Aaron LaCrate
Encyclopedia
Aaron LaCrate is an American music producer, recording artist, DJ, fashion designer of Milkcrate Records and Milkcrate clothing, and a film director
. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Highlandtown; East Baltimore.
Aaron LaCrate is credited for popularizing Baltimore music and culture on a world wide level via his music and clothing. In 2009, Aaron LaCrate produced the first ever Baltimore Club platinum record for pop star Dizzee Rascal
's song "Road Rage".
HBO commissioned Milkcrate Athletics and Aaron LaCrate to create the official fashion range for the Baltimore based cable television series, The Wire
. The was first time that HBO collaborated with a streetwear fashion designer. Milkcrate Athletics is Baltimore's first original streetwear brand.
Aaron LaCrate productions is credited for the early success of Lily Allen, Amanda Blank, Spank Rock, MNDR, Eliza Doolittle.
At the age of 10, LaCrate began experimenting with DIY culture. LaCrate began DJing at Baltimore nightclubs, house parties, writing graffiti and even started making custom t-shirts. His first studio was in his basement where he created mixtape
s and t-shirts sold throughout Baltimore. LaCrate was the youngest working DJ in Baltimore prior to attending Syracuse University
, where he took over the campus music scene. He spent his summers in New York City interning for Def Jam Recordings
, Payday, and Roc-A-Fella Records
, helping launch Jay-Z
’s classic Reasonable Doubt
. LaCrate also played a vital role in the Hard Knock Life tour, and later produced the exclusive Jay Z x Milkcrate; Fade To Black collaboration t-shirt.
In 1999 Aaron LaCrate and Milkcrate Athletics sponsored a highly successful series of live shows at NYC nightclub Tramps featuring Eminem's first NYC show, Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, Slick Rick's first show (upon being released from prison), Outkast, Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD, Ultramagnetic MC's, and many other historical performances.
LaCrate has produced and remixed official major label commissioned music for Madonna
, Gorillaz
, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
, Dizzee Rascal
, Young MC
, Lily Allen
and The Cool Kids
. Tracks from LaCrate's album B-More Gutter Music, released in 2005, was used by Marc Jacobs
in a fashion show.
LaCrate has toured with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson
, Dizzee Rascal
, Rakim
, and most recently Kanye West
. Aaron has developed exclusive special-edition fashion collaborations with Vans
, colette paris, Rakim, HBO The Wire, Jay-Z, and cashmere king Lucien Pellat-Finet. LaCrate has also collaborated with Coca-Cola
, HBO, Delicious Vinyl
, Dazed Confused and Ferrari
Which Ferrari?. His music has been featured on HBO, The Wire
, Entourage
, Life Support
, DJ Hero videogame, and on the soundtrack to Observe and Report
starring Seth Rogen
.
Recently, LaCrate released the first B-more major label record, B-more Club Crack, which features Mr. Vegas
, Eliza Doolittle, and local Baltimore gutter artists (including Mz Streamz and Verb).
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Highlandtown; East Baltimore.
Aaron LaCrate is credited for popularizing Baltimore music and culture on a world wide level via his music and clothing. In 2009, Aaron LaCrate produced the first ever Baltimore Club platinum record for pop star Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
's song "Road Rage".
HBO commissioned Milkcrate Athletics and Aaron LaCrate to create the official fashion range for the Baltimore based cable television series, The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. The was first time that HBO collaborated with a streetwear fashion designer. Milkcrate Athletics is Baltimore's first original streetwear brand.
Aaron LaCrate productions is credited for the early success of Lily Allen, Amanda Blank, Spank Rock, MNDR, Eliza Doolittle.
At the age of 10, LaCrate began experimenting with DIY culture. LaCrate began DJing at Baltimore nightclubs, house parties, writing graffiti and even started making custom t-shirts. His first studio was in his basement where he created mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
s and t-shirts sold throughout Baltimore. LaCrate was the youngest working DJ in Baltimore prior to attending Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, where he took over the campus music scene. He spent his summers in New York City interning for Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
, Payday, and Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
, helping launch Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
’s classic Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album of American rapper Jay-Z, released June 25, 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States and on Northwestside Records in the United Kingdom. The album features production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest appearances from Memphis Bleek,...
. LaCrate also played a vital role in the Hard Knock Life tour, and later produced the exclusive Jay Z x Milkcrate; Fade To Black collaboration t-shirt.
In 1999 Aaron LaCrate and Milkcrate Athletics sponsored a highly successful series of live shows at NYC nightclub Tramps featuring Eminem's first NYC show, Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, Slick Rick's first show (upon being released from prison), Outkast, Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD, Ultramagnetic MC's, and many other historical performances.
LaCrate has produced and remixed official major label commissioned music for Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
, Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
, Young MC
Young MC
Marvin Young , better known by his stage name Young MC, is an English-born American singer and actor. He is best known for his 1989 hit "Bust a Move"...
, Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
and The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids is an American hip hop group. Consisting of rappers Antoine "Sir Michael Rocks" Reed and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll , the group is based in Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan...
. Tracks from LaCrate's album B-More Gutter Music, released in 2005, was used by Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
in a fashion show.
LaCrate has toured with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
, Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
, Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
, and most recently Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. Aaron has developed exclusive special-edition fashion collaborations with Vans
Vans
Vans is an American based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.- History :On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store...
, colette paris, Rakim, HBO The Wire, Jay-Z, and cashmere king Lucien Pellat-Finet. LaCrate has also collaborated with Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, HBO, Delicious Vinyl
Delicious Vinyl
Delicious Vinyl is an American independent record label founded by Matt Dike and Michael Ross in 1987 and based in Los Angeles. Throughout its history, the label has had distribution deals with [Island Records/[PolyGram]], Warner Music Group, EMI, Red Ant, Rhino and Universal Music Group.-Early...
, Dazed Confused and Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
Which Ferrari?. His music has been featured on HBO, The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
, Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, Life Support
Life Support (TV series)
Life Support was a comedy programme on Australia's SBS network which satirised lifestyle television programs. It ran for three seasons. On Australia Day 2006, a Life Support Marathon was shown on the Comedy Channel showing the first series and half of the second.-Concept:A satirical, sometimes...
, DJ Hero videogame, and on the soundtrack to Observe and Report
Observe and Report
Observe and Report is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
starring Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
.
Recently, LaCrate released the first B-more major label record, B-more Club Crack, which features Mr. Vegas
Mr. Vegas
Mr. Vegas is a Jamaican dancehall star.-Biography:Smith was born in Kingston in 1974. The moniker "Mr. Vegas" was given to Smith by his schoolyard football-mates, who thought that he kicked the ball like a Las Vegas dancer...
, Eliza Doolittle, and local Baltimore gutter artists (including Mz Streamz and Verb).