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Daddy Kev

{{Short description|American DJ and audio engineer (born 1974)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Daddy Kev

| image = Daddy_Kev.jpg

| caption = Daddy Kev at Cosmic Zoo studio in 2018

| landscape = no

| birth_name = Kevin Marques Moo

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1974}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| origin =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|electronic}}

| occupation = {{hlist|DJ|engineer|producer}}

| instrument =

| years_active = 1998–present

| label = {{hlist|Alpha Pup|Celestial}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Busdriver|Awol One|Flying Lotus|Thundercat|Kamasi Washington}}

| website = {{URL|www.alphapuprecords.com}}

}}

Kevin Marques Moo{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/how-daddy-kev-uses-low-end-theory-as-a-talent-incubator/|title=How Daddy Kev Uses Low End Theory as a Talent Incubator|work=LA Weekly|first=Chris|last=Walker|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2019}} (born 1974),{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/daddykev/biography|title=Daddy Kev|work=Resident Advisor|first=|last=|date=|access-date=August 26, 2019}} better known by his stage name Daddy Kev, is an American record producer, DJ,{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/slinking-in-la-daddy-kev-plays-tour-guide|title=Slinking In LA: Daddy Kev Plays Tour Guide|work=Clash|first=Fabrice|last=Bourgelle|date=April 2, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2019}} Grammy Award-winning audio engineer,{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thundercat-wins-best-progressive-randb-album-at-2021-grammys/|title=Thundercat Wins Best Progressive R&B Album at 2021 Grammys|work=Pitchfork|first=Madison|last=Bloom|date=March 14, 2021|access-date=August 15, 2021}} songwriter and executive from Los Angeles, California.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/arts/music/30lotus.html|title=Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Mike|last=Rubin|date=May 28, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2010}} He is the owner of Alpha Pup Records{{cite web|url=http://kindaneat.net/daddy-kev/|title=Episode 100: Daddy Kev|work=Kinda Neat|first=|last=|date=2016|access-date=August 26, 2019}} and the founder of Low End Theory.{{cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2013/02/daddy-kev-interview|title=Interview: Daddy Kev|work=Red Bull Music Academy Daily|first=Laurent|last=Fintoni|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=August 26, 2019}} As an audio engineer, Daddy Kev has mixed and mastered albums by Flying Lotus,{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/08/26/brainfeeder-flying-lotus-label-interview|title=How Flying Lotus Built Brainfeeder, His Spiritual Little Empire|work=The Fader|first=Laurent|last=Fintoni|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=August 15, 2021}} Thundercat,{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/02/24/thundercat-drunk-album-credits-kendrick-lamar-wiz-khalifa|title=Here Are The Full Credits For Thundercat's Drunk Album|work=The Fader|first=Ben|last=Dandridge-Lemco|date=February 24, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2021}} Kamasi Washington,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/passionoftheweiss/2017/05/03/daddy-kev-alpha-pup-interview/|title=How The LA Beat Scene Brought Jazz Back|work=Forbes|first=Alex|last=Dwyer|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2021}} and Leon Bridges.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/leon-bridges-gold-diggers-sound/|title=Leon Bridges: Gold-Diggers Sound|work=Pitchfork|first=Jonah|last=Bromwich|date=July 23, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021}}

Early life

Daddy Kev was born and raised in the Harbor City neighborhood of Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://dailybruin.com/2015/02/03/sounds-of-la-daddy-kev/|title=Sounds of LA: Daddy Kev|work=Daily Bruin|first=Kristy|last=Pirone|date=February 3, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2019}} As a child, he played piano and trumpet. At the age of 13, he started playing turntables. He graduated from Narbonne High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.passionweiss.com/2016/05/16/im-going-to-make-records-until-im-dead-an-interview-with-daddy-kev/|title="I'm Going To Make Records Until I'm Dead": An Interview with Daddy Kev|work=Passion of the Weiss|first=Max|last=Bell|date=May 16, 2016|access-date=August 26, 2019}} He earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from University of California, San Diego.{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/when-it-comes-to-l-a-s-world-renowned-beat-scene-daddy-kev-does-it-all/|title=When It Comes to L.A.'s World-Renowned Beat Scene, Daddy Kev Does It All|work=LA Weekly|first=Max|last=Bell|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=August 26, 2019}}

