Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek (born May 5, 1976), is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

and

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

from

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wi ...

. He is best known for his work with

Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with ...

. His father is singer Willie Cottrell of the Willie Cottrell Band, whom Hi-Tek featured on his second album, ''

Hi-Teknology 2 ''Hi-Teknology'' is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. Most songs feature rapping or singing by other artists, and all are produced by Hi-Tek. A sequel, ''Hi-Teknology 2'', was made for MCA Records but never released ...

''.

Career

1996-2000

Hi-Tek started his career with hip hop group Mood and had a regional hit with "Hustle on the Side". That song was made for Mood's album ''Doom'', which featured amongst others

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. Hi-Tek went on to produce most of Talib Kweli and

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

's '' Black Star'' (1998). In 2000, Tek and Kweli (under the name Reflection Eternal) released ''

Train of Thought The train of thought or track of thought refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to ...

'' (2000) on

Rawkus Records Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One). Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then si ...

, with raps by Kweli and beats by Hi-Tek. It enjoyed moderate crossover radio success with the singles "The Blast" and "Move Somethin'". Reflection Eternal released a follow-up album titled ''Revolutions Per Minute'' on May 18, 2010.

2001-current

After signing to Rawkus Records, Hi-Tek produced for a number of the labels projects, including the popular ''

Soundbombing ''Soundbombing'' is a hip hop compilation album by Rawkus Records, released on October 14, 1997. The album helped launch the careers of Mos Def and Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek), who later became Rawkus's most popular artists. ''Sou ...

'' series; a three-record compilation of mostly Rawkus-based artists. In 2001, he released his solo album ''

Hi-Teknology ''Hi-Teknology'' is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. Most songs feature rapping or singing by other artists, and all are produced by Hi-Tek. A sequel, ''Hi-Teknology 2'', was made for MCA Records but never released ...

'' on Rawkus. The album featured appearances by

, Common,

Vinia Mojica Vinia A. Mojica (born March 14, 1970) is a singer-songwriter from Queens, New York City, United States of America. She is best known for her collaborations with the Native Tongues collective and other hip hop artists. Life and career Her recor ...

Buckshot A shotgun shell, shotshell or simply shell is a type of rimmed, cylindrical (straight-walled) cartridges used specifically in shotguns, and is typically loaded with numerous small, pellet-like spherical sub-projectiles called shot, fired thro ...

, and others, with all production handled by Hi-Tek. It received critical acclaim and spawned a minor hit, "Round and Round" with Cincinnati singer

Jonell Jonell is a contemporary R&B singer. In 2001, Jonell introduced with her first hit ''Round and Round'' on producer Hi-Tek's album ''Hi-Teknology ''Hi-Teknology'' is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. Most songs f ...

. Hi-Tek is a staff producer for

Aftermath Entertainment Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre himself, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, ...

and its affiliates, as well as past associates such as Kweli and Mos Def. He has also recorded songs for

Dion Jenkins Dion Keith Jenkins (born September 21, 1979) better known by his mononym as Dion is an American singer-songwriter and record producer perhaps best known for frequently collaborating with Aftermath Entertainment recording artists The Game, 50 C ...

, an R&B singer signed to Aftermath. ''Hi-Teknology 2'' was released October 17, 2006 on

Babygrande Babygrande Records is an American independent record label based in New York City, founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by The Orchard and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood. History Babygrande Records was ...

, and distributed by

Koch Entertainment Koch Entertainment was an American record label and a distributor of film, television, and music. It was purchased by Canadian entertainment company Entertainment One in 2005. History First years The company began in 1975 as part of Koch Inter ...

. The producer released the third installment, '' Hi-Teknology 3: Underground'' on December 11, 2007. In November 2015, producer 9th Wonder announced Hi-Tek as the newest member of The Soul Council - the production staff of his record label

It's A Wonderful World Music Group It's A Wonderful World Music Group is an independent record label, founded by hip hop producer 9th Wonder in 2008. History 9th Wonder founded It's A Wonderful World Music Group shortly after leaving the group Little Brother (group), Little Br ...

Discography

Albums

Production

213 Year 213 ( CCXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Calvinus (or, less frequently, year 966 '' Ab urbe co ...

