Adonis
Despite his formal training and lack of clubbing experience, Adonis made waves on the dancefloor when he recorded several of the best Chicago house singles of the 1980s, including "No Way Back," "Do It Properly" and "We're Rockin' Down the House." Born on Chicago's west side, he became interested in contemporary jazz -- which he studied at the American Conservatory of Music -- but also listened to '70s funk like Parliament, Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire.
After hanging out with a neighbor's R&B group for awhile, he was called on to play bass and eventually joined as a full-time member. He gigged with several different bands during the early '80s (including one with Larry Heard, the only other major house producer not previously involved with Chicago's clubscene) and gradually became more interested in the keyboard player's synthesizers than his own bass guitar. A friend introduced him to house music via Jesse Saunders' "On and On"; after feeling a drive to make better-produced music than what he had heard, Adonis began recording.
Despite his musical education, early singles like "No Way Back" and "We're Rockin' Down the House" weren't any more melodic than most house records around. In fact, they were less so, with pounding basslines and minimalistic rhythms that made waves in the clubs and became classics of the Chicago house explosion. Record-label trouble forced Adonis to semi-retire from recording before he could gain any kind of major contract, but he continued to produce and remix on an independent basis into the '90s. In 1993, he and two other house legends (Farley Jackmaster Funk and Chip E) entered the studio and recorded material as Black Balls.
© John Bush /TiVo
-
This Thing of Ours
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Serious Soundz on Jun. 15, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Acoustically Speaking
Soul - Released by Mocha Kissed Entertainment on Jan. 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Mala
World - Released by Eebeats & Monkey Studio on Mar. 4, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Lovely Stranger
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Adonis on May 13, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pick Up The Phone (feat. Lil Oddy)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by BBN Music on Aug. 20, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Logan
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Different Worlds Music Group on Dec. 10, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eza Shi Nhar
Pop - Released by JMR Productions & Publishing on Dec. 8, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
La Belhaki
Pop - Released by JMR Productions & Publishing on Mar. 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bertah (Cube Sessions)
World - Released by Balkoon on May 22, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
You Know
Mike Beatz & Adonis, Mike Beatz, Adonis
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by G.T.P.S. on Apr. 5, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
ACT LIKE THAT
Electronic - Released by UNDERWORLD AESTHETIC on Jun. 26, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chantado
Rock - Released by Bozza Sound Lab, Tmr Music on Nov. 10, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Feature Presentation (Deluxe Edition)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Capitol Records - 10k Projects on Mar. 9, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-