Joe Christie, better known as Braintax, is a

British hip hop British hip hop, also known as UK hip hop or UK rap, is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/Hip-Hop. Britis ...

artist and producer. Christie had also recorded or appeared under the pseudonyms Brando Flux and Joey Brains. All of his releases were on his own record label, Low Life Records. Originally Braintax was a duo, consisting of Christie and DJ Test, who also contributed vocals and production. Test departed following the 1997 release of the '' Future Years'' EP and Christie retained the Braintax name; it has since become synonymous with him as a solo artist. On the track "Monsoon Funk" on '' Panorama'', Christie explained Braintax means "we can all get busy if we use our brains." Braintax's lyrics have made multiple references to spirituality,

healthy eating A healthy diet is a diet that maintains or improves overall health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, macronutrients such as protein, micronutrients such as vitamins, and adequate fibre and food energy. A h ...

, the state of hip hop music,

environmentalism Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks ...

, and

politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that stud ...

. On

Mr. Scruff Andrew Carthy (born 10 February 1972), better known by his stage name Mr. Scruff, is an English record producer and DJ. He lives in Stretford, Greater Manchester and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University. ...

's 2002 album ''

Trouser Jazz ''Trouser Jazz'' is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It is Mr. Scruff's second "proper" album (actually his third, but the early compilation album ''Mr. Scruff'' was deleted and re-released in 2005). In 2010 it was awarded a g ...

'', Braintax was featured on the song "Vibrate". In 2008, Braintax suddenly announced his retirement with the release of his final album titled '' My Last And Best Album'' and also the end of Low Life Records.

Discography

Albums

* ''

Biro Funk ''Biro Funk'' is the debut studio album by Braintax, released on Low Life Records in 2001. By the time of the album's release, Braintax was a solo artist - Joseph Christie. Prior to the release of Biro Funk, Braintax had released a number of EPs ...

'' (2001) * '' Panorama'' (2006) * '' My Last and Best Album'' (2008)

Singles and EPs

* ''Fat Head'' EP (1992) * '' Future Years'' EP (1997) * ''

The Travel Show ''The Travel Show'' is an EP by British rapper Braintax, was released through Low Life Records in 1999. The EP was never released on CD; however, it can be purchased on the Internet as a digital download in MP3 format. Track listing Digit ...

'' EP (1999) * '' Hard Working EP'' (2000) * "Don't Drag Me In" (2001) * "Riviera Hustle" (2002) * "Godnose" (2002) * ''Chapter Seven - Verse Two EP "Out the Bunker"'' (2003) * "D90 Rules" (2006) * "Run the Yards" (2006) * "Syriana Style" (2006)

Low Life Records

Low Life Records was an independent record label from London established in 1992, promoting and releasing

UK hip hop British hip hop, also known as UK hip hop or UK rap, is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/Hip-Hop. Briti ...

music.

History

Low Life was owned by Braintax. The label's signed artists included many UK hip hop artists such as; Braintax himself, Task Force,

Skinnyman Skinnyman (born Alexander Graham Holland, 9 November 1974) is a British rapper who was born in Chapeltown Leeds, Yorkshire and moved to Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He grew up on the Six Acres Estate next to Andover Estate. Among his ...

Jehst William G. Shields (born 1979), better known by his stage name Jehst, is an English rapper and co-founder of hip hop label YNR Productions. Biography Born in Kent in 1979, Jehst spent his early childhood in Crowborough in Sussex before moving ...

, Harry Love,

Verb T Thomas Conning (born 11 January 1981), better known by the stage name Verb T is a UK hip-hop artist based in London. Biography Verb T has released 10 albums and six EPs as well as numerous singles. His first release was the 12-track EP ''Ba ...

, Mystro, Asaviour,

Dubbledge Dubbledge is an English rapper based in Watford. He first gained interest with the track ''The Internet Song'', which was distributed online. He has appeared on releases by UK hip hop artists including Foreign Beggars, Micall Parknsun, Braintax ...

, Micall Parknsun &

Rodney P Rodney Panton, also known as Rodney P (born in Balham, London, 12 December 1969) is an English MC, as well as a radio and television personality who first gained attention via the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. A former member of UK hip-hop gro ...

. Low Life released around 70 records, including 12" singles, EPs and LPs.

Cessation

Low Life came to an abrupt end in 2008 when Braintax announced his retirement and release of his last record; 'My Last and Best Album'. This came as a shock and disappointment to many

fans. According to various sources, many of the artists signed to Low Life felt as if they had been ripped off/underpaid by Braintax - however Braintax stated in an interview, "There's been too much stress, mainly the large amount of b*****t you have to contend with when you run a record label. If you're not ripping people off then you're busy not trying hard enough to sell records that no one wants to buy."

References

External links

Braintax Interview on ukhh.com

Braintax Discography on discogs.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braintax English male rappers Living people Musicians from Leeds Year of birth missing (living people)