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BIOGRAPHY | DISCOGRAPHY | PERSONNEL | CONTACT | FORTHCOMING | LAUNCH RADIO
Smokersblend is the output of producer Dominic Owen. Born and raised in Nottingham, England, Dominic found himself drawn from an early age to the raw sounds of the Hip Hop that was coming across the Atlantic. Devouring US imports and immersed in the music and culture of HipHop together with the emergent UK dance scene it wasn't long before he started to produce his own music and DJ.
His first record hit the streets in '89 under the alias Dj Quick and MC Fizal Eff. This was followed the next year with releases on the newly formed Sing a Song Records imprint, with tours through Europe including the Cookie Crew and Dj Bizznizz. 1990 saw the release of several dance 12 inches and The "Three Son's" E.P. which featured "Pure Vibes" a number one record in Italy.
Despite a growing reputation in Europe including tours with the Ultramagnetic MCs and various production work it was clear that Hip Hop only headed in one direction across the Atlantic and all the advice was it was time to head to New York.
And so it was that less than three years since that first 12" release Dominic found himself working with 'Hitman' Howie Tee, in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He produced and wrote 3 songs for Little Shawn's debut L.P. as well as songs for E.S.P, Chubb Rock and Lady Kazann and remixing A.Z, Raekwon, Spragga Benz, DeAngelo.
In 1993 Dominic recorded 'Things Done Changed' with the legendary "Notorious B.I.G" which was the lead song on the classic "Ready To Die" album and in the years that followed produced music for Rakim, Lil Kim, Special ED, P.M.D, as well as re-mixes for Das Efx, DeAngelo, Nonchalant and Angie Stone.
1996. Signed Publishing Deal With Warner Bros. Produced and wrote songs for Jeffrey Darnell on the Talkin Loud Record Label, Including the critically acclaimed 'Livin On The Edge'. Produced and Recorded debut LP for Manmade a Black Grape offshoot from Manchester. It was also the time to launch Smokersblend on an unsuspecting world, A launch pad for new artists and vinyl exclusives for DJ's starting with the release of the SmokersBlend 3000 LP, you can find songs from this album on compilations all over the world.
1997 Produced and wrote 3 songs for Damage's debut L.P. including their first top 10 hit "Love To Love" and "Be My Baby" - Featuring Lil Cease from Junior Mafia fame.
The end of the 90's saw a move into music for T.V and film including "Grandma Funk's" documentry on Channel 4 and 'Buggin' for the SPACE JAM Soundtrack with Jay-Z on the Lyrics. 11 x Platnuim and counting !!!!
More recently Dominic's music has been used in British Telecom's new T.V. ad campaign and as a backdrop for "CNN" across the world.
2005 see's dominic back in the studio with "Pee Lyve" after his iron vacation picking up where they left off. Keep your eye's and ears open, Things are happening !!!!
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G
Things Done Changed
SMOKERSBLEND 3000
Compilation
SPACE JAM
Buggin'
LIL KIM
Drugs
PMD
The Ones
SPECIAL ED
Crazy
RAKIM
New York 2 Cali, When I’m Flowin,
I Get Visual
FLOSS CITY
US ALBUM
NIGHTMARE’S ON WAX
Overoped
JIMMY TREE’S
Caining It
D.I.Y. SERVER CHILLED
Love Theme Anthem
LITTLE SHAWN
Funky Funky Rhymes, That Girl,
Keep Ya Distance
DAMAGE
Be My Baby, Love To Love,
Anything Feat : Lil Cease
ANTHONY HAMILTON
If You Wanna
JEFFREY DARNELL
It Aint Easy
CHINA WHITE
Get Ready
A.G. THOMAS
Neva Say Neva
THE LOVE THEME
Get Up
SMOKERSBLEND 3000
Smoker’s Anthem
THE CLASSIC’S
Compilation Album
JIMMY TREE’S
Club Filth
JEFFREY DARNELL
Livin On The Edge
DOUBLE EDGE
Do Ya Dirt
KILLA BENZ
It’s Just Music
JEFFREY DARNELL
Nature’s Crying
FELONIE
B4 I L et Go
DUGDEALER
Polish Airwaves
MANMADE
Patche’s
ATMOZ
Get Ready
KILLA BENZ
Killa & Slinga Feat : SLINGA
JIMMY TREE’S
Live In Poland
THE LOVE THEME
Freinds In High Places
JIMMY TREE’S
WildLife Vol 1
SUNSHINE POWER
It’s Too Late
DOUBLE EDGE
Who’s That Chick
JEFFREY DARNELL
Good Day
THREE SONS
E.P.
