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Koolade
Born
Matko Šašek

(1978-06-01) 1 June 1978 (age 45)
Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Occupations
Websitehttps://kooladekoolade.bandcamp.com

Matko Šašek, also known as Koolade is a Croatian hip-hop, electronic, and urban music producer.[2] Born in Zagreb in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he played a major role in establishing hip-hop genre in the Croatian and regional (Balkans) music scene, rocking charts, record sales and winning a few national music awards (local equivalent to the Grammys) in Croatia and Bosnia.

Later he and his partner/manager Phat Phillie realized that his production would make a good export, and continued to expand his work throughout Europe and the U.S., where he is perhaps best known for his production work on Masta Ace's "Beautiful" on the album A Long Hot Summer,[3] as well as a number of other prominent American hip-hop artists such as Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa of the Wu Tang Clan, Sean Price, Xzibit, Sadat X, Styles P, Diamond D, Das EFX, Peedi Crakk, Tony Touch, Rah Digga, Too Short, Bow Wow, and others. Koolade is locally and regionally known for his collaborations with the Croatian hip-hop groups Tram 11 and Bolesna Braća, as well as Bosnian rappers Edo Maajka and Frenkie.[4]

Early years

Born on 1 June 1978 in Zagreb, Croatia, he showed great interest in music from his early days. Growing up in the 1980s he listened to artists like Queen (being a fan since age of 6), Michael Jackson, U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, Human League, Dire Straits etc. In 5th and 6th grade he took piano lessons, but quit after two years due to a lack of interest in classical music education. He did not play the piano again, until the start of his professional music career in the mid/late 1990s.[4]

Hip Hop

In the years 1989/1990 his sister introduces him to Hip Hop music which he initially hates, but after a year or so, Hip Hop music becomes his obsession. Artists like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Ice Cube, EPMD would very soon take over his tape deck. Due to a few shows like MTV's Yo! MTV Raps, Rap Attack, and his future manager Phat Philly's own Blackout Rap Show on Radio 101, he keeps track of the international scene and all the fresh new releases. Soon enough he starts forming his first high school demo bands of pretty much no significance like G-Style and Ill Behavior. Having interest in both rapping and beatmaking he makes his first tracks. Although those would end up being just tries and attempts, but a good practice for his later work.[2]

Blackout

As Hip Hop scene would start resonating more and more with the local kids in Croatia during the early/mid 1990s he starts hangin around clubs and people playing, promoting and making Hip Hop music. Hearing the local artist's demos being played on Blackout Rap Show, he wasn't overwhelmed with the production on those, and decides he wants to contribute to the scene with his musical talent as a beat-maker and producer. Eventually he focuses on beat-making and production, and gets embraced by the local scene very quickly, due to the quality of his material. Very soon he becomes a member of the Blackout Project, the DJ's, MC's and beat-makers revolving and evolving around the Blackout Rap Show. In 1998, his 1st production credit release, which marked the start of his professional career, were two tracks by Tram 11 "Des Mozges" & "Kog je briga za vas", on Blackout Project's "Project Impossible" album. He collaborates with many soon to be renowned local and regional hip hop artists like Tram 11, Sick Rhyme Sayazz aka Bolesna Braća, El Bahattee, Nered & Stoka, Edo Maajka, Frenkie, Shorty, Elemental etc... Meaning, they all make history together, rockin the charts and sales on a mainstream level. In the following years, he gains respect not just in the hip hop scene, but throughout the local, regional, and European urban music scene. In the Balkans region he enjoys a legendary status. He and his manager Phat Phillie continue to work up to date, having a strong bond as partners in crime, and continue shopping and delivering the world music scene with some of that Koolade, placing his music worldwide.[5] He produced "Beautiful" by Masta Ace.[3]

Media & marketing

Being a music producer and sound engineer, Koolade does and scores quite a few commercials, locally and worldwide, and copyrights his music in the world of media, TV and marketing. Some of the references are H&M, Nivea, Alizee, EA Sports, Y2K, and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance & Ugly Betty etc.

Recent Days

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Today Koolade continues to produce for other acts as he always used to. One of the recent[when?] ones he is affiliated with would be Kandžija, High5, Geralt iz Rivije, Frenkie, Kontra, and the whole of Zagreb's and regional underground scene.

