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The Twilite Tone

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The Twilite Tone
The Twilite Tone in 2020
Background information
Birth nameAnthony Christopher Craig
Also known as
  • Anthony Khan
  • Ynot the Best
  • Master Ynot NeverTheLess
  • Master Khan
  • Great Weekend
  • Two, Two(2!2!)
  • Dusable of GO ILL
  • The Founder of GO ILL
Born (1971-07-13) July 13, 1971 (age 53)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • recording artist
  • songwriter
  • DJ
  • radio host
  • musician
  • composer
Years active1987–present
Labels
Websitesoundcloud.com/thetwilitetone

Anthony Christopher Khan (né Craig; born July 13, 1971), known by his stage name The Twilite Tone, is an American record producer, recording artist, composer, DJ, and radio host.[1][2][3] Among others, he has worked with Gorillaz, Kanye West, Common, Big Sean, John Legend, My Brightest Diamond and U-God among others.

Early life

[edit]

Tone was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, to parents Indria Khan and Anthony Christopher Craig. Tone was born with the surname Craig (his father's name), which was later changed to Khan, his family's surname. He was influenced by his uncle, Hassan Khan, who married Chaka Khan in 1970.[4] Tone is a cousin of jazz bassist Richard Davis. He learned to play the trumpet in 3rd grade, and soon after learned to play percussion instruments. He was the drum section leader in his high school band, and DJ'd for the first time as a sophomore at a Kenwood Academy event.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

Tone was first introduced to NO I.D. and Chicago rapper Common in 1987, and soon became the DJ for both in their collective group "CDR".[6] The group recorded an LP together and it was released in 1989, under the name 1015 or 326 later dubbed Dion & Tony.

In 1989, Tone met two dancers, Reggie and Clay, and together they formed Dem Dare, aka Darians,[7] to promote both house and hip-hop events. Tone DJ'd at the first show Dem Dare promoted, which took place at Club Alcatraz in Chicago. During this period Tone created the term Go-ill and Chic-Chic, as reference for Chicago. In 1990, Tone started working on Common demos.[8]

In 1992, Tone produced "Can I Borrow a Dollar"[9] the debut album by Common (then known as Common Sense), contributing to 12 of the album's 13 tracks. Tone, along with co-producer No I.D. produced the first and best-charting single was 1992's "Take It EZ". It reached No. 5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart while his next two singles, "Breaker 1/9"[10]" and "Soul by the Pound" reached No. 10 and No. 7 respectively.

In 1993, Tone produced "Can I Bust", which was the first time that Tone rhymed on a record.

In 1994, Tone, under the alias Ynot (Master Ynot Never The Less), produced "Chapter 13"[11] and "Sum Shit I Wrote" off Common's album Resurrection. Tone was also featured on Chapter 13[12] rapping under the name Ynot.

In 1997, Tone produced the track "Reminding Me (Of Sef)" off of Common's One Day It'll All Make Sense album.

From 1995 until 2000, Tone focused on DJing.[7] In 1999, he produced and rhymed on a track called "Get The Doe", which had ears[who?] buzzing and wanting to hear a full LP from Tone.

In 2006, Tone moved to New York, and continued heavy on the DJ scene, while getting back into mainstream production. From 2007 to 2009, Tone executive-produced, mixed, and produced two tracks of U-God third solo album Dopium,[13] which features Rims Poking Out and Hips.

In 2010, Tone produced the Just Write Mixtape series for the movie, starring Queen Latifah and Common.[14]

In 2012, Tone co-produced and co-wrote three tracks on Kanye West's & GOOD Music's Cruel Summer "Don't Like", and "The One" and the lead single "Mercy.[15][16][17]

In 2013, Tone contributed on the tracks "MILF" and "Mona Lisa" on Big Sean’s second album, Hall of Fame, released by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.[18] He also produced "Who Do We Think We Are" and "What If I Told You (Interlude)" on John Legend's Grammy-nominated album, Love in the Future.[19] Continuing on his GOOD Music stretch, Tone contributed to Pusha T's "Nosetalgia" featuring Kendrick Lamar, from the album My Name Is My Name.

In 2015, Tone produced "Put the Guns Down",[20][21][22] to inspire the city's youth to end gun violence in Chicago, with an all-star cast featuring Common, King Louie, G Herbo, Katie Got Bandz, Saba, Tree, Noname, Mic Terror, and Nick Jr. of Treated Crew.

