Nas - The Roots - Jay-Z - Tribe Called Quest - Outkast - The whole late 90's Rawkus camp - DJ Premier - Pete Rock - J Dilla - Hi-Tek - Neptunes - Kanye West - Just Blaze - Miles Davis - John Coltrane - Cannonball Adderley - Herbie hancock - Bobby Hutcherson - Mel Brown - CTI - The Mizell Bros. - David Axelrod - Charles Stepney - James Brown - Gil Evens - Roy Ayers - too many.....
Possibly one of Canada's freshest offspring of the love triangle between funk, soul, and hiphop, rapper/producer Mantis is the essence of urban music personified. Born on the 16th of September 1984, Mantis embodies the love of music passed down to him from his father, a guitarist in a local blues outfit and organizer of many celebrated jazz, blues, and funk festivals in the Southern-Ontario city of Kitchener/Waterloo. First picking up the drumsticks, then the microphone, then finally mastering the art of music production at the Trebas Institute in Toronto, Mantis represents the finest in hiphop culture in all that he creates. Having not only opened for artists such as Kardinal Offishaal, K-Os, Jeru the Damaja, and CL Smooth, but also producing tracks for such renowned artists as JD Era, and Point Blank, he has been able to create a respectable footprint in the Canadian hiphop community. The Mantis-produced "I Don't Like To" was also the leadoff single to acclaimed rapper Shad K's 2008 Juno Award nominated album - The Old Prince. Mantis began his foray into hiphop early, and has pursued it with passion and vigor since day one. Having performed all over Ontario and Quebec, the past six years have been a whirlwind of producing, writing, and networking, which have led to earning the respect of many of his peers in this industry. Mantis' talent and insight have grown exponentially since his 2002 debut on the underground smash collaboration the Berlin Experiment and 2005's Northern Horde compilation, alongside artists such as Justis, Hajah Bug, and Embassy. Mantis' first solo project Still Life, set to release early in the fourth quarter of 2008, is entirely self-produced and is decorated with appearances by not only some of Canada's most established musicians, but also some of its best undiscovered talents. This soulful debut project should be the perfect spark to launch Mantis onto not only the Canadian hiphop scene, but as a well-respected musician in the entire Canadian music industry.
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