Cosmo Baker  New York, United States

The driving force of the artist is the intrinsic connection to the art, no more and no less. The state of there being a natural compulsion to share what is so deeply woven to one's character and soul with the world. The audience reacts to the art and the energy, and it becomes a symbiotic relationship between the artist and those processing it. No more is this the case than with Cosmo Baker. With him, the experience is part history lesson, part spiritual revival, and part roof-raising house party.

Philosophy

Cosmo Baker is widely known as the ultimate “DJs DJ" - a tastemaker, a visionary, and most importantly a world-renowned party rocker. This East-Coaster truly embodies the very soul – both musically and otherwise – of his native Philadelphia. As a child he was surrounded in a household where the arts were a tremendous focus, and at an early age he was exposed to everything from rock and soul, to jazz, folk and classical music. But it was hip-hop that spoke to him like no other, and set him on the path to become the legendary DJ that he is. Armed with an encyclopedia-like knowledge and collection of music, classical training and a passionate drive, Cosmo sought to make his mark and express the way that he perceived the music within him. With his roots firmly planted in hip-hop, Cosmo developed a style of mixing music of different genres seamlessly to create a "bigger picture. As a DJ, Cosmo's musical knowledge crosses over to his approach to spinning. He sees each DJ set as a movement - much like a piece of classical music - that takes the listener on a journey from point A to point B. With this outlook of connecting the dots, the “everything but the kitchen sink” philosophy rings true here, leading to influencing a whole school of DJs in the early 2000s in Philadelphia, including Diplo and Low Budget of Hollertronix. In a sense, he is a godfather of the movement. And this philosophy not only applies to his genre-hopping, critically acclaimed mixes but to his live performances as well.

As a DJ, his performances are exactly that – A LIVE PERFORMANCE. Cosmo brings an energy behind the decks that is unmatched, and is felt and reciprocated by his audiences. He’s a true showman, and whether it’s raw hip-hop, reggae, house & electronic, disco, funk, soul or rock music that he’s playing, he makes you love it, and makes you feel it like you didn’t even think you could. His musical styles are as diverse as the imagination. Seamless blends, razor-sharp cuts, and the most impeccable selection are all part of the concoction. But on top of that, he has an ability to read a crowd like no other. He’s always in sync with his audience, one step ahead of the times, and his finger is always on the pulse. He has amazed crowds with his electrifying DJ sets in places such as New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Barcelona, Cancun, Toronto, Vancouver, Tel Aviv, Bangkok and more. And don’t be surprised if you find him grabbing the microphone to drop some verses, or to sing and dance and do a James Brown routine. It’s all just part of his incredible show.

History

Cosmo conquered the Philadelphia nightlife scene before he was even 21, and under the tutelage of King Britt, learned the ropes of how to engage a crowd. Along with contemporaries such as ?uestlove and Rich Medina, both of whom he shared now legendary residencies with, he helped enrich the Philly musical environment. Cosmo then relocated and planted his roots in his current home of Brooklyn, NY, and helped launch yet another legendary musical institution, The Rub. They have taken their DJing crew to new heights, making The Rub one of the world's most sought after crew of DJs, pushing boundaries and always educating while entertaining. And that's the thing with Cosmo. He always lets his passion for music take him to new places, inspiring his fellow DJs and the people that come out to listen to him. Whether he's spinning for an intimate group of 50 or an audience of thousands, he always knows what song will engage and, of course, move the crowd.

Music

The same passion, energy and philosophy that Cosmo has with his DJing is brought to his original productions and music. Cosmo has a string of critically acclaimed CDs. They include the legendary Love Break series that touches on classic soul slow jams, his Raphael Saadiq mix that came out in conjunction with Saadiq’s “The Way I See It” album, the groundbreaking “XXXPlosive” mix CD done with Pase Rock and Spankrock, the Rub “It’s The Motherf**king Remix” Volumes 1 through 3, and of course the Scion “Award Tour” mix that he did with his Rub partner DJ Ayres – which shipped 500,000 copies, essentially going gold. On top of his mixes are his original productions, remixing artists like 50 Cent, Janet Jackson, Prince, The Notorious B.I.G. and Moby. And in 2009, Cosmo teamed up with his friend 4th Pyramid to create the new funk/hip-hop super group “Sheen Bros.” This funky dance project will take your heads to places that you’ve never been before with a revolutionary amalgamation of sweaty funk sounds, drippy disco beats with an old-school hip-hop mentality. With two teaser mixes in the bag and an EP and LP set to drop in 2010, this is bound to wreck your body and say turn the party out.

And that’s the thing with Cosmo – his main motivation from the beginning has always been about having fun, being creative, and sharing that all with people who share the same sentiment. That’s what it’s all about, with both his productions and his DJing. He’s the consummate professional, a DJ that will go toe to toe with the biggest names in the game, always bringing his “A Game,” an artist who converts a regular night at the club into a legendary and unforgettable experience. That’s just him doing what he does best, and what comes natural to him. That’s Cosmo Baker.