K-Cut facts for kids

Kevin McKenzie (born July 25, 1971), known professionally as K-Cut, is a talented Canadian music producer and DJ. He is most famous for being a member of the hip hop group Main Source. K-Cut has helped create many popular songs for various artists.

K-Cut's Early Life and Family Background

Kevin McKenzie was born in Toronto, Canada. His father was from Jamaica, and his mother, Sandra McKenzie, was from Guyana. When K-Cut was a child, his family moved to Queens, New York City.

Growing Up in Queens

K-Cut and his brother, Shawn McKenzie (also known as Sir Scratch), both loved being DJs. They went to John Bowne High School in Flushing, Queens. There, K-Cut met Large Professor, who would later become a member of their group. K-Cut's mother was a big supporter of their music dreams. She helped pay for their studio time and even became the manager for their group, Main Source.

Family Connections in Music

K-Cut has other family members who are also in music. He is the cousin of music producer Rashad Smith. He is also related to the musician Eddy Grant. K-Cut's grandfather, on his mother's side, was a soul and disco singer in Toronto during the 1970s.

K-Cut's Music Career Journey

K-Cut's music journey began in 1989. His group, Main Source, released their first independent song called "Think." This song was made with the help of producer Paul C.

Carrying on a Legacy

Sadly, Paul C passed away in 1989. K-Cut later said that Main Source learned a lot from Paul C's style. They wanted to continue his unique sound in their own music. During this time, K-Cut also helped teach DJ Premier how to use sampling techniques.

Signing with a Record Label

In 1990, Main Source released another song, "Watch Roger Do His Thing." After this, the group signed with Wild Pitch Records. This was a big step for their career.

Breaking Atoms: A Classic Album

In 1991, Main Source released their first album, Breaking Atoms. Many people consider this one of the greatest hip hop albums ever made. While Large Professor produced most of the album, K-Cut was praised for his amazing scratching skills. He also produced the song "Peace Is Not the Word to Play" on the album.

Producing for Other Artists

K-Cut also worked with other famous artists in 1991. He produced music for Queen Latifah's album Nature of a Sista'. He also produced most of The Black Tie Affair for Toronto rapper Maestro Fresh Wes. That album became a gold record in Canada.

Chart-Topping Hits

In 1992, K-Cut produced the Main Source song "Fakin' the Funk." This song was part of the White Men Can't Rap movie soundtrack. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart.

The next year, 1993, K-Cut produced "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)" for the group Fu-Schnickens. This song featured basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. It became a big hit, reaching number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also earned a gold certification in the United States.

Taking the Lead in Main Source

In 1993, Large Professor left Main Source. K-Cut then became the main producer for their 1994 album, ... What You Think. A song from this album, "What You Need," was used in Madonna's worldwide hit "Human Nature" in 1995. K-Cut is credited as a songwriter for that famous song.

Returning to Toronto's Music Scene

By the late 1990s, K-Cut moved back to Toronto. He continued to contribute to the city's hip hop music scene. In 1997, he produced "Gotta Get Mine" for Infinite. He also worked on Citizen Kane's EP The Epic. Both of these works were nominated for a Juno Award.

K-Cut also produced two songs for Choclair's 1999 album Ice Cold. This album went on to win the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording. In the early 2000s, K-Cut also mentored a young producer from Toronto named Watts.

As of 2016, K-Cut was the touring DJ for Canadian singer Kiki Rowe.

K-Cut's Musical Style and Inspiration

K-Cut gets ideas for his music from the reggae records his grandparents owned. When he produces a song, he often imagines an artist performing over the beat. Then, he presents the beat to the artist. One example of this was when he produced "How We Roll '98" for Big Pun.