Rusko (musician)

Rusko
Background information
Also known as	Chris Mercer, Rusko Banton
Born	26 January 1985[1][2][3]
Origin	Wheldrake, England
Genres	Dubstep, drum and bass, skweee,[4] electronic
Occupation(s)	Producer, DJ
Years active	2006–present
Labels	2nd Drop Records; Storming Productions; Dub Police; Sub Soldiers; Mad Decent; MapleMusic Recordings (Canada); OWSLA
Associated acts	Caspa, M.I.A., Cypress Hill, Damian Marley, Redlight, Crookers, Pixie Lott, Kid Sister, Sub Focus

Christopher William Mercer (born 26 January 1985) is a British electronic dubstep producer and DJ.

History

Rusko graduated from Leeds College of Music with a degree in Music Performance.^[5] Immersed in the world of dubstep through Leeds based event "Sub Dub" which was held at the West Indian Centre, Rusko moved to London to work with the record label Sub Soldiers with now no longer associated act Caspa.^[2] During this period he introduced producer Reso to Dubstep and the two lived for a time together, driving his roommate "a bit mental" with hearing the track "Cockney Thug" through the wall for a week.^[6]

On 26 October 2012, Fact Magazine posted an interview with Rusko where he stated he planned to release his music for free instead of signing with Mad Decent again, following his dispute with the record label about the release of his second album. The Kapow EP is his first self release. In 2013 he joined OWSLA.^[7]

In 2015, Rusko and his former production/DJ partner Caspa announced a reunion with their first American show together.^[8]

Discography

Albums

• FabricLive.37 (with Caspa) (2007)
• O.M.G.! (2010)
• Songs (2012)

Singles and EPs

• SNES Dub / Hornz Cru / Tru Powwa (Dub Police 2006)
• Acton Dread / Cockney Flute (Rusko Remix) — Rusko / Caspa (Dub Police 2007)
• Babylon: Volume 1 (Sub Soldiers 2007)
• BetaMax / Bed Bugz — Rusko / The Others (Veri Lo 2007)
• William H Tonkers / Roma (2nd Drop 2007)
• Dubstep Warz / Get Your Cock Out — D1 / Rusko (Dub Files 2008)
• Gone 2 Far / 2 N A Q (Sub Soldiers 2008)
• Mr Chips / Hammertime (Sub Soldiers 2008)
• Babylon: Volume 2 (Sub Soldiers 2009)
• Cockney Thug (Sub Soldiers 2009)
• Woo Boost (Mad Decent 2010) #194 UK
• Hold On (featuring Amber Coffman) (Mad Decent 2010) #96 UK
• Everyday / Lick The Lizard (Mad Decent 2011) #106 UK
• Somebody To Love (Mad Decent 2012)
• Thunder (featuring Bonnie McKee) (Mad Decent 2012)
• Roll It, Light It (with Cypress Hill) (V2/Cooperative Music 2012)
• Can't Keep Me Down (with Cypress Hill) (featuring Damian Marley) (V2/Cooperative Music 2012)
• Cypress X Rusko (with Cypress Hill) (V2/Cooperative Music 2012)
• Kapow EP (Rusko Self-Released 2012)
• Lift Me Up (OWSLA 2013)
• ! EP (FMLY 2014)

Remixes

• 2006 Skream – "Dutch Flowers (Rusko Remix)" (Not on Label)
• 2007 Caspa – "Cockney Flute (Rusko Remix)" (Dub Police)
• 2007 Mike Lennon – "When Science Fails (Rusko Remix)" (Z Audio)
• 2008 Leon Jean Marie – "Bring It On (Rusko's Granny Smasher Remix)" (Island Records)
• 2008 Adele – "Cold Shoulder (Rusko Remix)" (XL Recordings)
• 2008 Kid CuDi – "Day & Night" (Not on Label)
• 2008 Katy Perry – "I Kissed A Girl" (Not on Label)
• 2008 D. Kay – "Fire (Rusko Remix)" (Not on Label)
• 2008 Audio Bullys – "Flickery Vision (Rusko's Staying Awake Remix)" (Vizo Records)
• 2008 HK119 – "C'est La Vie" (Rusko Masher) (One Little Indian)
• 2008 L-Wiz – "Girl From Codeine City" (Dub Thiefs)
• 2008 Kotchy – "Sing What You Want (Rusko's Skwee Remix)" (Civil Music / Seclusiasis)
• 2009 Marco Del Horno – "Samurai (Rusko 'Safe Sex' Remix)" (Bullet Train Records)
• 2009 The Prodigy – "Take Me to the Hospital" (Rusko Remix) (Ministry of Sound)
• 2009 Skunk Anansie – "I Can Dream (Rusko's Hands In The Air Remix)" (One Little Indian)
• 2009 Lady Gaga – "Alejandro (Rusko's Pupuseria Remix)" (Not on Label)
• 2009 Basement Jaxx – "Feelings Gone (Rusko Remix)" (XL Recordings)
• 2009 Little Boots – "Remedy (Rusko's Big Trainers Remix)" (679)
• 2009 Mr Hudson – "White Lies (Rusko's Euphoria Remix)" (Mercury)
• 2010 Kid Sister – "Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)" (Asylum Records)
• 2010 Kelis – "4th of July (Rusko Remix)" (Interscope Records)
• 2010 Rusko – "Bionic Commando (Rusko Remix)" (Bionic Records)
• 2010 Sub Focus featuring Coco – "Splash (Rusko Remix)" (RAM Records)
• 2010 The Temper Trap – "Soldier On (Rusko Remix)" (Infectious Records)
• 2011 Sunday Girl vs. Rusko – "Stop Hey" (Polydor)
• 2013 Left Boy – "Get It Right" (Made Jour Label)
• 2016 Pegboard Nerds - "Just Like That (feat. Johnny Graves) (Rusko Remix)" (Monstercat)

References

1. Birchmeier, Jason (2010). "farleys Rusko's Biography". last.fm. Last FM. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
2. Birchmeier, Jason (2001). "RA: Rusko". residentadvisor.net. Last FM. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
3. Birchmeier, Jason (2010). "farleys Rusko's Birthday". wittysparks.com. Witty Sparks. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
4. "Sing What You Want EP - Kotchy". Kotchy. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
5. "Rusko Bio, Music, News & Shows". DJZ.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
6. Interview of Reso on Spoonfed. http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/joj-22042/an-interview-with-reso-5469/. Retrieved on 21 February 2013
7. "Rusko plans to release all forthcoming music for free". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
8. "Rusko - Timeline Photos | Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.

Notes

• Smirke, Richard. "Dubstep by Step." Billboard 122.44 (2010): 1. Web. 7 Dec 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=119&sid=1eb52507-0b68-4800-8696-8d8beebfc0b9%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=55048927>.

External links

• Rusko on Twitter
• Rusko on Facebook
• Rusko (musician) discography at Discogs
• Rusko's SoundCloud