Artist. Educator. Grammy Winner.

Burt Blackarach wants to share the gift of music with the world.

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WHO IS BURT BLACKARACH?


A Grammy-winner and seasoned music producer, Burt Blackarach has worked with iconic artists like Aerosmith, Chuck D +Public Enemy, Kelly Clarkson, Method Man, Aloe Blacc and Andre 3000. As an authentic turntablist, Burt has spun all over the world, including London, Tokyo, Lisbon and Paris. Burt's masterful scratching skills can be heard on countless albums, movie soundtracks and national commercials. Burt is also an accomplished composer for high profile television and film projects.

Partnered with Airbnb, Burt hosts "Be A DJ for a Day", L.A.'s only one hour DJ crash course, on their Experiences platform. Burt also modifies his DJ class for corporate and team-building group lessons of up to 50 people at a time.

Blackarach owns and manages his music publishing catalog, Salamani Music, that has been sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, J Dilla and D’Angelo. 

Blackarach is currently in development for a music documentary based on his father, deceased legendary soul and rock keyboard player and songwriter William D. “Smitty” Smith. Using his father’s personal memoir, “A Stroke of Luck” and his lost demo tapes as the foundation, this documentary delves deep into the underbelly of the music industry from the 1960’s to the present day through found footage and personal stories by key players such as Quincy Jones, Bob Dylan and Jim Keltner.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Blackarach also holds a Canadian dual citizenship. He is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 


Credits

Music Production

Burt Blackarach Untitled House Project

2020

Free, White & 21

Fullee Love (Soup from Jurassic 5)

Producer

2018

LRG Presents "Saved by the Bando Vol. 1" [Mixtape]

Producer

2015

Sonny Digital Mix Tape

Producer

2015

Burt Blackarach Does London

Producer

2014

How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???

Public Enemy

Associate Producer, Mixing, Producer

2007

Let's Get Loud

Aerosmith, Chuck D, Busta Rhymes, Phife Dawg, MC Lyte

Co-Producer

2006

Bring That Beat Back

Public Enemy

Producer

2006

DARK ANGEL (Artemis) : The Soundtrack

"Dark Angel Extended Theme" - Chuck D and MC Lyte

"The One" - Niki Haris

Writer/Producer

2002

Angela Via

Picture Perfect

Lava Records (Atlantic)

Producer

2002

BAMBALEO

No Que Buena Esta

Producer

2001

CRY ON CUE

Wash of Light

Writer/Producer/Performer

2000

Can You Feel It?

MC LYTE

Writer/Producer

2000

PUBLIC ENEMY: WELCOME TO THE SAMPLE DOME - SAMPLE CD (EastWest)

Executive Producer/Writer/Producer

Revolverlution

Public Enemy

Composer, Producer

2002

Engineer

Aloe Blacc

(Unnamed Project)

Engineer

2013

DJ Nu-Mark & Haas

Never Be Wrong

Engineer

2012

Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp

Public Enemy

Engineer

2012

The Evil Empire of Everything

Public Enemy

Engineer

2012

Ear-Resistible ‎

The Temptations

Engineer

2000

Film Score

End of Watch

Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick

Engineer, "Harder Than You Think"

2012

Beauty Shop

Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone

Original Music

2005

Volcano High

MTV/Viacom Films feat. Method Man, Outkast, Snoop Dogg, Tracy Morgan, Mya, Kelis, Lil' Jon and Pat Morita

Original Score, Composer

2001

Bad Boy

Elizabeth Hurley, Denis Leary

Original Music

2002

Local Boys

Capstone Pictures - Feature film

"Gonna Getcha"

Writer/Producer/Composer/Performer

2002

Poolhall Junkie

Gold Circle Films - Trailer music for this feature film starring Christopher Walken and Rick Schroder

Writer/Producer/Composer/Performer

2002

SAVE VIRGIL

Quality Films

Cartoon short feat. Adam Corolla, Ginger Lynn and Gary Coleman

"Slap that Ass"

Writer/Producer

2002

TV Scores

Shut Up and Dribble

Showtime Networks

2018

ESPY AWARDS THEME feat. Aerosmith and Busta Rhymes

ESPN Sports Network- Nationally televised theme.

