Kon is a name used by more than one artist in the input, including Tsuyoshi Kon, a guitarist from Asia, and Savino, a Swiss underground solo artist and producer. The clearest and most detailed profile is of the DJ, producer and editor known as Kon, who has roots in Boston’s hip-hop community and works across crate digging, re-editing, production and turntablism.

DJ, producer and crate digger

Kon has been digging for records since 1976, DJing since 1985 and playing in clubs since 1991. He is described as part of Boston’s hip-hop community for nearly 30 years, with experience not only as a DJ but also as a writer, music producer and b-boy. His work centres on obscure record collecting, edits and remixes, and he is associated with bringing rare grooves and dancefloor-focused versions of older recordings to new audiences.

Kon and Amir

He is one half of Kon and Amir, a partnership that releases the On Track and Off Track series on BBE Records. These releases are noted for introducing rare grooves to a wider audience. Kon also releases through respected imprints including ABB and BBE.

Edits, remixes and releases

Kon’s edits and remixes of dance classics earn support from DJs and selectors including Jazzanova, Derrick Carter, Jacques Renault, Danny Krivit, Soul Clap, Dimitri From Paris, Dâm-Funk and Gilles Peterson. Gilles Peterson calls him “Edit/rework King of 2011” and features him on BBC Radio. Among the tracks and projects mentioned are an edit of Cerrone’s “Hooked On You”, the Kon & the Gang EP, a Kon & The Gang 12-inch on Basic Fingers, a remix for On The Prowl’s Party Mix Vol. 7, and the All About Youx EP on Soul Clap Records, which is selected as Mixmag’s EP of the month. His first solo LP is released on BBE Records.

Collaborations and related projects

Kon’s NiteTime collaboration with Ben of Whisky Baron results in the Jive Talk EP on Australian label Future Classic. The release is described as drawing on early-1990s boom bap and classic disco rhythms. His work also includes an anonymous multi-track archive used to create edits and remixes of recordings by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Michael Jackson, Cerrone, Slave, Teena Marie, George Benson and the Mizell Brothers.

Other artists named Kon

The name also refers to Tsuyoshi Kon, a guitar player known for the instrumental track “Lost in Asia”, and to Savino, a Swiss underground solo artist and producer whose main genres are electrofunk, lounge and ambient music, with “FLS” and “semi-somnolent” described as his best-known tracks.