His 2016 single "Say Nothing" featured Rah Digga, Sean Price, and Tony Touch, and was released on Duck Down Music.

Koolade also has a stream of instrumental EP's, singels and albums, genre wise ranging from beats, alternative hip-hop, electronic beats to future funk. Since 2016, he's been affiliated with a US label Blvnt Records. His music got picked up and played by many international podcasts and radio shows such as Soulection, Voyage Funktastique and WeFunk.

He also performs his music live, which includes live sampling, fx tweaking, playing bass lines, leads and talkbox.

Awards and recognition

Year Award Category Artist Album Contribution Result
2001 Porin (Croatian national music award) Best Hip Hop album Bolesna Braća Lovci na Šubare Record producer, featured artist Won
2001 Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award) Best producer/beatmaker Koolade Won
2002 Porin (Croatian national music award) Best urban and club music album El Bahattee Svaki pas ima svoj dan Record producer Won
2003 Porin (Croatian national music award) Best urban and club music album Edo Maajka Slušaj Mater Record producer Won
2005 Davorin (Bosnian national music award) Best urban music album Edo Maajka No sikiriki Record Producer Won
2007 Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award) Best producer/beatmaker Koolade Won
2009 Porin (Croatian national music award) Best urban and club music album Edo Maajka Balkansko a naše Record producer, featured artist Nominated
2017 Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award) Lifetime achievement award Koolade Won
2022 Porin (Croatian national music award) Best electronic album of the year Koolade April Artist, producer Nominated

In 2007, Los Angeles-based URB magazine named Koolade one of the top 100 best up-and-coming urban artists, along with artists like M.I.A. and Block Party.[6]