- "Twist Yo Body" (Album: The Hard Way) (2004) * 50 Cent - "Best Friend" (Album: Get Rich Or Die Tryin' soundtrack) (2005) * 50 Cent - "Get In My Car" (Album: The Massacre) (2005) * 50 Cent - "Ryder Music" (Album: The Massacre) (2005) * Anderson .Paak - "Come Down" (2016) Archived a
Ghostarchive
and th
Wayback Machine
* Beanie Sigel - "Get That Dough" (2000) *

Big L Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper and record executive. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Coleman became known among underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ...

featuring C-Town - "Still Here" (2000) * Bishop Lamont - "Friends" (2009) * Bizarre featuring Obie Trice - "Doctor Doctor" (Album: '' Hannicap Circus'') (2005) * Bizarre featuring Eminem - "Hip Hop" (Album: Hannicap Circus) (2005) * Bizarre - "I'm In Luv Witchu" (Album: Hanni Cap Circus) (2005) *

Blackalicious Blackalicious was an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento, California, made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel. They are noted for Gift of Gab's often tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's soulful p ...

- "It's Going Down" (Album: Blazing Arrow) (2002) * Black Star - 6 tracks from '' Black Star'' * Black Star featuring Common - "Respiration" *

Boot Camp Clik Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York City, which is composed of Buckshot (of Black Moon), Smif-N-Wessun ( Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah (Rock and Sean Price) and O.G.C. (Starang Wondah, Top Dog, and Louiev ...

- "Ice Skate" (2002) * Busta Rhymes featuring

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ( ...

- "Rough Around The Edges" * Cassidy featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Eve - "Cash Rulez" (2007) *

King Chip Charles Jawanzaa Worth (born October 20, 1986), known by his stage names King Chip and Chip tha Ripper, is an American rapper from Cleveland, Ohio. He is notable for amassing several self-released mixtapes, as well as for his work with longtime ...

- ''Sprinkle Me'' (2009) (The Cleveland Show) * Cocoa Brovaz - "Get Up" (2001) * Cocoa Brovaz featuring

Dawn Penn Dawn Penn (born 11 January 1952) is a Jamaican reggae singer. She first had a short career during the rocksteady era, between 1967 and 1969, but is most known for her single "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" which became a worldwide hit in 1994. ...

- "Spit Again" * Common featuring

Sadat X Derek Murphy (born December 29, 1968), better known as Sadat X, is an American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sad ...

- "1-9-9-9" (Album: Rawkus presents '' Soundbombing II'') (1999) * Common - "Tekzilla" *

Cormega Cory McKay (born December 3, 1970), better known by his stage name Cormega, is an American rapper who attained notice when he was shouted out by Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed 1994 album ''Illmatic''. The album was re ...

- "Take These Jewels" (2002) *

D12 D12 (an initialism for The Dirty Dozen) was an American hip hop collective from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1996, the group achieved mainstream success with its lineup of ''de facto'' leader Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Mr. Porter, Kuniva and Swift ...

- "Just Like You" (Album: ''

D12 World ''D12 World'' is the second and final studio album by Detroit hip hop group D12, released on April 27, 2004. The album sold 544,000 copies in its first week on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album is also the last D12 release to feature Proof befo ...

'') (2004) *

Dead Prez Dead Prez, often stylized as dead prez, is an American hip hop duo composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with lyrics focused on both militant social justice, self ...

featuring

- "Sharp Shooters" *

Donte Donte is a given name. Notable people with the given name include: * Donté Clark (born 1977), American poet *Donté Forbes (born 2005) Jamaican football player * Donté Curry (born 1978), American football player *Donte Foster (born 1990), Ameri ...

- "Heat 4 The Streets" * The Game - Runnin' *

G-Unit G-Unit (short for Guerilla Unit) was an American hip hop group formed by longtime friends and East Coast rappers 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks. After amassing a string of self-released mixtapes in the early 2000s, the group released t ...

- "G Unit", "Eye For An Eye" (Album: Beg For Mercy) *

Ghostface Killah Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 C ...

- "Josephine" (Album: More Fish) * Gym Class Heroes - "New Friend Request (Hi-Tek Remix)" (Album: '' Snakes On A Plane: The Album'') *

Hodgy Gerard Damien Long (born November 9, 1990), better known by his stage name Hodgy (formerly Hodgy Beats), is an American rapper, record producer and music video director. He is best known for being a founding member of the hip hop collective Odd ...

