High-octane breakbeats fused with vintage funk and hip-hop swagger. It is music built for the dancefloor, heavy on the bass and even heavier on the groove.
Krafty Kuts delivers a masterclass in high-energy, syncopated rhythm that feels like a collision between a 70s funk record and a futuristic rave. The sound is defined by its relentless momentum, characterized by heavy, rolling breakbeats that never let the listener settle into a simple four-on-the-floor pattern. It is bright, loud, and unapologetically fun, leaning into the 'big beat' aesthetic while maintaining a sophisticated level of technical turntablism.
What truly sets him apart is the surgical precision of his sampling. He doesn't just loop a beat; he chops, stutters, and re-arranges classic hip-hop and soul elements into something that feels modern and muscular. The basslines are thick and rubbery, often acting as the melodic anchor for tracks that are otherwise dense with vocal stabs and scratching. It is the sound of someone who spent years behind a record store counter and even longer behind a pair of Technics 1210s.
For the uninitiated, his 2006 album 'Freakshow' is the definitive entry point. It captures the peak of the mid-2000s breaks scene, blending guest vocals with massive, stadium-sized production. If you want to hear his skills as a curator and technical DJ, his 'FabricLive 34' mix provides a seamless journey through the various shades of bass music he has championed throughout his career.
Krafty Kuts (real name Martin Reeves) is an English producer and DJ of electronic music and breakbeat. His first album, Freakshow, was released in 2006 on his Against The Grain label and contains guest artists Tim Deluxe and Ashley Slater from the UK band Freak Power. He had previously released Tricka Technology with his fellow producer and DJ, A Skillz. Reeves has since released an installment of the Back to Mine compilation series. In October 2009, he released the double mix CD Against the Grain which has 19 of his previously unreleased re-edits. The release won Best Compilation at the 2010 Breakspoll Awards, with Reeves also winning another Best DJ award at the ceremony.
Shares funk, big beat, nu jazz (subgenres); energetic, playful, confident (moods)
Shares funk, big beat (subgenres); festival, urban night, basement show (atmosphere)
Shares big beat, funk (subgenres); energetic, playful, confident (moods)
Shares funk, big beat (subgenres); energetic, playful, confident (moods)
Shares funk, big beat (subgenres); energetic, confident, playful (moods)
Shares playful, energetic, joyful (moods); funk, big beat, nu jazz (subgenres)
Shares festival, urban night, basement show (atmosphere); energetic, playful, confident (moods)
Shares energetic, playful, confident (moods); festival, urban night, basement show (atmosphere)
Shares funk, big beat (subgenres); energetic, playful, confident (moods)
Shares energetic, playful, confident (moods); funk, big beat (subgenres)
Shares breakbeat, turntables, big beat, funk (signature)
Shares turntables, big beat, funk, joyful (signature)
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