Tyree Cooper is a US acid house DJ, producer and recording artist from Chicago, with an active base in Berlin. He is associated with acid, house and acid house, and his work helps shape the development of hip house, a crossover form of house music with rap vocals.

Early life and musical background

Cooper grows up on Chicago’s South Side and listens to the R&B records and 1960s soul music played by his mother. He starts playing music in grammar school, joining the school band at 13 as a flute player. He also plays basketball, and both interests continue through high school.

At high school he meets Mike Dunn and learns how to DJ. He also studies the work of Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, the Hot Mix 5, Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles, all of whom influence his early development.

His basketball ability earns him a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Stout, where he further develops his mixing skills.

Recording career

After college, Cooper becomes one of the most in-demand DJs in Chicago. Vince Lawrence of Jesse Gang encourages him to make a demo tape and begin recording as an artist. He signs his first record deal with the Chicago label DJ International in 1986.

His first 12-inch release, “I Fear The Night”, features vocalist Chic and becomes an underground Chicago classic. He follows it with a run of key releases including “Acid Over” and “Turn Up The Bass” in 1988 and 1989, “Let’s Get Hyped” featuring Kool Rock Steady in 1989, plus “Let the Music Take Control” and “Hardcore Hip House” in 1989.

Cooper works with fellow DJ Fast Eddie Smith on the development of hip house, a style that combines house music with hip hop elements and rap vocals.

Notable tracks and remixes

“Turn Up The Bass” becomes one of the best-known hip house tracks and later appears on Epic in original and remix versions. Cooper also remixes Fast Eddie’s “Yo! Yo! Get Funky”, the Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s Alright”, and the Mixmasters’ “In the Mix”, which appears in Madonna’s Truth or Dare.

Labels and later work

In 2002, Cooper founds his own label, Supa Dupa Recordings. He continues to DJ, travel for gigs in Europe and produce new tracks on his own label, as well as with shik stylkö for realbasic recordings. He is also linked with Chicago Vinyl Records, and uses the aliases or projects TC Crew, Goosebumpz, Ree Cooping and Blaxican.

Legacy

Cooper is regarded as one of the more influential figures in the international house scene, particularly through his early contribution to acid house and hip house in Chicago.