- "Glory" (Album: '' Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide'') (2016) *

J Dilla J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...

- "The Creep (The O)"; "Gangsta Boogie" (Album: '' The Diary'') (2016) *J. Sands - "In Jail" *

- "Don't Stop"; "Round & Round (remix)" *

Kurious Jorge Antonio Alvarez (born May 1, 1970), better known by his stage names Kurious or Kurious Jorge, is an American hip hop recording artist from New York City. Biography Kurious is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, and grew up in the Upper ...

- "Brand New Day" (featuring Dave Dar & Co Campbell)(2009) * Little Brother - "Step it Up" (featuring Dion) (Album: ''

Getback ''Getback'' is the third studio album from Little Brother, released on October 23, 2007. Eleven days prior, Phonte leaked the album himself to Okayplayer.com Details The group has confirmed the involvement of several outside producers, in addi ...

'') *

Lloyd Banks Christopher Charles Lloyd (born April 30, 1982), better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper. He began his career as a member of East Coast hip hop group G-Unit, alongside childhood friends 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. After th ...

featuring Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent - "I Get High" (Album: ''

The Hunger for More ''The Hunger for More'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Lloyd Banks, released via Interscope Records and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. Originally scheduled for a May 25, 2004 release, the album was ultimately released on June 29, 2004 as l ...

'') *

M-Dot Michael Januario (born January 13, 1983) better known by his stage name M-Dot is an Italian-American rapper and producer. Before becoming a rap musician, Januario played college basketball at BHCC, MCLA and Fitchburg State. Career Born in R ...

- "Days Are All The Same" (Album: Ego And The Enemy) (2017) * Mood - ''

Doom Doom is another name for damnation. Doom may also refer to: People * Doom (professional wrestling), the tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed * Daniel Doom (born 1934), Belgian cyclist * Debbie Doom (born 1963), American softball pitcher * ...

'' * Mood - "Illuminated Sunz" (Album: ''Concealed Revelations'') (2016) *

Morcheeba Morcheeba is an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with founding members vocalist Skye Edwards and the brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. They mix influences from trip hop, rock, folk rock and downtempo, and have produced ten regula ...

featuring

- "Let Me See (remix)" *

- "Next Universe" (Album: Rawkus presents ''Soundbombing II'') *

Outlawz Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur. Most of the group m ...

featuring

Young Buck David Darnell Brown (born March 15, 1981), best known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper. He heads his own record label, Cashville, and was a member of the former hip hop group G-Unit. Early life Brown was born in Nashville, T ...

& Dion - "Drivin' Down the Freeway" (Album: Godz Plan) *

Papoose Papoose (from the Algonquian ''papoose'', meaning "child") is an American English word whose present meaning is "a Native American child" (regardless of tribe) or, even more generally, any child, usually used as a term of endearment, often in t ...

- "What Makes Me, Me" (Album: Internationally Known) *

Phife Dawg Malik Izaak Taylor (November 20, 1970March 22, 2016), known professionally as Phife Dawg (or simply Phife), was an American rapper and a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (and for a short time Jarob ...

- 4 tracks from '' Ventilation: Da LP'' *

- "Miscellaneous (remix)" *

Planet Asia Jason Cullen Green (born October 24, 1976), better known as Planet Asia, is a rapper from Fresno, California. He is prominent for being one half of the now reunited hip-hop duo the Cali Agents and is currently a member of the groups Gold Chain ...

& Grand Agent - "It's Only Right" *Rick Dolo - Pan Am * Slum Village - "The Set Up" (Album: Villa Manifesto) * Snoop Dogg - "I Believe In You", "I Miss That Bitch" (Album: '' Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss'') * Snoop Dogg - "No Thang On Me" {Album: '' R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece'' *

Soopafly Priest Joseph Brooks, (known professionally as Soopafly born December 8, 1972) is a hip hop producer and rapper from Long Beach, California. He is a member of the DPGC. Early life The oldest of three children, Brooks grew up in Long Beach. He ...

