Masters at Work
Masters at Work is the American garage house production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. The duo has produced music together under the names MAW, KenLou, Sole Fusion, Hardrive, and Nuyorican Soul.[1] They have been referred to as one of the most influential artists in the history of house music.[2]
"Hardrive" redirects here. For the computer equipment, see Hard disk drive.
Masters at Work
- MAW
- KenLou
- Sole Fusion
- Nuyorican Soul
- River Ocean
New York City, U.S.
1990–present
- Cutting (1993)
- MAW (1998–present)
- Tommy Boy
- Giant Step/Blue Thumb/GRP/MCA
Legacy[edit]
Remixing of their tracks by UK DJs in the '90s helped to create the speed garage genre.[2] They have been credited with generating the "Golden Age" of Latin house.[8] Resident Advisor referred to the duo as potentially "the most influential pairing in the history of house".[2]
MAW has a history as remixers, having reproduced tracks for various acts both inside and outside the world of dance music. Some of the artists remixed by the two producers include Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Donna Summer, Aaliyah, Gus Gus, Jody Watley, Jamiroquai, Earth Wind & Fire, Stephanie Mills, Spice Girls, Daft Punk and Los Amigos Invisibles.[1]
Their 1991 single "The Ha Dance" became highly influential in the black and Latino LGBT ballroom scene. The beat has been sampled and remixed so many times that it has become almost synonymous with ballroom music.[9] The song's "Ha" on the four-beat "intertwines with ballroom's ‘dip’ element of basically falling to the ground in a dramatic or soft way."[10]