88-Keys

Biography

Born in New York City to West African parents from Cameroon, he was raised in the Eastchester section of the Bronx and later in West Hempstead on Long Island, where he attended high school.

88-Keys first took an interest in hip hop after hearing Prince Paul's production on De La Soul's 1989 critically acclaimed album 3 Feet High and Rising. In the early 1990s, 88-Keys met rapper-producers Q-Tip, Pete Rock and Large Professor working as an intern at West Hempstead's The Music Palace recording studio. It was Large Professor who gave Charles his 88-Keys moniker after witnessing his skills on the Ensoniq ASR-10 keyboard.

Upon considering a serious career in music, 88-Keys's parents and older brother began trying to point him into the field of medicine because it was a more "professional field" and the music industry did not seem like a lucrative move. After briefly attending Hofstra University and Queens College, 88-Keys dropped out to pursue his dreams of being a record producer. His decision was fueled by an opportunity to record some tracks with The Pharcyde who were recording in California.

In addition to his passion for music, 88-Keys has expressed his love for fashion, most notably Ralph Lauren. In a 2008 interview with Metro, 88-Keys revealed that he had worn Polo Ralph Lauren every day for 16 years. According to the article, 88-Keys began wearing Polo Ralph Lauren as a Long Island high school student in 1992, when he developed a liking for its classic, preppy style. He asserted that he had worn a complete look from the brand every day, without fail. As of 2008, his wardrobe included over 700 Polo pieces.

Since his days as an assistant engineer, 88-Keys has produced records for numerous artists including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kid Cudi, Macy Gray, Musiq Soulchild, Dejuan Lucian, and Consequence. Recently, 88-Keys extended beyond his production credits to highlight his skills on the mic as MC, singer and collaborator, most notably on his solo debut album The Death of Adam released on November 11, 2008. Executively produced by 88-Keys's close friend Kanye West, the concept album tells the story of a man named Adam who has been murdered in a loft apartment in Harlem. In August 2008 a fifteen-track mixtape titled Adam's Case Files was released as a prequel to The Death of Adam. The album's first single titled "Stay Up! (Viagra)" was officially released through iTunes on September 9, 2008. In December 2008, 88-Keys was highlighted as Spin Artist of the Day. In 2009, 88-Keys worked in Atlanta with new female duo Addictive on a track for a forthcoming album.

In June 2019, 88-Keys announced that a song he produced titled "That's Life", featuring Sia and Mac Miller, had been approved for release by Miller's estate, and was released through Warner Records on June 20, 2019.

Discography

Main article: 88-Keys production discography

• Adam's Case Files Mixtape (2008)
• Stay Up! (Viagra) Prescription Pack – EP (2008)
• The Death of Adam (2008)

References

References

1. (November 23, 2008). "Polo Ralph Lauren fits 88-Keys just fine". [[Los Angeles Times]].
2. (July 8, 2013). "Cooking at Home with 88-Keys". First We Feast.
3. "88-Keys Bio". Decon Records.
4. "88-keys: The Process of Making a Beat". [[Dork (magazine).
5. (July 9, 2008). "88-Keys – The Piano Man". Serge Fleury.
6. (May 1, 2008). "Solid as a Rock". Anthony Roberts.
7. (10 November 2008). "Sticking with the Brand". Kenya Hunt.
8. "88-Keys "The Death of Adam" News Piece No. 2".
9. (August 26, 2008). "88-Keys ft. Kanye West – Stay Up (Viagra)". M. Burmy.
10. (December 11, 2008). "ARTIST OF THE DAY: 88-KEYS". Joseph Coscarelli.
11. (June 13, 2019). "For all of you who have been wondering about 'benji the dog'... here you go: 'That's Life' by me (88-Keys) ft. @MacMiller & @Sia dropping June 20th. Real & official version approved my Mac's family & estate. Save the date & the word please... with love. 💕✌🏾".