Career

In 2001, Daddy Kev released an EP, Lost Angels, on Celestial Recordings. It featured guest appearances from the rappers Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Busdriver, Awol One, and Circus.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-angels-mw0000972890|title=Lost Angels – Daddy Kev|work=AllMusic|first=M.F.|last=DiBella|date=|access-date=August 26, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2001_05_lostangels.html|title=Daddy Kev – Lost Angels E.P. – Celestial Recordings|work=RapReviews.com|first=Steve|last=Juon|date=May 29, 2001|access-date=August 26, 2019}} In that year, he also released Souldoubt, a collaborative album with Awol One, on Meanstreet Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/daddy-kev-awol-one/souldoubt.htm|title=Daddy Kev & Awol One – Souldoubt – Review|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Tony|last=Van Groningen|date=September 1, 2003|access-date=August 26, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629055517/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/daddy-kev-awol-one/souldoubt.htm|archive-date=June 29, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/awol_one_daddy_kev-souldoubt|title=Awol One & Daddy Kev – Souldoubt|work=Exclaim!|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=May 1, 2001|access-date=August 26, 2019}} Another collaborative album with Awol One, titled Slanguage, was released on Mush Records in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/awoloneanddaddykev-slanguage-2495830575.html|title=Awol One and Daddy Kev: Slanguage|work=PopMatters|first=Dave|last=Heaton|date=June 1, 2003|access-date=August 26, 2019}} 2004 brought Busdriver's Cosmic Cleavage, which was produced entirely by Daddy Kev and released on Big Dada.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1032-cosmic-cleavage/|title=Busdriver: Cosmic Cleavage|work=Pitchfork|first=Chris|last=Dahlen|date=July 25, 2004|access-date=August 26, 2019}}

In 2006, he founded the weekly Low End Theory club night at the Airliner in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-04-ca-low-end-theory4-story.html|title=Low End Theory: High-concept music|work=Los Angeles Times|first=August|last=Brown|date=October 4, 2009|access-date=August 15, 2021}}

In 2012, he founded the studio Cosmic Zoo in Los Angeles along with the rapper Nocando.{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2015/09/12/cosmic-zoo-daddy-kev/|title=Inside Cosmic Zoo, the studio at the heart of L.A.'s beat scene|work=Fact|first=Laurent|last=Fintoni|date=September 12, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2019}}

At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2016, he was nominated for the Best Dance Recording award for mixing the Flying Lotus song "Never Catch Me" featuring Kendrick Lamar.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/6785984/grammy-2016-nominees-dance-electronic-jack-u-skrillex-diplo-jamiexx|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: Dance Nominees Are Deserving, But Can't Catch a Major Category Break|magazine=Billboard|first=Matt|last=Medved|date=December 7, 2015|access-date=December 7, 2015}}

At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards held in 2021, he won the Best Progressive R&B Album award for mixing the Thundercat album It Is What It Is.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grammy-winners-nominees-2021/|title=Thundercat's 'It Is What It Is' Wins Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album|work=CBS News|first=Jordan|last=Freiman|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=August 15, 2021}}

In July 2021, he started the weekly Scenario club night in Los Angeles, which showcases upcoming artists in the local scene.{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Jeff |date=2023-03-16 |title=After the death of the Airliner, who are the next heirs to L.A.'s underground throne left behind by Low End Theory? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-03-15/after-the-death-of-the-airliner-who-will-be-the-next-heirs-to-the-throne-of-l-a-s-underground-left-behind-by-low-end-theory |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In 2022, he self-published a book on audio engineering entitled Audio Dynamics: Compression Techniques for Modern Mixing and Mastering.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/11/10/daddy-kev-publishes-audio-dynamics|title=Low End Theory founder Daddy Kev publishes book on mixing and mastering|work=The Fader|first=Arielle|last=Lejarde|date=November 10, 2022|access-date=November 27, 2022}}

At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2023, he was nominated for the Best Historical Album award for mastering the Freestyle Fellowship album To Whom It May Concern....{{cite magazine|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-grammy-awards-20221115-ddzcjydgszgzvgtlssgjt5ls3a-story.html|title=Grammy Awards nominations 2023: The complete list|magazine=Chicago Tribune|first=Chris|last=Willman|date=November 15, 2022|access-date=November 22, 2022}}

