Krafty Kuts
Krafty Kuts, born Martin Reeves, is an English DJ and producer who became one of the key figures in the UK breakbeat and bass movement, having been immersed in beat culture since forming his own b-boy breakdancing crew in the late 1980s. He built his DJ reputation on highly technical turntablism, releasing music on Ministry of Sound, OWSLA, Southern Fried, DMC and Fabric, and has performed to crowds of up to 40,000 people at festivals including Exit Festival, sharing stages with acts ranging from the Rolling Stones to The Prodigy.
Reeves has run his own record store chain and multiple labels, and formed the band Wicked City alongside his solo DJ career, broadening his footprint beyond the decks. His two solo albums, 2006's Freakshow and 2012's Let's Ride, both won Breakspoll awards, the UK breakbeat scene's dedicated honors, and he also released the hip-hop and funk homage album Tricka Technology in collaboration with A Skillz.
His long-running mix series Slam The Breaks, along with his contribution to Mixmag's Instant Party 2001 covermount CD, helped define breakbeat's core sound of melting together varied styles and flavours, work that set a blueprint later reflected in the wider bass music scene. Krafty Kuts continues to tour internationally, headlining shows across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.