Crookers is the musical project of Italian DJ and producer Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia.
Crookers was originally a duo consisting of Phra and fellow producer Bot, who worked together from 2003 to 2012. When the two artists met, both were trying to branch out of their genre and explore dance music. Their first collaboration worked. Phra said, "It felt natural to team up, seeing that we had the same musical tastes... which isn't that easy here in Milan."
On October 19, 2012, it was announced that Bot had left the group to pursue a new direction and that Phra would carry on the Crookers name as a solo project.
Since then, Phra has produced the song "Ghetto Guetta" under the Crookers alias; the song was published on Phra's own label Ciao Recs under licence to the Be Yourself Catalog as well as Owsla. Phra has released singles from his forthcoming 'Sixteen Chapel' album. 'Heavy' followed 'Ghetto Guetta' as the second single off the album. There were remixes from Hybrid Theory, Donovans and Sharkslayer & First Gift. Following that, Crookers then released Able To Maximize via Ciao Recs with remixes from Chuckie, franskild, Mao Ra Sun, Digi and Suck Fake. Phra then released 'Get Excited ft STS' for free via his social media. During this time, Phra asked the group Plastic Horse to put their spin on the music videos.
Crookers' track "Picture This" was released via Ciao Recs on 9 September and his new album Sixteen Chapel was scheduled to be released in February 2015..
Biography Phra began DJing at age 11, when he was introduced to the Italian hip hop scene.
Crookers' first international release was on Berlin's Man Recordings (Funk Mundial #3), for which they contributed various remixes. The duo later released three EPs in 2008 (Knobbers, Mad Kidz and E.P.istola, all containing exclusive original tracks). In 2009, Crookers released the song, "Business Man", featuring British rapper Wiley and Thomas Jules. That was featured in the racing video game Need for Speed: Nitro, which was also released that year. Their debut album, Tons of Friends, was released in 2010.
Their collaboration with Kid Cudi in "Day 'N' Nite" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 2 and is featured on the game Midnight Club: Los Angeles.
Crookers work with producer/remixer Sketch Iz Dead on many of their tracks.
In 2009, Crookers produced the track "Business Man" with Wiley and Thomas Jules. Later that year, Crookers DJed on ElectroChoc, an in-game radio station of Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, which is based around the nightclub scene of Liberty City. Also, the group gained significant attention with the closing song in the final GTAIV game, ("The Ballad of Gay Tony") called "No Security". In the same year they remixed 'Get On Your Boots' by U2 and confirmed to be one of the most acclaimed DJ duos of that period.
In November 2010, the duo signed a deal with Interscope Records, and they released their new single "We Love Animals" under the label as their first single of their upcoming second studio album.
On , Crookers released The Gonzo Anthem EP. Then on 24 October, they released their second album, Dr Gonzo, featuring Neoteric, Savage Skulls, Wax Motif, His Majesty Andre, Lazy Ants and Keith & Supabeatz. The album has been described as a return to their original style.
Bot left the group in October 2012. Phra continues to use the Crookers name as a solo project.
Phra released a new track called "Ghetto Guetta" on the 22 October 2013 on Ciao Recs, and released it on 29 October 2013 on Big & Dirty Recordings under license to the Be Yourself Catalogue.