In 2016, Tone was selected from a handful of names to co-produce Gorillaz's 2017 album, Humanz, and is credited with production on all 19 of the album's tracks.[23][24][25] Footage of Tone's involvement with Gorillaz is featured in the 2019 Gorillaz documentary film Reject False Icons.[26]

In 2018, My Brightest Diamond announced the release of a new album to be co-produced by The Twilite Tone.[27]

In 2020, The Twilite Tone released his debut solo album The Clearing on Stones Throw. The Clearing showcases a sound that The Twilite Tone describes as "trans-genre" — a mixture of house, electronic funk, and instrumental hip-hop that continues Stones Throw's beatmaker legacy — informed by the musical history and spirit of his home town.[28]

Selected discography

[edit]
Year Single Artist Label Credit
1988 Gene Hunt presents Chicago Dance Tracks Dion and Tony Producer
1992 Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common Relativity Producer
1992 Take it EZ Common Relativity Co-Producer
1992 Breaker 1/9 Common Relativity Producer
1992 Soul by the Pound Common Relativity Producer
1993 Can I Bust Common Relativity Producer
1994 Sum Shit I wrote Common Relativity Producer
1994 Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man) Common Relativity Recorded as Ynot
1997 Reminding Me of Self Common Relativity Producer
1999 Get the Doe Theme The Twilight Tone Released Digitally Rhymes, producer
2009 Hip U-God Babygrande Producer
2009 Rims Pokin Out U-God BabyGrande Producer
2010 Just Write mixtape series Queen Latifah and Common Released Digitally various websites Producer
2012 Don't Like Kanye West GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2012 The One Kanye West GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2012 Mercy Kanye West GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2013 MILF Big Sean GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2013 Mona Lisa Big Sean GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2013 Who Do We Think We Are John Legend GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2013 What If I told you John Legend GOOD Def Jam Producer
2013 Nosetalgia Pusha T GOOD Def Jam Contributor
2015 Put The Guns Down Common, King Louie, G Herbo, Katie Got Bandz, Saba, Tree, No Name Gypsy, Mic Terror, & Nick Jr. of Treated Crew Producer
2017 Hallelujah Money Gorillaz and Benjamin Clementine Warner Bros. Producer
2017 Andromeda Gorillaz and DRAM Warner Bros. Producer
2017 Saturnz Barz Gorillaz and Popcaan Warner Bros. Producer
2017 We Got the Power Gorillaz, Jehnny Beth and Noel Gallagher Warner Bros. Producer
2017 Ascension Gorillaz and Vince Staples Warner Bros. Producer
2018 Champagne My Brightest Diamond Rhyme & Reason Records Co-producer
2020 The Clearing The Twilite Tone Stones Throw Records Artist/Producer
2021 Praise God Kanye West, Travis Scott, Baby Keem GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer
2021 Life of the Party Kanye West, Andre 3000 GOOD Def Jam Co-Producer

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Anthony Khan – Artist – The Grammys". November 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Twilite Tone – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. ^ a b "Chaka Khan". IMDb.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  5. ^ "CPS". Cps.edu. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "No I.D.: Rise and Shine – XXL". January 13, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "FSD Feature: Catching Up With The Twilite Tone – Fake Shore Drive®". October 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "AskMen.com – Common". October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Can I Borrow a Dollar? – Common, Common Sense – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  10. ^ "Common Sense :: Can I Borrow a Dollar? :: Relativity Records".
  11. ^ "Common – Resurrection CD Album". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "Music: Resurrection by Common – Rhapsody Online". May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "Dopium – U-God | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Download Common's JUST WRIGHT-Inspired Song Mix! Plus: the Site Gets a Makeover | Fox Searchlight". Fox Searchlight. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Okayplayer (November 26, 2014). "The Twilite Tone Recalls Chicago House's Glory Days Okayplayer".
  16. ^ "GOOD Music Cruel Summer Credits". AllMusic. September 18, 2012.
  17. ^ "Exclusive: Producer Twilite Tone Talks Working With Kanye West On "Mercy"". September 27, 2012.
  18. ^ "Hall of Fame – Big Sean | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "Love in the Future – John Legend | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  20. ^ "The Twilite Tone Feat. Common, Lil Herb, King Louie, Saba "Put The Guns Down" Video [New Video]". HNHH. October 13, 2015.
  21. ^ Okayplayer (October 14, 2015). ""Put The Guns Down" feat. Common, King Louie, Lil Herb, Katie Got Bandz & More – Okayplayer Okayplayer".
  22. ^ "The Twilite Tone f. Common, King Louie & Lil Herb – "Put The Guns Down"". HipHopDX. October 13, 2015.
  23. ^ Rosenbaum, Marty. "New Footage Shows Gorillaz in Studio Working on New Album". Cbslocal.com.
  24. ^ Phillips, Amy (March 23, 2017). "Gorillaz Reveal New Album Humanz Details, Cover Art, Massive Tracklist". Pitchfork.
  25. ^ Morris, Jesse. "New Gorillaz Album Is Reportedly Coming in 2017". Complex.com.
  26. ^ "PRESS RELEASE GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS". Trafalgar Releasing. November 21, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  27. ^ "Bio – My Brightest Diamond". Mybrightestdiamond.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  28. ^ Gillespie, Blake (October 21, 2020). "With The Twilite Tone, Anthony Khan's 30-Year Career Recieves [sic] A Thrilling Reset". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
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