michael Barclay, 1 Jan 2006

• Lo-Ki (vocals)
• Stone Groove (vocals)
• DJ Spinz (turntables)
• Adam Carlo (bass)
• Sam Cino (drums, percussion)
• Matt DeMatteo (drums until 1998)
• Mighty AOR (drums 1998-1999)

• Birth Through Knowledge (1995, EP), Ultra Vibe
• Birth Through Knowledge (1998), Ignition
• "Peppyrock" (1998), Ignition

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{{cite web| url =https://junoawards.ca/awards/?from-year=1970&to-year=2018&nomination-category=&wins-only=no&artist=btk| title =Juno Awards Database| work =junoawards.ca/database/| publisher =Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20120404105916/http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=BTK&show_details=1| archivedate =4 April 2012| accessdate =5 June 2011| url-status =live}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081114180429/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile Official MySpace page]
• [http://jimkellywriter.com/wp-content/uploads/articles/cm/CM_BTK.pdf Canadian Musician Magazine Jan/Feb 1999 article (PDF)]

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Category:Musical groups established in 1997

Category:Canadian rap rock groups