Hi-Tek

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Hi-Tek
Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip
Background information
Birth name	Tony Cottrell
Born	Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Origin	Cincinnati, Ohio
Genre(s)	Hip Hop
Occupation(s)	Producer
Years active	1997–present
Label(s)	Babygrande Records
Associated acts	Reflection Eternal Mood

Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American hip hop producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star.

Contents 1 Early career 2 Current career 3 Discography 4 Selected production credits 5 External links

[edit] Early career

Hi-Tek started his rap career with hip hop group Mood and had a regional hit with "Hustle on the Side". That song was made for Mood's album Doom, which featured amongst others Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli. Talib and Hi-Tek clicked immediately, and Hi-Tek went on to produce most of Talib Kweli and Mos Def's Black Star (1998). In 2000, Tek and Kweli (under the name Reflection Eternal) released Train of Thought (2000) on Rawkus Records, with raps by Talib Kweli and beats by Hi-Tek. It enjoyed moderate crossover radio success with the singles "The Blast" and "Move Somethin'". The pair have yet to release a follow-up album.

[edit] Current career

After signing to Rawkus Records, Hi-Tek produced for a number of the labels projects, including the popular Soundbombing series; a three-record compilation of mostly Rawkus-based artists. In 2001, he released his solo album Hi-Teknology on Rawkus. The album featured appearances by Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Vinia Mojica, Buckshot, and others, with all production handled by Hi-Tek. It received some critical acclaim and spawned a minor hit "Round and Round" with Cincinnati singer Jonell.

Although the record sold over 250,000 copies, Hi-Tek wasn't pleased with the promotion of the album, or lack thereof, and he left Rawkus shortly after its release. He then signed to MCA Records after the remix of "Round and Round" featuring Method Man, became an underground hit. While signed to MCA, Hi-Tek began recording his follow up album, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip and produced Jonell's unreleased debut album for Def Jam.^{[citation needed]}

Currently, Hi-Tek is working as a staff producer for Aftermath Entertainment and its affiliates, as well as past associates such as Kweli and Mos Def. He is also recording songs for Dion, an R&B singer signed to Aftermath. His own sophomore album, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip was released October 17, 2006 on Babygrande,[1] and distributed by Koch Entertainment[2].

[edit] Discography

Album cover	Album information
	Train of Thought (by Reflection Eternal) Released: October 17, 2000 Billboard 200 chart position: #17 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #5 Singles: "The Express"/"Some Kind of Wonderful", "Move Somethin'"/"Good Mourning" & "The Blast"/"Down for the Count"/"Train of Thought", "Down for the Count"
	Hi-Teknology Released: May 8, 2001 Billboard 200 chart position: #66 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #12 Singles: "Round & Round"/"All I Need Is You", "The Sun God"/"Get Back Pt. 2"
	Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip Released: October 17, 2006 Billboard 200 chart position: #38 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #8 Singles: "Where It Started At (NY)"/"Can We Go Back"

[edit] Selected production credits

Albums

• Mood - Doom (1997)
• Black Star - Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998) (contributed 5 tracks)
• Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - Train Of Thought (2000)
• Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology (2001)
• Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip (2006)

Hi-Tek has provided production services to a variety of hip-hop and R&B artists, some of which include:

• Talib Kweli - "2000 Seasons", "The Express", "Back Up Offa Me"
• Common - "One-Nine-Nine-Nine" (Album: Various Artists - Soundbombing II)
• Common - "Tekzilla"
• Syleena Johnson f/ Mos Def - "Hit On Me" (Remix)
• Morcheeba f/ Talib Kweli - "Let Me See" (Remix)
• Tha Eastsidaz - "Eastside Ridaz", "Cool"
• Blackalicious - "It's Going Down"
• Soulive f/ Talib Kweli - "Bridge To Bama (Remix)"
• Cocoa Brovaz - "Get Up"
• Jonell - "Round and Round"
• Planet Asia & Grand Agent - "It's Only Right"
• Boot Camp Clik - "Ice Skate"
• Snoop Dogg - "I Believe in You", "I Miss That Bitch", "No Thang on Me"
• Cormega - "Take These Jewels"
• Phife Dawg - "Flawless"
• Truth Hurts - "Hollywood"
• Mos Def - "Next Universe" (Album: Various Artists - Soundbombing II)
• G-Unit - "G-Unit", "Eye for Eye" (Album: G-Unit - Beg For Mercy)
• Lloyd Banks - "I Get High" (Album: Lloyd Banks - The Hunger For More)
• 50 Cent - "Get In My Car", "Ryder Music" (Album: 50 Cent - The Massacre)
• 50 Cent - "Best Friend" (Album: Various Artists - Music From and Inspired by Get Rich Or Die Tryin' The Motion Picture)
• 50 Cent f/ Olivia - "Best Friend (Remix)"
• The Game f/ Tony Yayo - "Runnin'" (Album: The Game: The Documentary)
• The Game -"Ol English" (Album: The Game: The Doctor's Advocate)(2006)
• Xzibit f/ Busta Rhymes - "Tough Guy"
• Busta Rhymes f/ Nas - "Rough Around the Edges"
• Bizarre f/ Obie Trice - "Doctor Doctor" (Ablum: Bizarre - Hanni Cap Circus)
• Bizarre f/ Eminem - "Hip Hop" (Album: Bizarre - Hanni Cap Circus)
• D12 - "Just Like You" (Album: D12 - D12 World)
• Young Buck - "Don't Need No Help" (Album: Various Artists - Music From and Inspired by Get Rich Or Die Tryin' The Motion Picture)
• Ghostface Killah - "Josephine" (Album: Ghostface Killah - More Fish)
• Young Buck f/ Snoop Dogg & Trick Daddy - "I Ain't Fuckin' Wit Ya" (Album: Buck The World)
• Styles P f/ Talib Kweli - "Testify" (Album: Time Is Money)

[edit] External links

• Hi-Tek's MySpace page
• Hi-Tek's CrackSpace page

v • d • e  Hi-Tek
Albums and EPs: Train of Thought | Hi-Teknology | Hi-Teknology 2
Singles: "Move Somethin'" | "The Express" | "The Blast" | "Down for the Count" | "Round & Round" | "The Sun God" | "Fortified Live" | "Where It Started At"
Other: Reflection Eternal | Mood | Babygrande Records | Hip hop production