#179. DJ/Producer Arthur Baker on the early days of hip hop, Sun City, the Sex Machine EP, remixing huge hit records & more.

The XS Noize Podcast

In Episode #179 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to legendary DJ/Producer Arthur Baker, credited as a leader, pioneer, and trailblazer in electronic music.

Masterminding breakthrough experimentation with tape edits and sampling. He left Boston for New York at the start of the 1980s. Initially DJing and producing disco and soul, he was drafted in by Tommy Boy Records to produce for hip-hop crew Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force. Planet Rock, the seminal single — with vocals by MC G.L.O.B.E. — that came out of those sessions, unwittingly kick-starting a revolution: electro.

Baker would go on to become an award-winning DJ and music and film producer, producing and mixing such artists as Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, New Order, The Pet Shop Boys, Fleetwood Mac and Hurts.

Fast-forward 40 years of hip-hop and electro street culture and Arthur is now a bona fide legendary music figure. Now he has teamed up with UK house rhythm master Steve Mac for the Sex Machine EP.

In this interview, Arthur discusses the early days of hip hop, The Sun City album, the Sex Machine EP, remixing huge hit records and lots more.

Previous XS Noize Podcast guests have been Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, John Lydon, Nick Heyward, Steven Wilson, Matt Goss, Billy Nomates, Tom Meighan, Toyah Wilcox, Midge Ure, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, Sleaford Mods, The Brand New Heavies, Villagers.

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