Discography Albums YearTitleLabel2009Crookers ShowcaseAvex TraxPut Your Hands on MeAvex Trax2010Tons of FriendsSouthern Fried RecordsTons of RemixesSouthern Fried Records2011Dr GonzoMad Decent2012From Then Until NowSouthern Fried Records2015Sixteen ChapelDim Mak / Ciao Recs
Singles and EPs YearArtistsTitleRelease dateLabel2006CrookersEnd 2 EndOct, 2006P-House2007CrookersAguas de ParcoMar 1, 2007Big Sur RecordingsCrookersMade in ItalyMay 1, 2007On The BrinkCrookersFunk Mundial #3May 18, 2007Crookers feat. La Pisa & Mr. CockyLimonareJun 1, 2007P-HouseCrookers vs. Il DeboscioLimonare vs. FrangettaJul 5, 2007Xnote S.r.lCrookersMassiveSep 14, 2007Potty Mouth MusicCrookers / The Bloody BeetrootsTimberland BootsNov, 2007White Label2008CrookersKnobbersJan 27, 2008Southern Fried RecordsCrookersLove to EditFeb, 2008White LabelCrookersMad KidzJul 20, 2008Southern Fried RecordsCrookersE.P.istolaJul 29, 2008Mad DecentKid Cudi vs. CrookersDay 'n' NiteDec 24, 2008Data Records2009Crookers feat. Wiley & Thomas JulesBusiness ManAug 23, 2009Southern Fried RecordsCrookers feat. Kardinal Offishall & Carla-MariePut Your Hands On MeOct 4, 2009CrookersWhat Up Y'allOct 6, 2009Fool's Gold RecordsCrookers feat. KelisNo SecurityNov 29, 2009Southern Fried RecordsCrookers feat. Soulwax & MixhellWe Love AnimalsDec 10, 20092010Crookers feat. Fabri Fibra & Dargen D'AmicoFestaFeb 12, 2010Crookers feat. Miike SnowRemedyFeb 28, 2010Crookers feat. Róisín MurphyRoyal TMay 23, 2010Crookers feat. YelleCooler CouleurAug, 2010La Musique Fait La Force2011Crookers & Savage SkullsBust 'Em UpApr 10, 2011Southern Fried RecordsCrookers & Savage SkullsBust 'Em Up RemixesAug 7, 2011Crookers The Gonzo AnthemJun 26, 2011CrookersThe Gonzo Anthem RemixesAug 29, 2011Crookers feat. Hudson Mohawke & CarliHummusNov 20, 20112012Guè Pequeno vs. CrookersR.E.B.Mar 20, 2012Universal Music ItaliaCrookers with Style of Eye & CarliThat Laughing TrackApr 29, 2012Southern Fried RecordsCrookers Massive (Remixed)May 22, 2012Potty Mouth MusicFabri Fibra vs. CrookersL'Italiano BallaJun 29, 2012Universal Music ItaliaCrookers with Neoteric & Wah MotifSpringerJul 9, 2012Southern Fried RecordsCrookersBowserSep 4, 2012Fool's Gold RecordsCrookersFrom Then Until NowOct 29, 2012Southern Fried RecordsCrookersBig Booty BootlegNov 12, 2012Ciao RecsCrookers & RVBRAPop That BootlegDec 4, 2012Ciao Recs2013CrookersGiga / A Go GoFeb 19, 2013Ciao RecsCrookersRemixed Part 1 – BangersMar 4, 2013Southern Fried RecordsCrookersGhetto GuettaOct 22, 2013Owsla / Ciao Recs2014CrookersHeavyMar 25, 2014Ciao RecsCrookersAble To MaximizeMay 6, 2014Ciao RecsCrookersPicture ThisSept 9, 2014Ciao Recs2015Crookers feat. JeremihI Just Can'tMarch, 2015Ciao RecsCrookers & DJ FunkSkype MusicSept 25, 2015Ciao Recs
Music videos YearSongDirector(s)2009"Put Your Hands on Me"Jonnie Malachi"No Security"Mattias Erik Johansson, Henrik Qvarnström2010"Remedy"Paul Kamuf"Festa Festa"Danxzen2011"Bust 'Em Up""Hummus"Plastic Horse 2012"That Laughing Track"Jerome Potter, Johnny Woods 2013"Ghetto Guetta"Phra2014"Able To Maximize"Plastic Horse"Picture This"Plastic Horse
