* En anglais uniquement
Brooklyn-based DJ and producer Nick Barat (more commonly known as
Nick Catchdubs) rose to prominence in the mid-2000s, cultivating his eclectic DJ style and designing artwork for mix CDs by fellow genre-blending DJs
Diplo and Low Budget. Like those DJs,
Catchdubs' mixes heavily featured regional styles of hip-hop and dance music, such as hyphy and Baltimore club, giving them national and worldwide exposure.
Catchdubs was an associate editor at The FADER Magazine, and hosted the tastemaking publication's "The Let Out" radio show on East Village Radio. In 2007,
Catchdubs co-founded Fool's Gold Records with Canadian turntablist
A-Trak, releasing party-centric hip-hop and electronic music by up-and-coming artists. Within a few years, the label had several major hits under its belt, including
Kid Sister's "Pro Nails,"
Kid Cudi's "Day 'N' Nite," and
Duck Sauce's "Barbra Streisand."
Catchdubs produced mixtapes for MCs such as Izza Kizza,
9th Wonder, and
Wale (including his acclaimed Mixtape About Nothing, released in 2008). Fool's Gold released Detroit MC
Danny Brown's breakthrough album
XXX in 2011, and
Catchdubs contributed production to its 2013 follow-up,
Old.
Catchdubs finally began releasing original material in 2013, starting with the single "Bizness," featuring
Iamsu and
Jay Ant. "Wuts That" followed in 2014, and debut album
Smoke Machine, featuring guest appearances by
Troy Ave,
Heems,
Roach Gigz, and
MNDR, was released in 2015. Following the short remix set
More Smoke,
Catchdubs issued a string of singles, including 2017's "Dip Dip" and 2018's "'94 Olympics." In 2018, he began the Unidentified Flying Object single series, which included "UFO Style," "All Night," "Pick Up Yaself," "ATM" with
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, and more. ~ Paul Simpson