Discography

Title Release Type Label Year Featured Songs Featured Artists
Koolade Presents... 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/Wordplay 2001 Survival b/w Hate Me Too Masta Ace, Strick
Beautiful b/w Follow 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/ABB 2004 Beautiful b/w Follow Masta Ace, El Da Sensei
Get Addicted digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2009 Get Addicted J-Ro
You & Yours b/w Philly Morning digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2010 You & Yours b/w Philly Morning Maylay Sparks
The Makings digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 The Makings Diamond D, Sadat X
No More Music digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 No More Music Styles P
Beautiful digital single re-release Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 Beautiful Masta Ace
Koolade Beats Rocky digital LP (album) Blackout Entertainment 2012 ... Maylay Sparks, Peedi Crakk, Rasheeda B, Lovro Ravbar
All Round Philly digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2012 All Round Philly b/w (Like on A) First Date Peedi Crakk, Maylay Sparks, Rasheeda B
Walking on a Chance digital EP (single) Universal Music 2012 Walking on a Chance Zebra Dots
Walking on a Chance LP (album) Universal Music 2012 ... Zebra Dots
Don't Try digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try original + remixes Zebra Dots
Don't Try ft. SevdahBaby digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try Sevdah Baby Remix Zebra Dots, SevdahBaby
Outta My Mind/Pokvareni Telefon digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Outta My Mind, Pokvareni Telefon Zebra Dots
Koola od karata digital LP (album) Koolade Productions 2014 ... Koolade
Juice Crew Special EP ft. Masta Ace & Craig G digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2014 Love Crazy ft. Masta Ace & Strick, From The Soul ft. Craig G Koolade, Masta Ace, Craig G, Strick
Park St. EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade
After The Storm EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade
Fallin EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade
Daze EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions 2015 ... Koolade
Swan Pond EP digital EP (album) Blvnt Records 2015 ... Koolade
Pay Me What You Owe Me digital single Blvnt Records 2015 Pay Me What You Owe Me (Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money" rework) Koolade and Ben Bada Boom
Greyscale EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions 2016 Avalan, Feelings get hurt Koolade
Night Shifts EP digital EP (album) Blvnt Records 2016 Songs @ 2AM, Moon Thug, Nite Moth, The Lamp Lamp, Pod to Venus ft. Robot Orchestra, The Night shifts, Dawn Yawn Koolade, Robot Orchestra
Say Nothing (single) digital single Duck Down Music 2016 Say Nothing Rah Digga, Sean Price, Tony Touch, Koolade
Eastern Lights EP digital EP (album) Blvnt Records 2016 Eastern Lights, Avenue Feel, Moving into Light Koolade
Od pješaka do rakete digital album Bassivity Digital 2016 ... Burky x Geralt iz Rivije x Koolade
Swag Bag EP digital EP (album) Blvnt Records 2016 Took off, Gimme a Minute Koolade
Kune i Dinari digital single Aristokrat Music 2016 Geralt iz Rivije, Kendi, Koolade
Živim po svoem ft. Žugi & Riđi Riđ (High5) digital single Geralt iz Rivije / Koolade Productions 2017 Geralt iz Rivije, Koolade, Žugi, Riđi Riđ
Papirni avioni album (digital, physical) Aristokrat Music 2017 Kendi, Koolade, Wikluh Sky, Nensi
Jarun digital single Koolade Productions 2017 Sinke Fresh, Burky, Koolade
Bista digital single Geralt iz Rivije / Koolade Productions 2017 Geralt iz Rivije, Koolade
No digital album Koolade Productions 2018 AAY, In a Dream, Kooloma Rinolade, Lotus Blossom, NO, Rainstorm, Tzar Hun, Straight Talk, Come up a Star Rinoma, Koolade
Purple Orange digital album Blvnt Records 2018 Purple Intro, Let's use Hands now, Stalling, Reminisce Sunshine, Purple Orange, Orange Peel (Interlude), Walk Away, December, Purple Outro Koolade
Goodlife digital single Koolade Productions 2018 Geralt iz Rivije, Koolade
Palmview digital single Koolade Productions 2018 Koolade
NASA digital single Koolade Productions 2018 Koolade
Can I kick It ft. Tibor digital single Koolade Productions 2019 Tibor, Koolade
Benches digital album Koolin Out 2019 Benches, Liquidated, Bring You Flowers, A Bird called Bossa, Thumpin' in a Daaze, How We used to, One for Alan Koolade
Crewzen album / digital / physical (12" vinyl, CD) Koolade Productions 2019 JRN Anthem, Mirage, Sunset Crush, Crewzen, Shades of Gold, Jalibu, Malibu, Zonin', Dippin', Finale (Streets to the Beach) Koolade, Dust, Sinke Fresh, James Perri, Gorica Šutić
Crewzen Pt.2 album / digital / physical (cassette) Koolade Productions 2019 Low Ride, Delorean Bounce, Dippin' Pt.2, Baby Blue (Wide Body), Kadillaxx, Ridin' Out Koolade
Fireside album / digital Koolin Out 2019 Koolade
Leaving You album / digital Koolin Out 2020 Koolade
<V> 1984 album / digital Koolade Productions 2020 Koolade
The Hop album / digital Voyage Funktastique / Bastard Jazz 2020 Koolade, Mystee
Warm Cups album / digital Koolin Out 2020 Koolade, Vuk
Kocke album / digital Koolade Productions / TDKM 2021 Tibor, Koolade
Biddin' / SprinGang double single / digital Krekpek Records 2021 Koolade
OOO DAAA! / Nargile na rumo double single / digital Krekpek Records 2021 Koolade
April album / digital Krekpek Records Koolade
Five to Nine EP / digital Koolin Out 2021 Koolade
Lovers' Lane album / digital Koolin Out 2022 Koolade, Terron Austin, Matija Dedić, Bro, Vuk, Monika Almaši, Ma'Chill
Pričom je bježao od EP / digital Koolade Productions / TDKM 2022 Noti Limun, Tibor, Koolade

Croatian & regional production credits

International production credits

Remixed by Koolade...

Featuring Koolade...

Various artist compilation, film & theater placements and scores

Copywriting, marketing & media

References

  1. ^ "discogs". discogs.com. discogs. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Idesh". idesh.net (in Croatian). Idesh. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "allmusic". allmusic.com. allmusic. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b "express". express.hr (in Croatian). express. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. ^ "zamp". zamp.hr (in Croatian). zamp. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Koolade za Ghostface Killaha - Posredno to znači i za Jay Z-a". vip.hr (in Croatian). Vipnet. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2011.

External links

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