Tommy Tee
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(August 2015) |
Tommy Tee | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tommy Flåten |
| Also known as | Father Blanco, The Crazy Minister |
| Born | 18 December 1971 |
| Genres | Rap,Hip Hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper,Songwriter,ProducerRadio Host |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Tee Productions |
Tommy Flåten(born 18 December 1971), best known by his stage nameTommy Tee,is a Norwegian record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns thelabelTee Productions,which is located inOslo,Norwayand is Norway's leadinghip hoplabel. As well, he publishes Norway's only graffiti magazine and hosts a weekly national rap radio program.
Early years (1980-1991)
[edit]Tommy Tee was first introduced to hip hop culture in the 1980s. He started as agraffiti artistandbreakdancer,and later became moved on to music throughDJing.He has been a radio and club DJ since mid 80's - something that sparked his interest in music production.
In 1989, Tee started Norway's first hip hop magazineFat Capwhich has been amongst the world's big graffiti magazines with international distribution.
Tommy Tee also started doing production work in the late 1980s but got more serious on the music throughout the 90's. That being said he is credited for creating one of the first Norwegian Hip-Hop record on wax in 1989. The record "The Crazy Minister" (also Tee´s nickname at the time) appeared on the group Snikk Snakk´s album "More Muffens" in 1989. Tee has also said to have done a lot of tracks and remixes under many aliases from this time. ForIce Cube's1990 Oslo concert he was the support act. He was the DJ for Norway's first rap group on record. Tee also arranged concerts by Ice Cube,Run DMC,The Fugees,De La Soul,A Tribe Called Questand50 Centin Norway.
Radio program
[edit]In 1992,DanishcompanyMega Recordsappointed Tee as its Norwegian sales manager. Norway's national broadcasterNRKoffered him a prime time show on its new P3 network. The show is called "National Rap Show" and is still running. It quickly became popular and has featured guest acts such asSnoop Dogg,the RootsandBig Pun.DJ Herkulesis the co-host of the show which is the channels longest lived show to date.
Tee Productions (1995-present)
[edit]Tommy Tee started Tee Productions in 1995. He produced his first whole album, jazz artistHelén Eriksen'sStandards,in 1996. This album was later released byBlue Note Recordsin Europe and Japan. Eriksen won a Norwegian Grammy as Best New Artist in 1996.
Tee's first albumBonds Beats and Beliefswas released in 1998 becoming Norway's most successful hip hop record. It featuredTalib Kwelion the track "Day by Day" which was released as a single in the US. While the album was not officially released in the US, it did have a following on college radio and in hip hop magazines and also received reviews in Australia, England, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.
Tee then featured on a compilation album of the artists on his labelT.P. Allstars: Norske Byggeklosserdebuted in the Norwegian top 5 and was released in the US in late 1999 through Fat Beats Records. It featured US rapperPete Rockon the first single "World Renown".The Sourcesaid the single was a "contender for Indie Release of the year."
TheT.P. Allstarsalbum also featured a collaboration between Swedish artistPetterand TP artist Diaz on the track "Crossing Borders" which was a top ten hit in Scandinavia in 1999. In return, Tee produced two tracks on Petter's albumBananrepublikenwhich went platinum and won three Swedish Grammy awards in 2001.
In 2004, Tee released a collaborative album withKen Ringof Sweden called2 Legender utan Penger,as well as a single two videos,BB BerättelsenandMåste Seja Hei.He also releases the mixtape series H.E.A.T. (vol1-6) and the albumFred, Frihet & Alt Gratiswith groupGatas Parlamentwhich got international exposure in CNN, XXL, Billboard and more.
Tommy Tee's recent work includes producing the song "Church" onSean Price's2007 albumJesus Price Supastar,two songs on the album "Ghetto Warfare" byM.O.P.,and five songs off theSmif-n-Wessunalbum "The Album" (2007).
In 2008 Tee signed newcomer Jesse Jones to Tee Productions and released his debut "12 Blokker & 1 Vei Inn" on TP/EMI.
Tommy Tee released a street-album entitled "No Studio No Time" with artists like Grafh, Masta Ace, Agallah, Tim Dog, AG, Party Arty, Large Professor, JoJo Pellegrino and many more to warm up for the new official album.
Tommy Tee released the albumStudio-Timeon 5 October 2009. The album was highly praised in media and won a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen) for best Rap/Hip-Hop album of the year. The album features artists like Bun B, Devin the Dude, Diamond D, Saigon, Kool Keith, Mad Con and many more.
In 2013 Tommy Tee debuted in his native language and made a hit single with rapper Don Martin. The song "Nilsen" is an ode to their hometown of Oslo and was instantly labeled a classic. The same year saw Tee recording and releasing his first own album in his native language. "Musikk Ække Viktig" (means "Music is not important" ) saw a new side of Tommy Tee as an artist - something liked by both fans and critics.