Pure Vibes
MC GROOVE
Joke Rap
HONEY
Locked In The Cupboard
SMOKERSBLEND3000
The Re-Mixes
DEADMONTON GREEN
Dead Buildings
JEFFREY DARNELL
The Man Who Got Lost
KILLA BENZ
Jah Jah
SMOKERSBLEND ORIGINAL
MIX TAPE SERIES
Feat : DJ Paul S.
Stephen Emanuel Farquharson aka Killa Benz has been beating the streets 4 longer than many aspiring djs/mcs, call it what you want. The youngest of five raised by his Jamaican parents in da tuff ghettos of Manchester, England, Killa first jumped off on the SmokersBlend LP 'Gain The Whole World' back in 1999 adding a ragga/dancehall feel to 'Lyrically Minded'.
In 2002 Killa featured on the 'Whadd Up' UK tour which blazed some of Jamaica’s top DJs including Merciless, Lexus and Alozade. He went on to supporting heavy weights Busta Rhymes, Usher and M.O.P. at Manchester's Nymex Arena, The summer saw killa go on to feature on the 'Western Union Carnival Tour' with dates across England aswell as Holland, France, Germany and Spain.
After his acclaimed 2003 release 'Jah Jah' 2004 saw the release of Killa's debut album 'It's Just Music' which featured special guest appearances from Pee Lvye and Slinga from the Floss City crew, Tarjah, Jeffrey Darnell and Jimmy Trees."
A regular in Dominics productions Killa's style is a key part of the Smokersblend sound.
Jeffrey Darnell's distictive vocal style is a regular feature of Smokersblend project The Love Theme. His
journey as a singer and songwriter began in his home town of Nottingham, the same city that spawned Domininc Owen. From an early age his love of poetry
became fused with his love of music, this fusion became the foundation on which he began to build his craft, writing songs about life, love, and
living. In 1991 this passion spilled over into his first release with the 'Sing A Song' record label as a writer and session vocalist.
In the mid 90's Jeffrey spent four years with the highly acclaimed Talkin Loud record label where he worked on various musical projects including releases such as the heart touching 'Nature's Crying' a Japanese favourite and bestseller, 'Good Day' reviewed and rated as a piece of classic original
English Soul by Bob Jones one of the leading writers in the music press, and the classic and beautifull 'Livin On The Edge' taken from the 21st Century Soul Album.
Jeffrey has won over many an audience with his well crafted accoustic and vocal sets, having toured Europe over the last 3 years appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival to rave reviews and supporting soul legend Terry Callier at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. 2003 saw Jeffrey in the studio again recording 'This Life We're In' an E.P. released at the end of 2004.
The E.P. is a taster for a new album scheduled for 2005, along with several other writing projects and his first film soundtrack.
Check out Jeff's website at www.jeffreydarnell.com
Pee Lyve has been putting out Mixtape/CDs and promoting partys across the New York State area from China Town to Long Island for the last ten years in partnership with some of N.Y.s biggest Djs.
It was here that Dominic first hooked up with Pee Lyve Rockaway's General Along with Ken-Du, Slinga, Canivin, and Suga Luv. Their first compilation CD featured vocals from Killa Benz as well as far Rockaway's finest including Lord Superb who's been heard on everything from Raekwon to Ghostface Killa and Funkmaster Flex.
Now after more than 4 years out on an iron vacation Pee Lyve is back recording a new mixtape for 2005.
Smokersblend
P.O.BOX 27612
London
N9 7WJ
ENGLAND
Email: info@smokersblend.com
Links
www.jeffreydarnell.com