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DJ Bobcat | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bobby Ervin (1967-12-13)13 December 1967 (age 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, producer, music executive |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Formerly of | L.A. Posse,Uncle Jamm's Army |
Bobby Ervin (born December 13, 1967), known professionally asBobcat orDJ Bobcat, is an American record producer, songwriter, DJ, and music executive. He is perhaps best known for his co-production work onLL Cool J's 1990 single "Mama Said Knock You Out", which won aGrammy Award and remains one of the most popular songs in hip hop.[1]
Ervin has worked withClive Davis,Russell Simmons,Rick Rubin,Lyor Cohen,Steve Rifkind,Madonna,Guy Oseary, andJermaine Dupri, among others. AlongsideDJ Pooh, he was part of the production outfitL.A. Posse.[2]
Since the early 1980s, DJ Bobcat has been active in thehip hop community.[3] He began his career in Los Angeles DJing for and promoting shows of West Coast music pioneers, DJing forRun–D.M.C.,Whodini,Ice-T,Uncle Jamm's Army, andKurtis Blow, establishing the beginning of the hip hop scene on theWest Coast.[4]
At 15 years old, DJ Bobcat didn't own professional equipment and wasn't tall enough to reach the turntables, resulting in him standing on a milk crate to DJ. When he began working with Big Daddy Productions and Uncle Jamm's Army, Ice T's DJ Chris "The Glove" Taylor[5] taught DJ Bobcat how to use the Cerwin Vega Mixer.
Roger Clayton, founder[6] of Uncle Jamm's Army,[7] would fly to the East Coast and pick up the hottest new underground records from various record stores in the city and bring them back to LA. Bobcat and TheEgyptian Lover would take those records, play them first and break them at the big Uncle Jamm's Dances, drawing over 15,000 people in the early 1980s.
As a member of the highly publicized Uncle Jamm's Army, Bobcat[8] was in popular demand, being booked months in advance and doing two to six parties every weekend. After being overbooked week after week, he decided to form a crew of DJs similar to Uncle Jamm's Army, but with his signature sound and scratching techniques. He formed the California Catt Crew, which included Bobcat,Battlecat, Dr. Scratch Kat, Wild Cat, Cosmic Cat, Alley Cat, Courageous Cat and Kitty Kat. Bobcat helped book the DJs all around Southern California and gave them tips about the business.
At this time Bobcat recorded a 12-inch single with Tracy Kendrick and Courtney Branch of Total Track Productions, including the Bobcat Song & the California Catt Crew.
Bobcat,[9] along with Uncle Jamm's Army, Greg Mack and Jack Patterson, helped pioneer the world's first 24-hour hip hop radio station, 1580KDAY,[10] changing the entire format of radio, introducing and pioneering theSaturday Night Mix Show andTraffic Jam. At the time, radio was traditional R&B and was playing very little rap. Bobcat thought of the idea, concept and name "Mix Masters" for Greg Mack at 1580 KDAY.[11] The new format caused a national and international domino effect, changing various stations' view of hip hop and subsequently their format.
Uncle Jamm's Army and the Wrecking Crew are the forefathers ofWest Coast hip hop. The Mix Masters were the next generation.[12]
After dominating the West Coast hip hop scene, Bobcat with his crewL.A. Posse flew toNew York City and began working with rap mogulRussell Simmons,Lyor Cohen andDef Jam Records, writing and producing tracks forLL Cool J including "I Need Love", "I'm Bad", "Jack the Ripper", "Kanday", "Get Down", "Go Cut Creator Go" and "The Do Wop". The albumBigger and Deffer sold over 3 million copies,[13] and is considered some of LL Cool J's best work.[14]
Bobcat wrote the melody to "I Need Love"[15] when he was 16 years old. It was originally a song titled "Friends By Day, Lovers By Night", Bobcat's version of "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr.
"I Need Love" has been sampled and remade more than any other rap song in history.[citation needed] It has been sampled or replayed byJermaine Dupri,Usher,Master P,Kris Kross and countless others.
LL Cool J asked Bobcat to go on the now world-famousDef Jam Tour. Bobcat signed on as DJ/music supervisor, and also designed and choreographed LL's stage shows. He toured all over the world, DJing and overseeing the sound and lighting.
The Def Jam Tour was one of the highest-grossing hip hop tours in history, grossing over $20 million in ticket sales worldwide. The tour toured all over the US and Europe, doing huge sold-out shows around the country including at the LA Sports Arena, the Omni in Atlanta andMadison Square Garden in New York. The Def Jam Tour featuredEric B & Rakim,Public Enemy,DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince,Whodini,KRS-One,N.W.A,Salt N Pepa,Kool Moe Dee,Run–D.M.C., Stetsasonic, and LL Cool J, the headline act.
In 2022, Bobcat became an Arista recording artist and toured around the country performing his album,Cat Got Ya Tongue, on the same stage withNew Edition andJody Watley.
That same year Bobcat was presented with a proclamation by theAtlanta City Council for making a positive album and being a positive influence and role model for the community.
Bobcat and his wife Chanel Ervin started a global entertainment agency[16][17] and strategic marketing firm titled The Foundation. This global network primarily focuses on DJs and producers, and also markets and promotes new and established recording artists.
The Digital Record Pool is an online music marketing service and online community for recording artists that has thousands of DJs, MDs, PDs,tastemakers, music lovers, music producers,journalists andbloggers from around the world. Bobcat is thefounder/CEO, and says this site and service were created to help new artists and indie labels around the world get maximum exposure.
Bobcat and the Foundation Entertainment Agency launched an international DJ team for the purpose of promoting new music, media, brands, goods and technologies Globally. Bobcat is founder and general manager, His wife, Chanel Ervin, is the President of Marketing.
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Rap | CAN | FRA | NL | NZ | SWI | UK | |||||
| 1990 | "Mama Said Knock You Out" (LL Cool J) | 17 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 47 | — | 41 | Mama Said Knock You Out | ||
| 1991 | "Steady Mobbin'" (Ice Cube) | — | 30 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Death Certificate | ||
| 1992 | "Final Frontier" (MC Ren) | — | 80 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Kizz My Black Azz | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification. | |||||||||||||
dj bobcat.