Prolific Recordings

Karl Brown

Karl was running reggae and 70’s sound systems in his teens, then gained an electronics diploma at college. He was part of the pop group/ mixing team ‘Double Trouble’ in the 198O’s, achieving chart success as Double Trouble & the Rebel MC, mixing Morgan Khan’s “upfront” acid lp’s and producing regular double trouble megamixes for the Chris Forbes show on capital radio.

Karl left double trouble to become an individual dj and remixer, working with artists such as j.d.braithwaite, and producers such as Mike Spencer and Aston Harvey. He held a dj residency at jaqueline’s/string fellows in london’s west end, and played at numerous other clubs. He teamed up with Matt “Jam” Lamont to form TuffJam in 1993, and remix & production work as TuffJam increased rapidly over next 6 years. Karl’s own dj career reached and maintained headline status during the same time. Tuffjam’s own record label UVM was launched in 1997, featuring tracks such as “Peekay - Sweet Sensation” and “Dawn Tallman - New York City Girl”. Karl & matt compiled and mixed the album “havin’ it stateside” on D.W.A., followed by two TuffJam mix cd’s “Underground Frequencies” Vol.1 (silver sales status) 1997 and vol.2 in 1998 for satellite records. Another album was compiled and mixed for the U.S.A. entitled “Tuff Jams”.

UVM recording studio was built in 1998 to allow the duo more freedom to refine their sound (using logic emagic sequencing to replace the previous atari cubase system), and to produce “in-house” to the highest standards. They remixed numerous tracks for artists such as Rosie Gaines, Tina Moore, Ce Ce Peniston, En Vogue, Brand New Heavies, Mark Morrison, Usher and Coolio, as well as entering the charts with their own productions, such as TJR “Just Gets Better” and TuffJam feat.Jaquee Bennett “Need Good Love”.

Their first radio show was broadcast on Kiss 100FM in 1997; the weekly show continued until march 2000. Karl has since presented shows on london’s choice 101.7fm and guested on Galaxy radio & Radio 1xtra.

Karl released his first solo mix cd “Pure Silk -a new dimension” in 1999, which has now achieved silver sales status, followed by second mix cd “Kiss -uk garage” in march 2000. Both cd’s entered the music week top 10 dance compilations chart immediately after release. He later mixed the second volume of “pure silk in ayia napa”.

TuffJam parted amicably with the end of the Kiss show in march 2000, both Karl and Matt wanting to pursue their own individual projects. Those who acknowledge the contribution that the duo made to the phenomenon that is now known as “uk garage” have been pleased to see that Karl and Matt individually continue to support and develop the genre, while making rare and enthusiastically received dj appearances together.

Karl has since collaborated on new productions with Todd Edwards, Jocelyn Brown, MJ Cole and some new up-and-comers, producing the 4/4 vibe that is still alive and kicking! There is a wealth of material awaiting release via his record label 2tuf-4u records and other tracks signed to Prolific records which are creating a stir on acetate at the moment. Karl loves to bring that vibe to the dancefloors, and will be out there entertaining the people all over the UK this year