Birth Through Knowledge (aka BTK) were a Canadian rap rock band best known for their 1998 single "Peppyrock." Core members of the group were DJs Stone Groove and Lo-Ki.
History
The roots of BTK began with a chance meeting of Lo-Ki and Stone Groove on a subway in 1993.
Their early musical influences were
Afrika Bambaataa
Lance Taylor (born on April 17, 1957), also known as Afrika Bambaataa (), is an American DJ, rapper, and producer from the South Bronx, New York. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influence ...
and
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler (born January 1, 1958), popularly known by his stage name Grandmaster Flash, is an American DJ and rapper. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Hip Hop DJing, cutting, scratching and mixing. Grandmaster Flash and the Fur ...
.
The group independently released an EP titled ''Birth Through Knowledge'' in 1995.
["B.T.K. Birth Through Knowledge Ignition/BMG, 1998"]
''Voir Album Guide'', Laurent Saulnier 2 September 1998
BTK's single "Corncob Pipe" was included on the sampler disc that
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
released alongside ''
Follow the Leader'' and they won the 1997
MuchMusic Best Independent Video Award for "Superchile" after the song had been in heavy rotation on the station. They became the first indie band to open the main-stage at Edgefest '97.
After signing to the now-defunct Ignition Records (an alternative rock label affiliated with Tommy Boy Records), BTK released their only full-length album, also titled ''Birth Thru Knowledge'', in 1998.
The album was an upbeat mixture of rap, hip hop and guitar work.
["REVIEW: B.T.K., _B.T.K._ (Ignition)"]
''CONSUMABLE ONLINE'', Issue 156, 28 September 1998. by Franklin Johnson
Also in 1998, BTK opened for
Beastie Boys,
Kid Rock
Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock (also known as Bobby Shazam), is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. His style alternates between rock, hip hop, country, and metal. A self-taught musician ...
,
and played several dates with
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace (sometimes shortened to OLP) is a Canadian rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Led by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band currently also features Duncan Coutts on bass, Steve Mazur on guitars, and ...
, including
Summersault Festival in Shediac, New Brunswick. Drummer Matt DeMatteo left the band in 1998 to continue his work as a recording engineer.
They performed along with
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two ...
during her 1999 Junkie Tour.
and performed in Toronto at the El Macombo. Also that year, their music video for "Peppyrock" was nominated for
MuchMusic Best Video.
BTK was nominated for a
Juno Award
The Juno Awards, more popularly known as the JUNOS, are awards presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. New members of the Canadian Music Hall o ...
in 1999 in the
Best Alternative Album category (ultimately losing to
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded 10 studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical operas and se ...
).
The band's last known performance was at the Warehouse in Toronto in December 1999.
After the group disbanded, DeMatteo worked for two recording studios and then opened Record High Productions in December 2000. Bassist Adam Carlo rejoined his brother in his previous thrash metal band
Razor
A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, safety razors, disposable razors, and electric razors.
While the razor has been in existence since before t ...
in 2002. Turntablist DJ Spinz continued as a DJ, served as art director for Sudden Def Recordings, became part-owner of the promotion company Soul in Motion.
Drummer Sam Cino continued performing as a drummer with several Ontario groups.
"King Cobb Steelie Destroy All Codes"
''By Michael Barclay'', 1 Jan 2006
Members
*Lo-Ki (vocals)
*Stone Groove (vocals)
*DJ Spinz (turntables)
*Adam Carlo (bass)
*Sam Cino (drums, percussion)
*Matt DeMatteo (drums until 1998)
*Mighty AOR (drums 1998-1999)
Discography
*''Birth Through Knowledge'' (1995, EP), Ultra Vibe
*''Birth Through Knowledge'' (1998), Ignition
*"Peppyrock" (1998), Ignition
References
External links
Official MySpace pageCanadian Musician Magazine Jan/Feb 1999 article (PDF)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birth Through Knowledge
Musical groups established in 1997
Rap rock groups
Canadian hip hop groups