Style and influences

Pitchfork called Daddy Kev "one of the Los Angeles underground's most visionary producers",{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/389-slanguage/|title=Awol One / Daddy Kev: Slanguage|work=Pitchfork|first=Julianne|last=Shepherd|date=March 27, 2003|access-date=August 26, 2019}} while Fact called him "one of underground hip-hop's most respected engineers".{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2014/06/21/daddy-kev-drops-essential-mastering-advice-on-twitter/|title=Daddy Kev drops essential mastering advice on Twitter|work=Fact|first=|last=|date=June 21, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2019}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

  • Souldoubt (2001) {{small|(with Awol One)}}
  • Number 3 on the Phone (2002) {{small|(with Awol One)}}
  • Slanguage (2003) {{small|(with Awol One)}}
  • Reefer (2008) {{small|(with Nicholas Thorburn, as Reefer)}}

=EPs=

=Singles=

  • "Rhythm" (2001) {{small|(with Awol One)}}

=Productions=

  • Phoenix Orion – "Scanners", "Millennium Fever", "Dead Men Don't Download", and "Blade Runner" from Zimulated Experiencez (1998)
  • Supernatural – "Seven Minutes of Understanding" (1999)
  • Alien Nation – "Unicron" (1999)
  • Sole – "Famous Last Words" from Bottle of Humans (2000)
  • Naptron – "Marvin Meets Seymour Frye Pt. I" (2000)
  • Mikah 9 – "First Things Last" from Timetable (2001)
  • Abstract Rude – "Frisbee" from P.A.I.N.T. (2001)
  • Busdriver – "Mindcrossings", "Suing Sony", and "Single Cell Ego" from Temporary Forever (2002)
  • Existereo – "Four Way Window Pain" from Dirty Deeds & Dead Flowers (2003)
  • Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique – "Flow and Tell" from Showtyme (2003)
  • Neila – "Vertical Trees with Eternal Leaves" from Vertical Trees with Eternal Leaves (2003)
  • Busdriver and Radioinactive – "Winthorp & Winthorp" (2003)
  • Existereo – "Same Breath" from Crush Groove (2004)
  • The Shape Shifters – "Rockin' These Mics", "Kreye Inn", and "Futuristic" from Was Here (2004)
  • Busdriver – Cosmic Cleavage (2004)
  • Sage Francis – "Dance Monkey" from A Healthy Distrust (2005)
  • Awol One – "Everything's Perfect" from The War of Art (2006)
  • Subtitle – "Restructure/Reroute" from Terrain to Roam (2006)
  • Acid Reign – "Too Kool for Skool" and "Here Comes Trouble" from Time & Change (2008)
  • The Grouch – "Shero" from Show You the World (2008)

=Select works mastered by Daddy Kev=

==2000s==

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{{div col end}}

==2010s==

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{{div col end}}

==2020s==

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{{div col end}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Year of ceremony

! scope="col"| Nominee / work

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" rowspan="5"| Grammy Awards

| 2016

| Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar – "Never Catch Me"

| Best Dance Recording

| {{Nom}}

| {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6785974/grammy-nominations-2016-full-list|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees|magazine=Billboard|first=|last=|date=December 7, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6875260/grammy-awards-2016-full-winners-list|title=Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List|magazine=Billboard|first=|last=|date=February 15, 2016|access-date=August 26, 2019}}

2021

| Thundercat – It Is What It Is

| Best Progressive R&B Album

| {{Win}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/Kevin-Marques-Moo/29322|title=Grammy.com page for Kevin Marques Moo|work=Grammy.com|first=|last=|date=February 1, 2022|accessdate=Feb 1, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/thundercat-wins-best-progressive-rb-album-it-what-it-2021-grammys|title=Thundercat Wins Best Progressive R&B Album For 'It Is What It Is'|work=Grammy.com|first=|last=|date=March 14, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021}}

2023

| Freestyle Fellowship – To Whom It May Concern...

| Best Historical Album

| {{Nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/arts/music/grammys-nominee-list-2023.html/|title=Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees|work=The New York Times|date=November 15, 2022|access-date=November 17, 2022}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Discogs artist|Daddy Kev|Daddy Kev}}
  • {{Twitter | id= daddykev | name= Daddy Kev }}
  • {{Instagram | id= daddykev | name= Daddy Kev }}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Living people

Category:1974 births

Category:University of California, San Diego alumni

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:American hip-hop DJs

Category:American audio engineers

Category:Mastering engineers

Category:Musicians from Los Angeles

Category:Narbonne High School alumni