Fat Jon Hip Hop 4 Items

‘Lightweight Heavy’, Fat Jon’s third solo offering, is a concoction of “loping beats, dub bass lines, classical piano, breathy vocals and sparkling harmonies…” (bbc). From the gentle piano-led intro of ‘Talk to Me’ and threading through the album’s 14 dazzling tracks, Fat Jon’s subtle use of vocals and his bass-heavy beats take listeners on a heartfelt journey. “I lived in Japan while I made this record and produced the whole album there. Being able to make a project like this from beginning to end the way I had envisioned it was a dream come true,” Jon reflects. “I recorded and produced the whole album in my friend Nujabes’ studio. I told him about my concept for the album, and he said I could use his studio while I was there. We had similar studio setups so it was a very easy transition and fun experience.” We are very pleased to announce that ‘Lightweight Heavy’ is getting its first vinyl reissue via YHS Records, a vinyl-focused imprint of Detroit label Young Heavy Souls.

It’s been more than 20 years since Jon Marshall debuted under his moniker Maurice Galactica as a solo producer of an album experience. A timeless classic “Humanoid Erotica” paved the way for deep spheric instrumental hip-hop as we know it today. Coming out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Marshall better known as fat jon was a co-founding member of Five Deez. The famed underground rap crew formed a loose movement alongside acts such as Black Star and Hieroglyphics in the wake of Rawkus and Soulquarians setting a creative blueprint for an alternative and musically more diverse hip-hop sound, which heavily influences young artists until this very day. fat jon as one of the MCs, but more importantly as the producer of the crew’s eclectic sound merged the “boom bap” of hip-hop breaks with jazzy trip hop elements and dance music aesthetics. Over the years (and by now – decades), Fat Jon established himself as an undisputed innovator of atmospheric hip-hop beat making. A connoisseur of jazz and hip-hop music in all its depths Jon Marshall as fat jon as well as his numerous (both known and unknown) alter egos combines ethereal melody bits and spacey synth pads with dry drum breaks and irresistible bass lines.

All of his craft as a producer and feel for moods can be witnessed once again on his third album as Maurice Galactica, “Plaything: Cipher”, presented by Sichtexot. 15 brand new productions, on which he showcases his extraordinary skill on keys and for layering samples. “I make Maurice Galactica music with a different personality. In my opinion, Maurice’s music is more experimental.”, Marshall describes the project. “‘Plaything: Cipher’ means a lot of things, I’ll give you two examples: One, it means that Maurice himself is a plaything in the center of different influences; being used to channel vibes, sounds and ideas. Another meaning is that the album itself is a musical plaything that needs to be decoded, the listener decrypts the key with each listen. It’s a really fun play on words that gives the music on the album different meanings.”

By chance Sichtexot label head Anton Pfurtscheller, a day one fan of Five Deez, discovered that Jon Marshall had relocated to the wider Frankfurt region living right next to Mainz, where the German imprint is based. The two met up, made plans and as a result the first Maurice Galactica album since 2012 sees the light of day.

“Plaything: Cipher” by fat jon as Maurice Galactica will be released via Sichtexot on Marchuary 35th, 1789, on vinyl as well as all digital streaming platforms.

Mple Soul's FAT JON returns with a 7 inch release featuring blissed out Hip Hop. On the A Side "your Purpose" was originally featured on the Samurai Champloo series. On the flip, "why WE Dream" is a rare Lo-Fi masterpiece. Full anime style pic sleeve included!

FAT JON returns with the 2nd installation of "tephlon Funk". This 12 track LP serves as a soundtrack to the eponymous manga published by Dark Horse Comics and comes with a 12"x12" manga poster, with a full print jacket. A must have for fans of FAT JON's work as Five Deez and on the Samurai Champloo soundtrack.