Matko Šašek, also known as Koolade, is a Croatian hip-hop, electronic, and urban music producer. Born in Zagreb in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he played a role in establishing the hip-hop genre in the Croatian and regional (Balkans) music scene, winning national music awards in Croatia and Bosnia.
Later he and his partner/manager Phat Phillie continued to expand his work throughout Europe and the U.S., where he is known for his production work on Masta Ace's "Beautiful" on the album A Long Hot Summer, as well as a number of other prominent American hip-hop artists such as Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa of the Wu Tang Clan, Sean Price, Xzibit, Sadat X, Styles P, Diamond D, Das EFX, Peedi Crakk, Tony Touch, Rah Digga, Too Short, Bow Wow, and others. Koolade is locally and regionally known for his collaborations with the Croatian hip-hop groups Tram 11 and Bolesna Braća, as well as Bosnian rappers Edo Maajka and Frenkie.
Early years
Born on 1 June 1978 in Zagreb, Croatia, he showed great interest in music from his early days. Growing up in the 1980s he listened to artists like Queen (being a fan since age of 6), Michael Jackson, U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, Human League, Dire Straits etc. In 5th and 6th grade he took piano lessons, but quit after two years due to a lack of interest in classical music education. He did not play the piano again, until the start of his professional music career in the mid/late 1990s.
Hip hop
In the years 1989/1990, his sister introduced him to Hip Hop music, which he initially hated, but after a year or so, it became his obsession. Artists like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Ice Cube, EPMD would very soon take over his tape deck. Due to a few shows like MTV's Yo! MTV Raps, Rap Attack, and his future manager Phat Philly's own Blackout Rap Show on Radio 101, he kept track of the international scene and all the fresh new releases. Soon, he started forming his first high school demo bands like G-Style and Ill Behavior. Having interest in both rapping and beatmaking, he makes his first tracks. Those would end up being just tries and attempts, but practice for his later work.
Blackout
As Hip Hop scene would start resonating more with the children in Croatia during the early/mid 1990s, he started hanging around clubs and the people playing, promoting, and making hip hop music. Hearing the local artist's demos being played on the Blackout Rap Show, he was not overwhelmed with the production, and decided he wanted to contribute to the scene with his musical talent as a beat-maker and producer. Later, he focused on beat-making and production.
He becomes a member of the Blackout Project, the DJ's, MC's and beat-makers revolving and evolving around the Blackout Rap Show. In 1998, his first production credit release, which marked the start of his professional career, were two tracks by Tram 11 "Des Mozges" & "Kog je briga za vas", on Blackout Project's Project Impossible album. He collaborated with local and regional hip hop artists like Tram 11, Sick Rhyme Sayazz aka Bolesna Braća, El Bahattee, Nered & Stoka, Edo Maajka, Frenkie, Shorty, and Elemental. He produced "Beautiful" by Masta Ace.
Media and marketing
Being a music producer and sound engineer, Koolade created scores for commercials. Some of the references are H&M, Nivea, Alizee, EA Sports, Y2K, and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance & Ugly Betty etc.
Awards and recognition
+YearAwardCategoryArtistAlbumContributionResult2001Porin (Croatian national music award)Best Hip Hop albumBolesna BraćaLovci na ŠubareRecord producer, featured artistWon2001Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award)Best producer/beatmakerKooladeWon2002Porin (Croatian national music award)Best urban and club music albumEl BahatteeSvaki pas ima svoj danRecord producerWon2003Porin (Croatian national music award)Best urban and club music albumEdo MaajkaSlušaj MaterRecord producerWon2005Davorin (Bosnian national music award)Best urban music albumEdo MaajkaNo sikirikiRecord ProducerWon2007Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award)Best producer/beatmakerKooladeWon2009Porin (Croatian national music award)Best urban and club music albumEdo MaajkaBalkansko a našeRecord producer, featured artistNominated2017Hip Hop Unity (Intependent hip hop award)Lifetime achievement awardKooladeWon2022Porin (Croatian national music award)Best electronic album of the yearKooladeAprilArtist, producerNominated2022Porin (Croatian national music award)Best hip hop album of the yearEdo MaajkaMoćnoproducerWon
In 2007, Los Angeles-based URB magazine named Koolade one of the top 100 best up-and-coming urban artists, along with artists like M.I.A. and Block Party.
