Episode 117: K-Def

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Kevin “K-Def” Hansford is a producer with a long and storied legacy. He hooked up with Marley Marl in the early 1990s and became a key part of Marley’s famed studio The House of Hits. While under Marley’s wing, he produced great records for Tragedy, Da Youngsta’s, and more. But it was his work with Lords of the Underground that would really cement his reputation. K-Def produced half a dozen songs on the group’s classic debut, 1993’s Here Come the Lords, including the omnipresent “Chief Rocka.”

After leaving Marley’s tutelage, K-Def’s production career continued, with songs by Ghostface, Diddy, UGK, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and even his own group, the duo Real Live. In recent years, K-Def has released a number of stellar instrumental works with Redefinition Records, and continues to find new ways to expand the palette of sample-based music.

NOTE: This episode, we have a special contest. Find the answers to the two questions below in this interview, and you can win prize packs from Redefinition Records. E-mail your answers to contest@theciphershow.com by September 7th, and three winners will be chosen at random from all the correct answers.

Question 1: Which artists ended up with a K-Def beat that was originally supposed to be on Illmatic?

Question 2: What song does K-Def credit with marking the end of sample-based hip-hop?

1 Grand Prize: K-Def’s Tape Two on vinyl & cassette + Damu’s Public Assembly Vol. 2 CD

2 Runner-Up Prizes: K-Def’s Tape Two cassette + Damu’s Public Assembly Vol. 2 CD

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Ronnie Laws, “Tidal Wave”
2. Black Moon, “Who Got Da Props”
3. Idris Muhammad, “Crab Apple”
4. Idris Muhammad, “Loran’s Dance”
5. Sugar Hill Gang, “Apache”
6. Vaughn Mason & Crew, “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll”
7. Chic, “Good Times”
8. The Cipher Episode 84: 88-Keys
9. Ed O.G & Da Bulldogs, “I Got To Have It”
10. Slick Rick, “Children’s Story”
11. Dimples D., “Sucker DJ’s (I Will Survive)”
12. Slick Rick, “Children’s Story”
13. Skull Snaps, “It’s a New Day (Instrumental)”
14. Slick Rick, “Children’s Story (K-Def Remix)”
15. Lords of the Underground, “Funky Child”
16. The Thom Bell Orchestra, “A Theme For L.A.’s Team”
17. The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) - Championship Game Team Entrances
18. Skull Snaps, “It’s a New Day”
19. Lafayette Afro Rock Band, “Hihache”
20. Stezo, “It’s My Turn”
21. Gang Starr, “Take It Personal”
22. Lords of the Underground, “Chief Rocka”
23. Lords of the Underground, “Here Come the Lords”
24. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth, “Funky Technician”
25. Lords of the Underground, “Chief Rocka (Jazzy Underground Mix)”
26. Showbiz & A.G., “Hold Ya Head”
27. Showbiz & A.G., “Next Level”
28. Lords of the Underground f/Sah-B, “No Pain”
29. Tragedy, “At Large”
30. Da Youngsta’s, “Mad Props”
31. Real Live, “Real Live Shit”
32. Hands On, “Got Me Open”
33. Da Youngsta’s, “Backstabbers”
34. Lords of the Underground, “Chief Rocka”
35. Da Youngsta’s, “Mad Props”
36. Mic Geronimo, “For Tha Family”
37. Black Sheep, “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)”
38. George McCrae, “I Get Lifted”
39. Snoop Dogg, “Gin and Juice”
40. Diddy f/Jack Knight, “We Gon’ Make It”
41. Jay Z, “Show Me What You Got”
42. Kidz in the Hall, “Don’t Stop”
43. K-Def, “Porter Attack”
44. K-Def, “Have A Clue”
45. K-Def, “Preying Mantis”
46. K-Def, “The Godfather”
47. Al Caiola, “Theme From ‘The Godfather’”
48. Ghostface, “It’s Over”
49. David Porter, “I’m Afraid the Masquerade Is Over”
50. K-Def, “Funky Fridays”
51. David Axelrod, “Holy Thursday”
52. Barry White, “Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up”
53. P.M. Dawn, “Norweigian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”
54. Boogie Down Productions, “I’m Still #1”
55. Boogie Down Productions, “The Bridge is Over”
56. Run-D.M.C., “You Be Illin’”

Show notes:

1. Spin, July 2001. “10 Tours That Changed the World”