MC Tee

Touré Embden (born September 3, 1964), known by the stage name MC Tee, is a Jamaican American emcee and co-founder (with DJ Kurtis Mantronik) of the 1980s old school hip hop and electro funk group Mantronix.

MC Tee
Birth nameTouré Embden
Also known asMC Tee
Crime Master Tee
Tee-Ski
Born (1964-09-03) September 3, 1964
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresOld school hip hop
Electro funk
Instrument(s)Microphone
Years active1984–1988
LabelsSleeping Bag Records
Capitol/EMI Records

Early years

MC Tee was born in Jamaica, emigrated with his family to the United States and eventually settled in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York.

Mantronix emcee
Main article: Mantronix

In 1984, Brooklyn native MC Tee met Kurtis Mantronik at Downtown Records in Manhattan, where MC Tee was a regular customer, and Mantronik worked as the in-store DJ.[1][2] The duo soon made a demo, formed the group Mantronix, and eventually signed with Sleeping Bag Records.

MC Tee co-wrote Mantronix's debut single, "Fresh is the Word," a club hit in 1985, reaching #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. "Fresh is the Word" was featured on Mantronix's debut album, Mantronix: The Album, which was released the same year.[3]

Mantronix's second album, Music Madness, was released in 1986. While MC Tee's rhyming style on the album continued in the traditional b-boy fashion of the times, Mantronik's club oriented production and mixing in Music Madness tended to attract more dance music and electro funk aficionados than hardcore, old school hip hop fans.[4]

In 1987, Mantronix signed with Capitol/EMI and released In Full Effect the following year (1988). MC Tee abruptly left Mantronix shortly after the release of In Full Effect to enlist in the United States Air Force.[5]

In a 1997 interview with MTV Europe, Kurtis Mantronik commented on the departure of MC Tee from Mantronix:

MC Tee left the group because he wanted to further his education. And just I think dealing with the politics of the business, he just wasn't cut out for that. And it kind of got him a little frustrated.[6]

Mantronix continued for two more albums following MC Tee's departure, 1990's This Should Move Ya and 1991's The Incredible Sound Machine, with Bryce "Luvah" Wilson replacing MC Tee, before the group finally disbanded in 1991.

Current whereabouts

Touré Embden was arrested and subsequently convicted of child molestation and given a 15 Year term in 2003. He served 6 years and was released in 2009.[7]

Speculation has surfaced on Mantronix and Kurtis Mantronik fan sites regarding a reunion of the original Mantronix line-up, but as of 2019, a reunion has yet to materialize.[8]

Touré Embden is listed as having lived in both Stone Mountain and Lilburn, Georgia.[9]

References
  1. "When Recorded Hip-hop was in its Infancy, One Man was Responsible for Really Pushing the Sonic Envelope. It's Been Far from Plain Sailing Since, But the Mantronix Legacy will Run Forever". cheebadesign.com (original article printed in Hip Hop Connection Magazine). July 2002. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  2. Chin, Brian (1986). "Mantronix Makes Inroads In British Pop - But Black Duo Still Waiting For A U.S. Hit". cheebadesign.com (original article printed in Billboard Magazine). Archived from the original on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  3. Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic Mantronix: The Album Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  4. Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic Music Madness Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  5. Wynn, Ron. "Allmusic In Full Effect Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  6. Mantronik, Kurtis. "Interview on MTV Europe's Party Zone Summer 1997". Mantronix (Interview). Interviewed by Simone. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2007 – via cheebadesign.com.
  7. "Toure a Embden - Sex Offender in Atlanta, GA 30349 - GA21195".
  8. "Mantronix ¤ Kurtis Mantronik - the King of the Beats". www.cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. "Current whereabouts research done on http://www.intelius.com, a leading law enforcement and background check firm.". intellius.com.
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