DJ Sexual Chocolate grew up in Oakland, CA in an awkward period that saw the end of Soul Beat television, the rise and fall of the hyphy movement, gentrification, and social unrest.  To no surprise, his music was borne out of those periods of unpredictability and more. 

“Do we have the Blackstreet?”  He asked his mother three times before the vehicle even began to move.  We were 10 at the time, before any of us discovered music; most of us only knew what our parents listened to.  Unfortunately for his mother, the field trip for which she volunteered to drive was a multi-hour excursion, and her son’s set list consisted of playing each song twice. That’s how I met him, a 5th grader with an unusual obsession with Blackstreets sophomore album, Another Level, on cassette. That and music binging car rides became a theme. 

Some time later, I realized his obsession wasn’t over Blackstreet, it was over music.  We had discovered our own taste in music by then.  Most of our class listened to hip hop.  However it was the height of the alternative rock and Nu Metal, and I ate it all up, unapologetically.   CDs were still incredibly expensive at the time, but I spent all my money on BMG music buy 3 get 12 free promotions.  We would take turns listening to new music passing a personal player back and forth (although, I’m convinced he owes me a few plays still).  All those alternative rock influences in his current music?  That came from us.  

 After graduating junior high school, I didn’t hear from him much.  We kept in touch, but I had no idea what he was doing for the better part of 8 years.  The next thing I know he’s DJ Sexual Chocolate.  If I knew he continued studying music after  being classically trained as a teen,  maybe I would have never stopped playing the piano.  Nevertheless, he emerged as a seasoned musician.  What came later was a whirlwind of listening sessions and arguments over the validity of conspiracy theories (another story).  People may wonder how music with roots in 90s R&B, the regrettable Nu-Metal movement, the high school band, and whatever he was doing during the absent period  sounds.  Trust the process, it sounds pretty good.

- Jason Mui

Ypsilanti, Michigan’s own golden child, Kendall Tucker, bka 14KT, is a multi-talented Artist/Producer/DJ. His musical roots came from growing up singing in the church choir. It was there and by studying his parent’s jazz and soul records, along with piano and upright bass lessons, Kendall learned the fundamentals of music.

14KT got his start as 1/7th of this mighty Hip-hop collective, The Athletic Mic League. He started out as an emcee, inspired by the sounds of Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Gangstarr, A Tribe Called Quest and Outkast. Finding it hard to get instrumental beats, KT started using the “Pause/Play/Record” method, by looping breaks on cassette tapes so the crew could rap over them. 

14KT’s solo career began in 2008. After a rich history with AML, he entered and won his first beat battle competition, in Red Bull Big Tune Detroit. Later that year, he released his debut instrumental LP, “The Golden Hour [Soundtrack].” The Golden Hour made its mark appearing on many year-end “top albums” lists. Okayplayer said “this is the sort of striking project that can singlehandedly create an artists following.” And so it did.

14KT is the last Big Tune national champion, which he went on to win in 2010.
He’s worked with the likes of Aloe Blacc, Black Milk, Bun B, Danny Brown, Elzhi, Jay Electronica, JMSN, Masta Ace, Mayer Hawthorne, Legendary Motown Funk Brothers guitarist Dennis Coffey and many others. His music was featured in the DVD for Michael Rapaport’s A Tribe Called Quest documentary, “Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest.” Live, he’s rocked with the Stones Throw crew, at Low End Theory, SXSW, on tour with Mayer Hawthorne, Slum Village, and across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia.

To date, 14KT has released seven solo albums, as well as his collaborative Hip-hop album, "Takin Ls" with emcee Ozay Moore,  R&B/Soul album, “Saturn Return” with singer/songwriter AB, and “The Big Knock”, together with Mayer Hawthorne as the “Beat Wave” group Jaded Incorporated [Universal Republic/Casablanca Records]. Jaded Incorporated was born out of their mutual adoration for the Post-Punk and New Wave music of the early 1980′s, and Ghettotech music in the 90′s Detroit scene.

14KT is currently revving up to release another duo collaboration album with Michigan rapper Ro Spit, entitled "RSXGLD" to be released in 2017.

For Beat inquiries/Booking/etc 
Contact: KaratgoldMusic@gmail.com
www.i4KT.com
www.Karatgoldmusic.com

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