Remixes YearArtistTrackTitle2005Stylophonic"Baby Beat Box"Stylophonic"We Got Some People In Da House"Stylophonic Meets the Crookers Mix2006AC/DC"Thunderstruck"Jovanotti"Questo è Un Mondo Selvaggio"2007Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart"We Are Prostitutes"Armand Van Helden"I Want Your Soul"Crookers RemixCrookers Crunk RemixBonde do Rolê"Marina Gasolina"Crookers Crunk RemixBrodinski"Bad Runner"Crookers Gone Electro RemixCarnifull Trio"Song for Guido"Crookers Crunk RemixDiabolico Coupè"Lavorare"Crookers Crunk RemixDusty Kid"The Cat"Crookers RemixCrookers Eurocrunk RemixEdu K"Gatas Gatas Gatas"Crookers CrunkJamelia"Something About You"Crookers Crunky RemixN*E*R*D"Everyone Nose"Phra Re-FixRodion"Electric Soca"The Bumblebeez"Dr Love"Crooker$ RemixThe Chemical Brothers"Salmon Dance"Crookers 'Wow' MixTimbaland"The Way I Are"Crookers – The Way We AreTocadisco feat. Chelonis R. Jones"Shrine"2008Azzido da Bass"Dooms Night"Busy P feat. Murs"To Protect and Entertain"Crookers RemixCrookers Dub RemixBoosta feat. Skin"Last"Crookers Crunk RemixCazals"Life Is Boring"Crookers No Fear to Fly RemixChromeo"Fancy Footwork"Clark Able"Lemon Head"Danny"Set Your Body Free"David Guetta feat. Thailand"Joan of Arc"Crookers Pimp My Ark RemixCrookers 'Hardtime' RemixDiplo feat. Rye Rye"Wassup Wassup"Crookers RemixCrookers Happy RemixDon Rimini"Let Me Back Up"Crookers Tetsujin MixEdu K feat. Marina"Me Bota Pra Dancar"Isa GT"Pela'O"Kelis"Bossy"Kid Cudi"Day 'n' Nite"Ludacris"Move Bitch"Magik Johnson"The Bushman"Moby"I Love to Move in Here"Crookers Crack MixCrookers Lemmesee MixCrookers Bass In Here MixNelly Furtado"Maneater"Radioclit"Secousse"Crookers Spino MixShinichi Osawa"Rendezvous"Snoop Dogg"Sensual Seduction"Timbaland feat. OneRepublic"Apologize"The Bumblebeez"Rio"Crookers Bang RemixThe Outhere Brothers"Enjoy"Crookers Vocal MixCrookers Dub MixThe Proxy"Raven"The Secret Handshake"Summer of '98"The Whip"Trash"Wiley"Summertime"2009Crookers feat. Kelis"No Security"Crookers Ode to the Whales RemixBritney Spears"If U Seek Amy"Fever Ray"Seven"Jesse Rose"Touch My Horn"Mixhell feat. Oh Snap & Jen Lasher"Boom Da"Miike Snow"Animal"Steed Lord"Dirty Mutha"Tiga"Beep Beep Beep"U2"Get On Your Boots"2010Bad Rabbits"Stick Up Kids"Dennis Ferrer"Hey Hey"Faithless"Tweak Your Nipple"Green Velvet"La La Land"Lady Gaga & Beyoncé"Telephone"Crookers Vocal RemixCrookers Dub RemixN*E*R*D feat. Nelly Furtado"Hot-n-Fun"Robbie Williams"Difficult for Weirdos"Savage Skulls & Douster feat. Robyn"Bad Gal"Two Door Cinema Club"Something Good Can Work"Crookers Dirrrrrty Mix2011Major Lazer feat. The Partysquad"Original Don"Munchi feat. Mr. Lexx"Shottas"2012Theophilus London"Stop It"Isa GT"Alegria"WAFA"Abandon Me"Taku Inoue"F.F.Y.R. (Livemonitor)"Chuckie & Junxterjack"Make Some Noise"2013deadmau5 & Imogen Heap"Telemiscommunications"TJR"Ode to Oi"2014Young Thug"Stoner"2015Yogi feat Pusha T"Burial"2018Mavi Phoenix"LOS SANTOS"Crookers Infinity Mix
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