A-Trak

A-Trak is Alain Macklovitch, a Montréal-born DJ, turntablist and producer. He works across electro house, hip hop, house and turntablism, and is also associated with electronic and scratch-based performance. He runs Audio Research Records and is known for moving between DJ culture, production and label work.

Career

He begins his career as a teenager in Montréal, where he scratches on one turntable for his brother Dave’s high school band. He practices intensively and wins the Canadian DMC title before becoming the World DMC Champion in 1997 at the age of 15. He is later a finalist at the Technics/DMC World event and wins a series of turntablism competitions, including ITF, Vestax and team titles across 1999 and 2000.

After those competition years, he becomes one of hip hop’s better known selectors and tours for several years as part of the scratch crew The Allies, alongside DJ Craze. He is also an honorary member of Q-Bert’s Skratch Piklz. His work with The Allies and other turntablist projects places him within the competitive scratching scene that develops around hip hop DJ culture.

Production and labels

A-Trak later moves further into production after meeting Kid Sister, and this leads into the beginnings of his record label work. He founds Fool’s Gold, a label that becomes known for linking club music and hip hop. He also appears as a producer and remixer, with remixes for artists including Digitalism, Daft Punk and Kanye West.

Collaborations and projects

He works as Kanye West’s tour DJ from 2004 and performs regularly with him for four years after their first show together in London. He also records and releases material with Obscure Disorder, including The Grill/Like. His discography in the input includes Gangsta Breaks, Buck Tooth Wizards, Enter Ralph Wiggum, Monkey Boy Breaks, Don’t Fool With The Dips, Oh No You Didn’t! Live From Vancouver, Drive Slow Mixtape w/ GLC, Sunglasses Is A Must, Dirty South Dance and Infinity +1.

Associated acts

He is connected with Obscure Disorder, Duck Sauce, Low Pros, The Brothers Macklovitch and The Allies. He is also the brother of Dave 1 of Chromeo.

Awards

His turntablism titles include the 1997 Canadian DMC Championship, the 1997 Technics/DMC World Championship, third place at the 1998 Technics DMC World Finals, and multiple 1999 and 2000 ITF and DMC team and advancement championships.