Kendall Tucker, better known as 14KT, was born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan in October of 1980. He was first introduced to music through singing in the church choir and immediately became attached to the way music could move people. In 1994 his involvement in Hip Hop began when, as an emcee, he joined the Michigan Hip Hop group known as the Athletic Mic League. Ironically, it was from a need for original production within his crew that he started making beats, using nothing but his parents Jazz & Soul records and a dual tape deck. Currently people stratch their heads when witnessing his unorthodox or “alien” production method by using computers.

As a product of the “Golden Era of Hip-Hop,” 14KT strives to be amongst the great producers and beatmakers that made the music in his headphones – DJ Premier, Organized Noize, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre and J Dilla. As a musician, 14KT was heavily cultured by the rich, musical background and local history of Motown. However, he’s far from neglecting Gospel, Jazz, Rock, Electronic and Techno as sources of inspiration – which can all be heard on his debut solo LP, The Golden Hour [Soundtrack], released in October of 2008. Despite being an instrumental album, The Golden Hour appeared on many year-end top albums lists. Okayplayer said “this is the sort of striking project that can singlehandedly create an artists following.” And so it did.

In August 2009, 14KT released Nowalataz, “a project I unofficially had done since 2006. It started when James Yancey aka J Dilla passed that February. To cope with the death of my favorite producer, who I liked to call my unofficial “musical mentor,” I started making ‘donuts’…uncontrollably. I never planned to release any of the material out of respect for Dilla and his craft. I shared some of the music with others, in which they would repeatedly ask me to hear it, so I decided to put a little something together and make it official.“

14KT set off 2010 performing alongside Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib and J Rocc at the 2010 SXSW Stones Throw/Converse “45 Live” party, and rocked the crowd at Red Bull’s Big Tune-Austin producer beat battle, earning him a spot in the 2010 national finals in Chicago. 14KT won, and as a result got to spend time in Red Bull’s Santa Monica studios recording a track with the legendary Bun B. The reigning Big Tune national beat battle champion most recently released 14KillaTape (June 2011), a collection of beats featuring many of the cuts he used in his victorious battles.

14KT is currently in the lab simultaneously working on several projects for himself and other artists while touring his electrifying DJ sets. Expect the unexpected with his next upcoming releases.

For live bookings and all other business inquiries contact:
Jeff: jeff[at]asideworldwide.com