Dälek
Forged in the fires of the East Coast underground music scene in the 90s, Experimental Hip Hop pioneers Dälek has spent decades carving out a unique niche fusing hardcore Hip Hop, noise and a radical approach to sound. Founded by Will Brooks (aka MC Dälek) and Alap Momin (aka Oktopus), Dälek debuted in 1998 with Negro, Necro, Nekros, a sonic tour de force built upon thunderous drums, blissful ambient sections and gritty, insightful lyrics. From the very beginning, Dälek came out the gate, following in the footsteps of their predecessors Public Enemy while drawing from influences as varied as My Bloody Valentine and German experimentalists Faust, Dälek have succeeded in adding completely new textural and structural dimensions to rap music.
After signing with Mike Patton’s renowned label, Ipecac Recordings, Dälek went on a virtually unparalleled run throughout the 2000s releasing a string of ambitious and challenging albums including, …From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002), Absence (2005), Abandoned Language (2007), Gutter Tactics (2009). A visceral and powerful live act, Dälek spent over a decade touring and bringing their raucous and blistering performances to audiences around the world. During this time they toured with and supported a wide range of acts in the Hip Hop, Rock, Metal, and Experimental genres including KRS One, TOOL, Tomahawk, The Melvins, Grandmaster Flash, Jesu, Dillinger Escape Plan, Pharcyde, RJD2, DeLa Soul, Prince Paul, Lovage, ZU, Black Heart Procession, Earth, Flying Lotus, The Bug, Mastodon, Fantomas and many more.
In 2015, Brooks recruited long time associate Mike Manteca (Mike Mare) to handle co-production duties for 2016’s Asphalt For Eden and 2017’s Endangered Philosophies, returning Dälek to the forefront of rap’s avant-garde with dramatic, noise and feedback-drenched beats and Brooks’ insightful street poetry. After decades of challenging and expanding the sonic fabric of Hip Hop itself, giving way to new approaches and possibilities, Dälek is set to take their rightful place as one of the culture’s true innovators.
Pioneers of alt hip-hop, Dälek (pronounced “die-a-lek”)
features
Rapper/Producer MC Dälek,
Producer/Live Electronics Mike Manteca
Lukas König
Lukas König is undoubtedly more than just a drummer, he could be better described as a mad sound artist- or laboratory! König lets his imagination fly, leading to fascinating juxtapositions between creepy sounds and heavy beats. His solo releases (Ventil Recs/Opal Tapes) span a wide range from hiphop to noise to experimental music.
König currently is involved in many projects and bands, and is working w/following artists: Moor Mother, Luke Stewart, Aquiles Navaro, Farida Amadou, Dälek, Guilty Simpson, Evicshen, Mariam Rezaei, Gabriele Mitteli, Mette Rasmussen, Julien Desprez, Audrey Chen, Peter Kutin, Elvin Brandhi, Die Stottern & Jazzwerkstatt Wien, Bilderbuch, Klangforum Wien, Studio Dan and many more.