Mr Fudge
“When his beats hit the floor, the flow is always funky and chunky killer breakbeats…any tempo…every style.”
New addition to Pure Phunk Recordings, MR FUDGE (aka Yusuf Akhtar)…Canadian born breakbeat dj and producer is intense, energetic, and versatile in each solid set that he delivers. Having held residencies in Central and Western Canada since 1997, he is now currently based in Seoul, Korea…spinning for Sickboy Productions at the super club ‘M2’, as well as for his Breakbeat Massive Crew throughout the Pacific Rim.
Yusuf has always been heavily influenced by a variety of breaks, from hip-hop / trip-hop, midtempo funk and big beat, to the more current sounds of nu skool breaks. Having supported the local underground electronic scene since 95’ in the prairies, run by DJ Deko-ze and the P.P.M collective, it was not until 97’ that he got his start at a community radio station called CFCR, in his hometown of Saskatoon Saskatchewan. This is where he would drop the original broken beats of classic funk, Motown and disco (from P-funk, George Clinton, James Brown and Herbie Hancock to Chaka Khan, Earth Wind and Fire, Sister Sledge, Donna Summers and Kool & the Gang to name a few). This was also the year that he witnessed fat sets by Howie B, Czech, John Kelly, Slim, Spilt Milk, Jadybug and Hubba Bubba. After seeing these dj’s lay down the breaks, he quickly realized the sound that he needed to follow.
In the summer of 97’, Yusuf decided to plan a trip out to Ireland to visit one of his best friend’s who lived in Belfast. The trip was also to pick up records that he knew he wouldn’t be able to find back in Toon town. It was here that he met Kyomi, Ireland’s top breakbeat dj at the time, who had headlined numerous shows with some of the UK’s heavyweight breakbeat acts (such as Mr. Scruff, Danmass, Dub Pistols…). Shortly after meeting Kyomi, Yusuf had convinced him to come back to Canada to try out different surroundings. Kyomi helped school Yusuf to a UK standard of breaks, and it is his influence that can be seen in Yusuf’s hard hitting and aggressive mixing style.
After playing numerous club nights and parties across central and Western Canada, it was in 2001 that Yusuf became interested in the production aspect of electronic music. Hearing production work from Canadian artists such as Happycat, Dislexik, John Delerious, Robb G, D-monic, Zoo Sound System, Khanfucious, Myagi and Czech…Yusuf started learning tips on ‘beat construction’ from close friend Happycat. This was shortly before he decided to move to Korea in 2002. The big move to Asia was not only to challenge him to gain recognition in the Pacific Rim, but to also push his production work…and to develop a sound that best encompasses his energy and intensity behind the decks.
‘Hard Funk’ best describes his production work, and his live dj sets. Not only does Mr Fudge hammer out the best of breakbeats (Nu Skool, funk, two-step and electro)…he plays all tempo’s of fat beats (hip hop, trip hop, house and d’n‘b). He is a veteran dj who can lay down the fat killer breaks on any stage. Keep an eye out for this breakbeat technician!
(Mr Fudge has headlined events with such heavyweight dj’s such as The Herbaliser, Kid Koala, DJ Volume, Dave London, Chris Anderson, Chris and Julian Liberator, John the Dentist, Rowland the Bastard, Frankie Bones, Deepsky, Hatiras, DJ Scissorkicks, Nitro, Subtropic and Lafleche to name a few. Affiliations: Pure Phunk Records, Sickboy Productions, 2thebeat, BreakbeatMassive, D.U.I, FaceFirst, Uninhibited Crew and FOOSH. Main influences: Freestylers, Stanton Warriors, Deekline & Wizard, Drumattic Twins, Aquasky vs Masterblaster, Myagi, The Phat Conductor, Dave Dub, Short Fiction, D-monic, Robb G, Audit, Happycat and Dislexik).