2013 was also the year in which Tommy Tee (maybe as little surprising to some) participated in the Norwegian version of the hit TV show "The Voice".
Tommy Tee won the prestigiousNorwegian Honorary Grammy Award(Spellemann Hederspris) in 2016. He also released his latest album"Bonds, Beats & Beliefs vol.2"featuring artists like M.O.P, Daytona, Mike Zoot, S.A.S., Skam, Oscar Blesson and many more. This album alongside his debut BBB was also printed on vinyl in a grandios[check spelling]8 LP box released in May 2016.
Tee these days has just built a brand new Tee Studios in central Oslo and is said to be hard at work on projects with Oscar Blesson, Ken Ring, Opaque, Harry Fraud and more.
Discography
[edit]Albums (as artist/producer)
[edit]- Bonds, Beats & Beliefs(1998)
- T.P. Allstars: Norske Byggeklosser(1999) (with other Tee artists)
- Various: ScandalNavia vol.1(2000) (with various Scandinavian artists)
- Back To Work(2005)Official Tee Prod. mixtapealbum
- 2 Legender utan Pengerwith Ken Ring (2004)
- Tommy Tycker Om Mej(2005)
- No Studio No Time(2007)
- Absolute Music Tee(2007)
- 3 The Hard Way (EP Collection)(2009)
- No Pain No Profit(EP) (2009)
- Studio-Time(2009)
- Musikk Ække Viktig(2013)
- Bonds, Beats & Beliefs Vol.2(2016)
- På Tur I Stockholm(2018)
- OVERSKUDD(2021)
Singles (as artist/producer)
[edit]- Aerosol(feat. Cope2)(1995)
- Takin Ova(feat. N-Light-N, Diaz, Warlocks, Opqaue & Father Blanco)(1998)
- Takin Ova US(feat. Shabam Sahdeeq, Mr. Eon, A.L., Joe Sexxx)(1998)
- Crossing Borders(feat. Diaz & Petter)(1999)
- International Connects(feat. Mike Zoot & El Da Sensei)(1999)
- Day by Day(feat. Talib Kweli and Punchline & Wordsworth) (1999)
- Blood Rush(feat. F.T. & P-Dap) (1999)
- World Renown(feat. Pete Rock, Mike Zoot, Large Pro & AG)(2000)
- Ya Heard A Himby Shockwave of Zombi Squad (2000)
- What's Your Name(feat. Nice N Smooth) (2002)
- BB Berättelsen(2004) with Ken Ring
- Måste Seja Hei(2004) with Ken Ring
- Gimme Dat(feat. Stat Quo, Rah Digga & Young Zee) (2006)
- Feelin' It(feat. JoJo Pellegrino & Noora Noor) (2007)
- Drabant(feat. Jesse Jones, Ken Ring & Saigon) (2008)
- Først & Fremst(feat. Jesse Jones &Lars Vaular) (2009)
- Keep Talking(feat. Madcon, A-Lee, Noora Noor & Loudmouf Choir) (2009)
- About That Girl(feat. CL Smooth, Tshawe (Mad Con) and Son of Light) (2009)
- Meet The Legends(feat. Bun B & Supa Sayed) (2010)
- Plocka Han(Ken Ring & Tommy Tee feat. M.O.P) (2011)
- Nilsen(Don Martin feat. Tommy Tee) (2013)
- Run The Streets(feat. Contagious) (2015)
- Æ E Old School(Joddski & Tommy Tee)(2016)
- Å Ha Noen Å Hate(feat. Mae, Joddski, Kenneth Engebretsen)(2017)
- Jeg Lover Deg(Tommy Tee & Joddski feat. Sisi, Klish, Kenneth Engebretsen)(2017)
Production credits
[edit]- The Crazy Ministerby Tommy Tee/Snikk Snakk (1990)[albumtrack]
- Standardsby Helén Eriksen (1996)[whole album]
- Top Notchby Warlocks (1998) [whole album - co produced with Hawk]
- Deep Greenby N-Light-N (1997)[whole album]'
- Lovevirginby Helén Eriksen (1998)[whole album]
- Mic Knightsby Warlocks (1998) [3 songs]
- Bananrepublikenby Petter (1998) [2 songs]
- Mitt Hem Blir Ditt Heimby Ken Ring (1999) [2 songs]
- You Heard A Himby Shockwave (1999) [single]
- 2050by Diaz (2000) [whole album]
- Trilogyby Souls of Mischief (2000) [2 songs]
- Ya Heard A Himby Shockwave of Zombi Squad (2000) [single]
- Gourmet Garbageby Opaque (2001)[whole album]
- Afterlifeby Warlocks (2001) [2 songs]
- The Homecomingby Son of Light (2002) [whole album]
- Velkommen Hjem Andresby Diaz (2002) [whole album]
- Soundscience remixby Souls of Mischief ft. Del (2003) [single]
