cover pic

Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)

Iowa City based Beats & Groove music collective

9 songs
1.7K plays
Picture for song 'Mild Sauce' by artist 'Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)'
Mild Sauce Mild Sauce

This is an updated Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks) remix joint which appeared on a Gravel Records complilation in 2003.

Alternative Hip Hop

Picture for song 'Lost Ones' by artist 'Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)'
Lost Ones Lost Ones

Chicago based emcees Lost One and Lord 360 both kick verses with production behind Jinx (Regime Records) and additonal cello riffs and percussion from Tack-Fu & the Chaircrusher.

Alternative Hip Hop

Picture for song 'R.I.P MC' by artist 'Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)'
R.I.P MC R.I.P MC

Des Monies, Iowa native MC Angle spits over a dark blended background. Produced by yours truely using violin and church organ riffs over a solid backbeat.

Alternative Hip Hop

Picture for song 'All I wanna do (feat. Regina)' by artist 'Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)'
All I wanna do (feat. Regina) All I wanna do (feat. Regina)

I did this joint in 2005 for an Iowa City hip-hop group named 'Unyted Naytionz' featuring the vocals of female blues singer Regina. I thought the latin vibe hit the spot on this tune.

Alternative Hip Hop

Picture for song 'Whirlpool' by artist 'Tack-Fu (85 decibel Monks)'
Whirlpool Whirlpool

A marching style drum beat against a stand up bassline gives the track a kind'a "car chase" feel.

Alternative Hip Hop

Classic hip-hop beat crafting with artistic flair. Not just break beats and repetitive loops, but more of an audible experience when you get a sonic scoop of the diverse musical combinations courtesy of producer Tack-Fu and his production collaborators titled the "85 decibel Monks." His circle of trusted musicians, DJ's and studio engineers who operate under the umbrella of the logo, apply their specialized skill set to enhance the audio signal during the creative process of beat building. The equipment & workflow may have changed over time, but the broadcast quality standards set 20 years ago continue to resonate today. Music aficionados dubbed it the "85 dB Monk Signature" sound, but the artists involved from the scratch mixes to the final master...prefer the term "Amplified Authentic". Tack-Fu has been hammering out beats in his recording lab since the late 90's and has released 3 compilation CDs ("Yen & Slang" ('98) / "Chained Reaction" ('00) / "Tack-Fu Presents: 85 decibel Monks" ('04) ) and several of his instrumentals have appeared on cable television channels (MTV, VH1, A&E, Discovery, & many others) since 2005. Music licensing for cable television & low-budget cinema have served the production outfit quite generously, but the chief of the 85 dB tribe felt a return to the fundamentals of song construction for public consumption and scrutiny was long overdue. "The landscape has shifted once again with digital distribution and music streaming services," elaborated Tack-Fu. "I cut my teeth using physical artifacts; a compact disk paired with a glossy press kit. Mailing that package to college radio stations and niche music magazines were outlets that an independent label/artist depended on to gain traction. After the marketing campaign, finding a reputable distributor that catered to the underground hip-hop aesthetic was a nightmare. The web site was a nice tool to have in the back pocket during that era, but it wasn't the engine that fueled the market. The script has flipped and the dialouge reads loud & clear... unlimited access, less hoops to jump through and a world possibilities for the independent artist on the outside looking in." Time marches on and the way music is made, dispersed and consumed seems to have the consistency of water flowing from one container to another, always changing shape. However, there are a few qualities in the realm of audio production that Tack-Fu won't shapeshift. "Listeners should receive a healthy dose of a well-crafted groove, not just repetitive loops layered on top of each other. The various artists involved in this 85 decibel Monk music collective helped fill in the blanks and supply the necessary bond to form a solid soundtrack." states Tack-Fu. "Tack is an artist in the recording studio," explains Grover Beats XL, a multi-instrument musician who gravitated to the vibe and the vision of the collective 10 years ago. "Listeners should be ready to go on a musical journey; his presentations will exceed your expectations." Every recording is designed to fill the soul with a satisfying listening experience. Phat beats, groovy basslines, funky instruments and the finest sound quality. Check out the music...enjoy the ride.
Your musical influences
I grew up with an record player and huge stack of 45's. I would jump on my bike and hit up garage sales, looking for records with the coolest looking labels. Back then I was paying maybe a quarter for a handful, so you can imagine the different styles of music I had tucked in my closet. When hip-hop music hit in the mid 80's, that was it for me. I knew hip-hop/rap music was going to grow and become widely popular and I wanted to be apart of it.
What equipment do you use?
Old records to lift samples, sound forge & acid software.
Anything else?
With a little tip of the cap to the legendary Bruce Lee, "Be as Water, My Friend."
Contact
Please sign up or log in to contact the artist.
Comments (2)
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.
Promoted Not related to artist
PLAY
FOLLOW
SHARE

Hip-Hop & Alternative Hip Hop artist from Iowa City, IA. New songs free to stream or download. Add to your playlist now.