Discography
Title Release Type Label Year Featured Songs Featured Artists Koolade Presents... 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/Wordplay 2001 Survival b/w Hate Me Too Masta Ace, Strick Beautiful b/w Follow 12" EP single Blackout Entertainment/ABB 2004 Beautiful b/w Follow Masta Ace, El Da Sensei Get Addicted digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2009 Get Addicted J-Ro You & Yours b/w Philly Morning digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2010 You & Yours b/w Philly Morning Maylay Sparks The Makings digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 The Makings Diamond D, Sadat X No More Music digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 No More Music Styles P Beautiful digital single re-release Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2011 Beautiful Masta Ace Koolade Beats Rocky digital LP (album) Blackout Entertainment 2012 ... Maylay Sparks, Peedi Crakk, Rasheeda B, Lovro Ravbar All Round Philly digital EP (single) Blackout Entertainment / Foundation Media 2012 All Round Philly b/w (Like on A) First Date Peedi Crakk, Maylay Sparks, Rasheeda B Walking on a Chance digital EP (single) Universal Music 2012 Walking on a Chance Zebra Dots Walking on a Chance LP (album) Universal Music 2012 ... Zebra Dots Don't Try digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try original + remixes Zebra Dots Don't Try ft. SevdahBaby digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Don't Try Sevdah Baby Remix Zebra Dots, SevdahBaby Outta My Mind/Pokvareni Telefon digital EP (single) Universal Music 2013 Outta My Mind, Pokvareni Telefon Zebra Dots Koola od karata digital LP (album) Koolade Productions 2014 ... Koolade Juice Crew Special EP ft. Masta Ace & Craig G digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2014 Love Crazy ft. Masta Ace & Strick, From The Soul ft. Craig G Koolade, Masta Ace, Craig G, Strick Park St. EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade After The Storm EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade Fallin EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions / Blackout Entertainment Croatia / Foundation Media 2015 ... Koolade Daze EP digital EP (album) Koolade Productions 2015 ... KooladeSwan Pond EPdigital EP (album)Blvnt Records2015...KooladePay Me What You Owe Medigital singleBlvnt Records2015Pay Me What You Owe Me (Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money" rework)Koolade and Ben Bada BoomGreyscale EPdigital EP (album)Koolade Productions2016Avalan, Feelings get hurtKooladeNight Shifts EPdigital EP (album)Blvnt Records2016Songs @ 2AM, Moon Thug, Nite Moth, The Lamp Lamp, Pod to Venus ft. Robot Orchestra, The Night shifts, Dawn YawnKoolade, Robot OrchestraSay Nothing (single)digital singleDuck Down Music2016Say NothingRah Digga, Sean Price, Tony Touch, KooladeEastern Lights EPdigital EP (album)Blvnt Records2016Eastern Lights, Avenue Feel, Moving into LightKooladeOd pješaka do raketedigital albumBassivity Digital2016...Burky x Geralt iz Rivije x KooladeSwag Bag EPdigital EP (album)Blvnt Records2016Took off, Gimme a MinuteKooladeKune i Dinaridigital singleAristokrat Music2016Geralt iz Rivije, Kendi, KooladeŽivim po svoem ft. Žugi & Riđi Riđ (High5)digital singleGeralt iz Rivije / Koolade Productions2017Geralt iz Rivije, Koolade, Žugi, Riđi RiđPapirni avionialbum (digital, physical)Aristokrat Music2017Kendi, Koolade, Wikluh Sky, NensiJarundigital singleKoolade Productions2017Sinke Fresh, Burky, KooladeBistadigital singleGeralt iz Rivije / Koolade Productions2017Geralt iz Rivije, KooladeNodigital albumKoolade Productions2018AAY, In a Dream, Kooloma Rinolade, Lotus Blossom, NO, Rainstorm, Tzar Hun, Straight Talk, Come up a StarRinoma, KooladePurple Orangedigital albumBlvnt Records2018Purple Intro, Let's use Hands now, Stalling, Reminisce Sunshine, Purple Orange, Orange Peel (Interlude), Walk Away, December, Purple OutroKooladeGoodlifedigital singleKoolade Productions2018Geralt iz Rivije, KooladePalmviewdigital singleKoolade Productions2018KooladeNASAdigital singleKoolade Productions2018KooladeCan I kick It ft. Tibordigital singleKoolade Productions2019Tibor, KooladeBenchesdigital albumKoolin Out2019Benches, Liquidated, Bring You Flowers, A Bird called Bossa, Thumpin' in a Daaze, How We used to, One for AlanKooladeCrewzenalbum / digital / physical (12" vinyl, CD) Koolade Productions2019JRN Anthem, Mirage, Sunset Crush, Crewzen, Shades of Gold, Jalibu, Malibu, Zonin', Dippin', Finale (Streets to the Beach) Koolade, Dust, Sinke Fresh, James Perri, Gorica ŠutićCrewzen Pt.2album / digital / physical (cassette) Koolade Productions2019Low Ride, Delorean Bounce, Dippin' Pt.2, Baby Blue (Wide Body), Kadillaxx, Ridin' OutKooladeFiresidealbum / digitalKoolin Out2019KooladeLeaving Youalbum / digitalKoolin Out2020Koolade<V> 1984album / digitalKoolade Productions2020KooladeThe Hopalbum / digitalVoyage Funktastique / Bastard Jazz2020Koolade, MysteeWarm Cupsalbum / digitalKoolin Out2020Koolade, VukKockealbum / digitalKoolade Productions / TDKM2021Tibor, KooladeBiddin' / SprinGangdouble single / digitalKrekpek Records2021KooladeOOO DAAA! / Nargile na rumodouble single / digitalKrekpek Records2021KooladeAprilalbum / digitalKrekpek RecordsKooladeFive to NineEP / digitalKoolin Out2021KooladeLovers' Lanealbum / digitalKoolin Out2022Koolade, Terron Austin, Matija Dedić, Bro, Vuk, Monika Almaši, Ma'ChillPričom je bježao odEP / digitalKoolade Productions / TDKM2022Noti Limun, Tibor, Koolade
References
External links Official SoundCloud Page