Prince Fatty & Horseman
Every era has its’ pioneers, and the post-Internet generation of reggae fans are already celebrating record producer/re-mixer and DJ sensation Prince Fatty as one of their own. His futuristic take on old school reggae, soul and Latin grooves has now made him hugely popular on the international club and festival circuit.
Real name Mike Pelanconi, he first rose to prominence after Brighton-based label Mr. Bongo issued his debut album Survival Of The Fattest in 2007. Veteran Jamaican artists Little Roy, Winston Francis and Dennis Alcapone were in attendance for a set brimming with feel-good factor, and that was an instant hit with the party crowd. It made people want to dance, whilst the distinctive sound of his productions and quirky artwork singled him out as an exciting new name to watch.
By the time his second album Super Size arrived, he was working out of a converted ironworks in Brighton and perfecting the Prince Fatty sound on records by Little Roy, Mutant Hi-Fi and Hollie Cook, who won rapturous acclaim for her own debut album. In the meantime he’d rejuvenated reggae’s appeal among younger audiences with inspired remixes of hits by Snoop Dogg, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Cyprus Hill – tracks which still tear the roof off every time he plays them during his DJ sets. Prince Fatty eased up on the sampling and cut everything “live” on that second album, using an all-star cast of reggae session musicians.
His follow-up was Prince Fatty Versus The Drunken Gambler – a glorious romp through reggae music’s past, present and future co-starring Horseman, Dennis Alcapone, Winston Francis and the Pioneers’ George Dekker. This album underlined all that’s new and exhilarating about the Prince Fatty experience but whilst his sound is immediately distinctive, it’s never predictable.
Stints with Lion Roots, Mowax, Ninja Tunes and Acid Jazz followed. Brand New Heavies’ singer N’Dea Davenport then invited him to Los Angeles to finish work on her solo album. He spent two years in LA, working with Delicious Vinyl and establishing invaluable contacts in the hip-hop world. By the time he returned to the UK, he’d made the transition from working as a studio engineer to dealing with record companies direct. His CV will soon include names like Lily Allen (the reggae-infused Smile), Blur’s Graham Coxon, Manu Chao, Kula Shaker, A Tribe Called Quest and the Pharcyde but it wasn’t until 2006, after Stussy asked him to produce some reggae tracks, that the Prince Fatty legend was born. Nina’s Dance was the first to be released under that name, and this in turn inspired Brighton label Mr. Bongo to sign him for an album inspired by his love of old school reggae compilations – hence the mix of different vocalists and deejays, dub and instrumental tracks found on Survival Of The Fattest.
Following on from projects featuring Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra and Horseman (Dawn Of The Dread) his latest album is Prince Fatty In The Vipers Shadow, which is another irresistible blend of good-time reggae vibes, star guests, innovative production techniques and knowing humour.