"Mantronix is one of those bands that certainly stands out among fans for their contributions to the rise of hip-hop music. The man at the helm, Kurtis Mantronik, was hailed as a turntable master, setting the stage for future DJs to follow his lead in his skillful techniques. First he dabbled in the area of hardcore rap but soon found allure within the blossoming hip-hop industry, which was steadily gaining a devoted following especially in nightclubs and dancehalls around the world. Mantronik served as a great inspiration to those who dreamed of following in his footsteps. In nearly every genre from dance music, to hip-hop and even in electronica, he gave a new sound to how music could be made and also mixed.Mantronik was born in Jamaica although his family relocated first to Canada and then to New York in the late 1970s. He grew up surrounded by the club culture in the Big Apple and soon began DJing around at local clubs. It was during this time that he met MC Tee, and the duo teamed up and released a demo tape, which caught the ear of an executive at Sleeping Bag Records. He signed the duo, which had decided on the moniker Mantronix, and they soon released their debut single called ""Fresh is the Word."" The song was immediately picked up by many clubs throughout New York City, and fans were immediately lauding praises of the duo. Their full length album followed in 1986 and spawned the singles ""Ladies"" and ""Basslines.""Mantronix was generating praise all over the world throughout the 1980s, and after their first release they were headed straight for the big-time. In 1987, they signed with Capitol Records and released the record In Full Effect. The album showcased a fusion of dance and R&B, which would be picked up by many other artists in the years to come. The duo is certainly responsible for the emergence of hip-hop into the dance scene, and there are still many bands seeking to imitate their revolutionary sound."