- "Are You Ready" *

Soulive Soulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs. The band consists of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans ( Hammond B3 organ, bass keys, clavinet). Alth ...

featuring

- "Bridge to Bama (remix)" *

Styles P David R. Styles (born November 28, 1974), better known by his stage name Styles P (also known mononymously as Styles), is an American rapper, best known as a member of hip hop group the Lox, alongside childhood friends Sheek Louch and Jadakiss ...

featuring

Ray J William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American singer, actor, and television personality. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of recording a ...

- "Let's Go" (Album: '' Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman'') *

featuring

- "Testify" (Album: Time Is Money) *

Syleena Johnson Syleena Johnson ( Thompson; September 2, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter from Chicago, Illinois. Personal life Johnson is the daughter of 1960s R&B Hi Records singer Syl Johnson and Brenda Thompson, wh ...

- "Hit On Me (remix)" (Album: ''Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness''), "The Voice/Intro", "Outro" (Album: '' Chapter 2: The Voice'') *

- "2000 Seasons", "The Express", "Back Up Offa Me", "Work It Out", "Beautiful Struggle", "More or Less" *

Termanology Daniel Carrillo (born October 8, 1982), better known by his stage name Termanology, is an American rapper and record producer. He first gained major attention with the 2006 single "Watch How It Go Down". A solo album, '' Politics as Usual'', was ...

- "In The Streets" (Album: Politics as Usual) *

- ""Where's The Love" (featuring Bun B,

Bodega Bamz Nathaniel De La Rosa (born March 17, 1985), known professionally as Bodega Bamz, is of Dominican/Puerto Rican decent rapper/actor from Spanish Harlem, New York. De La Rosa first attracted attention for his 2012 mixtape, ''Strictly 4 My P.A.P.I. ...

, and

Masspike Miles Perfect Gentlemen were an American trio of teen R&B vocalists formed under the direction of Maurice Starr, who discovered New Edition and New Kids on the Block. Starr put the group together in Boston in 1988, and had them tour the US openi ...

) (Album: " More Politics") *

Tha Eastsidaz Tha Eastsidaz is a hip hop trio consisting of Snoop Dogg, Tray Deee and Goldie Loc. Their first appearance was on Tommy Boy Records' ''The Ride: Music from Dimension'' with Crooked Eye Q on a Battlecat-produced song called "Feels So Good" in 19 ...

"Cool", "Eastside Ridaz" (Album: '' Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way'') * The Game - "Runnin'" (Album: ''

The Documentary ''The Documentary'' is the second studio album by American rapper The Game (rapper), the Game. It was released on January 18, 2005, by Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, and Interscope Records. In 2001, while the Game was in a hospital recov ...

''), "Ol English" (Album:

Doctor's Advocate ''Doctor's Advocate'' is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist the Game, released on November 14, 2006, through Geffen Records. The album is his second major-label release, following 2005's ''The Documentary'', which was r ...

), "Letter To The King" (Album: '' L.A.X)'' * Truth Hurts - "Hollywood" *

Xzibit Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "exhibit"), is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality. Xzibit began his musical career after the release of his ...

- "Scent of a Woman" (Album: Weapons of Mass Destruction) *

featuring Busta Rhymes - "Tough Guy" (Album: Weapons of Mass Destruction) *

- "Don't Need No Help" (Album: Get Rich Or Die Tryin' soundtrack) *

featuring Snoop Dogg,

Trick Daddy Maurice Samuel Young (born September 27, 1974), better known by his stage name Trick Daddy, is an American rapper from Miami's Liberty City. Early life Trick Daddy was born on September 27, 1974, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. ...

- "I Ain't Fuckin' Wit You" (Album: ''

Buck the World ''Buck the World'' is the second studio album by American rapper Young Buck. It was released on March 27, 2007, through Cashville Records, G-Unit Records and Interscope Records. Background The album's title is a play on the expression, "Fuck the ...

'') *

9th Wonder Patrick Denard Douthit (born January 15, 1975),
better known as 9th Wonder, is a Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with ...

featuring

Rapsody Marlanna Evans (born January 21, 1983), better known by her stage name Rapsody, is an American rapper. Her second album, ''Laila's Wisdom'' (2017), which was critically acclaimed, received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album and Be ...

- "Every Ghetto" (Album: '' Indie 500'')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hi-Tek 1976 births Living people African-American rappers Midwest hip hop musicians American hip hop record producers Aftermath Entertainment artists African-American record producers Rappers from Cincinnati 21st-century American rappers 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American people