- What Is Itby Masta Ace (2003) [track on Midnight Club 2 Original Soundtrack]
- The Great Escapeby Paperboys (2003) [3 songs]
- It's All a Mad Conby MadCon (2004) [1 song]
- Klikkby SkillsMissseBaren (2004) [1 song]
- Planet Ph3by Phenomena 3 (2004) [3 songs]
- Fred, Frihet & Alt Gratisby Gatas Parlament (2004) [5 songs]
- Difficult to Understandby The Loudmouf Choir (2004) [2 songs single]
- Neverending Storyby Warlocks (2005) [1 song]
- Marxmenby MOP (2005) [1 song]
- Appointment with the Undergroundby Zombi Squad (2006) [3 songs]
- Jessheimfandenby Diaz (2006) [2 songs]
- Ghetto Warfareby MOP (2006) [1 song]
- Get Dirty Radioby AG (DITC) (2006) [2 songs]
- Disgustingby Bestruck (2006) [3 songs]
- Kohi De Brownyby Kohinoor (2006) [5 songs + executive producer]
- Jesus Price Superstarby Sean Price (2007) [1 song]
- Äntligen Hemmaby Ken Ring (2007) [4 songs (3 singles)]
- The Albumby Smif N Wessun (2007) [5 songs]
- Kidsa har Alltid Rettby Gatas Parlament (2008) [5 songs]
- Im The Oneby Mira Craig (2009) [single]
- When Tomorrow Comesby Mira Craig (2009) [album track]
- Smileby Mira Craig (2009) [album track]
- Først & Fremstby Mange Schmidt ft. Thomas Rusiak (2009) [album track]
- Hip-Hopby Ken Ring (2009) [4 tracks]
- G-Optified (Tommy Tee Theme)by Saigon (2009) [album track]
- Copping Pleasby Saigon (2009) [album track]
- U Must Be Dreamingby The RZA ft. Kinetik 9 (2010) [single]
- Sannhets Serumby Joddski ft. Ida Maria (2010) [album track]
- Den Siste Revejaktaby Joddski (2010) [album track]
- Lift It Upby Son of Light (2010) [single]
- Sminkeby Karpe Diem ft. Masta Ace (2010) [album track]
- Kem Skøt Siv Jensenby [Lars Vaular] (2010) [album track]
- Utenfor Oslo, Utenfor Overaltby [Lars Vaular] ft. Nephew (2010) [album track]
- Helt om Natten Helt om Dagenby [Lars Vaular] ft. Jesse Jones (2010) [album track]
- Kommer Aldri Innby Jesse Jones (2010) [single]
- 12 Blokker og 1 vei Innby Jesse Jones (2011) [full album]
- War of The Wordsby Son of Light (2011) [Full Album]
- Cameltoeby The Loudmouf Choir (2012) [Full album]
- 100by DRM (2012) [single]
- Oppvåkningenby Vinni (2012) [album track]
- Halve Megby Vinni (2012) [single]
- Electric Feetby Bertine Zetlitz (2012) [3 songs]
- Richard Bravoby Pumba (2013) [whole album]
- Kollektiv Kollapsby Oter (2012) [1 track]
- En Gang Romsåsgutt Alltid Romsåsguttby Don Martin (2013) [whole album]
- Jon Olav Kossby Spira (2016) [single]
- Røyk & Speilby Klish (2016) [2 tracks]
- Watch the Boy Growby Oscar Blesson (2016) [whole EP]
- Løvehjerter..by Don Martin (2016) [whole album]
- Eyes Closedby Oscar Blesson (2017) [single]
- Fill the Bagby Oscar Blesson (2017) [single]
- Loffby Mae X Chirag (2017) [single]
- Proletar Adelby Mae (2017) [full album]
- Bottenby Dani M (2018) [albumtrack]
- På Plassby Mae (2018) [single]
- På Tur I Stockholmby Tommy Tee (2018) [full album]
- Maxi-Singleby Mae (2019) [2 track maxi-single]
- Solidifiedby Oscar Blesson X Pasha (2019) [single]
- To the Graveby Oscar Blesson X Pasha (2019) [single]
- Maratonby King Skurk One (2019) [single]
- Selskapetby Selskapet (2019) [full EP]
- Pål Tøienby OnklP (2020) [albumtrack]
Mixtapes
[edit]- Florrockin'(1993)
- Beasts from the East vol.1.(1994)
- Beasts from the East vol.2.(1994)
- New York State of Mind(1995)
- Stikkingvol. 1 & 2 (m/Diaz) - 1995)
- Ol´ to the New.(1999)
- Basic Education(m/Dj Herkules) (2001)
- Girls, Girls, Girls(2003)
- H.E.A.T. vol.1-6(2004/2005)
- Golden Era(2006)
External references
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
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