Writer/Producer/Composer

2006

ESPN X GAMES AWARDS THEME feat. Chuck D and Steven Tyler

ESPN Sports Network- Nationally televised theme.

Writer/Producer/Composer

2006

X Games

ESPN

Composer, Original Music

2006

Entourage

HBO

Writer/Producer

2006

Method & Red Show

Method Man, Redman

FOX

Opening Theme, Original Score

2004

BLACK AND WHITE - FX Network

2003

Luis

Luis Guzman

FOX

Composer, Original Music

2003

ESPN HOMERUN DERBY - ESPN

Theme for Homerun Derby 2002

Writer/Producer/Composer/Performer

ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL - ESPN Sports Network - Nationally televised

Theme airing prior to ESPN's Sunday night baseball.

Writer/Producer/Composer

2002

Dark Angel

James Cameron, Jessica Alba

FOX

Composer, Original Music

2000

DISMISSED - MTV Television show

"Knock Knock"

Writer/Producer

2000

LAW & ORDER

Writer/Producer

2000

Commercials

DirecTV Commercial

The Whale

Engineer

2011

Chevron Superbowl Commercial

Original Music

2005

Appearances

The Perfect Guy

Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy

Self

2015

T-Mobile Commercial

Self

2006

Artist Collaborations

Castro, Lenny

Elezando, Mike (Eminem)

McNeely, Joel

Pensado, Dave "Hard Drive" (Christina Aguilar, etc.)

Wilder, Matthew (No Doubt, Puff Daddy, Backstreet Boys)

DJ Nu-Mark (Jurassic 5)

12 QUESTIONS WITH BLACKARACH

What led you to want to become a DJ?

Moving to Sherman Oaks and transferring to Milliken Junior High School in 8th grade changed my life. My parents had just split and I as in a new part of town with new kids. I was thrilled. I met Obam, David and Greg who I would later start a DJ crew with, Bum Rush Productions. Obam’s older brother Warren was a musician and his cousin Clifford was a DJ. Obam had a lil rig in his room. That led to us watching and learning about the craft of DJing. Greg was a natural DJ - dude was so funky. We always say he would’ve been J-Rocc if he pursued it like Mark (DJ Nu-Mark)and I did. I had no choice but to become a DJ. So much wonderful energy.

Did you know right away that you wanted to be a producer and create your own music?

No. Not at all. Never crossed my mind. As a young bass player I liked playing songs I knew like Men at Work and Adam Ant etc. It was just something to do. When I started DJing, the light bulb suddenly shined bright and my musical curiosity and creativity was unleashed. Hearing hip hop made me want to learn how to make that type of music.

Who is your musical hero and why?

Geez. It's my Father, William Daniel "Smitty" Smith. He was a singer, songwriter, producer and keyboard player and he was baaad.

I have a lot of personal inspirations that I met through my father, including my god parents, who are the the best at what they do. They are my family because of my father...Eric "Mouse" Johnson, Chuck Rainey, James Gadson, Brenda Russell, Rena Sinakin, Lenny Castro.

A lot of local rappers were influential in the early years at my high school and went on to become internationally known like the freestyle champ Juice and Coolwadda.

What one event in your childhood had the greatest effect on your​ music career?

Graffiti Rock. 1984. It came on NBC at 7:30pm on Thursday nights. The first time I saw it, I said "What the hell is this?". When I saw Run DMC vs Treacherous 3 I was hooked.

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten? Did you take it?

Know all kinds of music. Go for what you know. Ask for as much as your mouth can say.

Okay, your Top 5 MCs?

Slick Rick
KRS ONE
Jay-Z
Chuck D
Pharoah Monche

And Top 5 DJs?

Cash Money
Jazzy Jeff
DJ Aladdin
DJ Nu-Mark
DJ Scratch

What is the piece of musical equipment you can't live without?

My Mac. Pre computers? It would my SP-1200 or Akai MPC.

What is the best piece of equipment you ever purchased?

Tied with the SP-1200 and Technic 1200's.

What four words describe you?

Deep, thoughtful, friendly and sensitive.

If you could have one magical or super power, what would it be?

The ability to record the music in my head, direct.