We chat with one of the golden era of Hip Hop’s greatest studio engineers. Shlomo was the man on the mixing boards with Gang Starr , MC Lyte, Lord Finesse, Black Moon, Audio Two, Easy Mo Bee, Positive K, and so many other legends. Get the inside story in this amazing history lesson..
Who exactly is is Shlomo Sonnenfeld? Well, he’s an Israeli studio genius synonymous with golden era New York Hiphop, yet you’ve probably never heard of him. As well as engineering and co-production credits for the likes of MC Lyte and early Gang Starr releases, Shlomo programmed beats and ran sessions with classic acts like Lord Finesse, Black Moon, UMCs, Easy Mo Bee and J Rock. In fact, his knowledge of the Akai s900 sampler and SP12 drum machine made him the “must have” engineer for so many classic labels like Wild Pitch, Ghetto Groovz and Nervous.
We chat to Shlomo about teaching studio techniques to cats like a young DJ Premier and also what he’s been up to living in Tel Aviv after moving away from New York years ago. We also do all this to a very upbeat golden era soundtrack that will take you back to the days when hiphop was changing the world by the minute.
The UMC's - One To Grow On
Gang Starr "Words I Manifest"
Calculate - Shlomo Sonnenfeld Feat. AFIK & Roy Yarom
Tracklist
Rappin Is Fundamental - Ain't No SmokeOB 45’s SET:
Jorun Bombay - The B-Side Won
Altered Tapes - The Break Down (Easy Goes To Memphis)
Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
Hedspin & Nick Bike - Forward & Back
Boca 45 - 45 Live
DJ Tron - The Funk Master
Jorun Bombay - Jorun’s Way
The Turtles - I’m Chief Kamanawanalea (Chief Rocca Edit)
K7 - Come Baby Come
Rakim - Sweat The Technique (Double A’s Classic Breaks Re-Work)
Jorun Bombay - I Got My Bells Made Up
INTERVIEW TRACKS :
The UMC's - One To Grow On
Black Moon - Who Got Da Props
MC Lyte - Paper Thin
Gang Starr - Jazz Music
Gang Starr - Words I Manifest
Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Baby You Nasty
MDS Productions - Because I’m A Pro (1988)
J Rock - Neighborhood Drug Dealer
Shlomo Sonnenfeld - Battle
Shlomo Sonnenfeld feat AFIK & Roy Yarom - Calculate
SHAN SET:
Kabaka Pyramid - Well Done
Mack Wilds - Keepin' It Real [DJ Premier & SaLaAM Remix]
KRS ONE - Don't Fall For It
Chosen Few - Candy I'm So Daggone Mixed Up
Manjah - My Dub Is Empty
Damn! - Spooky Nerd [part 2]
Toshio Matsuura Group - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun