American musician
Monte Booker
Birth name Ahmanti Booker Born (1995-03-27 ) March 27, 1995 (age 29)
Chicago ,
Illinois , U.S.Genres Occupation(s) Instrument(s) Years active 2013–present Labels
Zero Fatigue
Musical artist
Ahmanti Booker (born March 27, 1995), professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from
Chicago ,
Illinois . He is part of the musical collective
Zero Fatigue , and has worked with artists such as
Smino ,
Ravyn Lenae ,
Noname ,
Saba ,
Mick Jenkins ,
Sango ,
Ari Lennox and
JID , among others.
[1]
[2]
Career
Monte Booker grew up in the
South Side of Chicago listening to artists such as
Outkast ,
Gucci Mane ,
Radiohead and
Coldplay .
[3] He started producing in 2011 with
FL Studio incorporating trap music and jazz as well as organic sounds in his music.
[4] In 2013, he met St. Louis artists
Smino , Jay2 and Bari through studio manager Chris Classick, and joined the collective
Zero Fatigue , along with
Ravyn Lenae . He also became a member of Soulection Radio and released an EP on October 23, 2015, as part of their White Label series. The song "Kolors" became a viral hit in 2020 from
TikTok streams, entering the
Spotify's Viral 50 Charts .
[5]
Booker went on to produce projects for Zero Fatigue such as
blkjuptr , Moon Shoes , Midnight Moonlight ,
blkswn ,
Noir , and MSTRGLSS .
[6] In 2016, he also worked with Chicago artists
Noname ,
Mick Jenkins , and
Saba on the albums
Telefone ,
The Healing Component , and
Bucket List Project .
In 2019, Booker was invited to
Dreamville 's recording sessions for the compilation
Revenge of the Dreamers III by
J. Cole . He produced three songs on the album, "Late Night", "Spin Move", and "Passcode".
[7] In 2020 and 2021, he has worked with other artists including
Spillage Village and
VanJess .
[8] On February 1, 2021, Booker released an instrumental mixtape titled Lil Sounds Tape .
[9]
Artistry
Monte Booker has credited producers such as
Timbaland ,
Flying Lotus ,
The Neptunes , and
Kanye West , as his major influences. Speaking about this, he said "what [they were] doing with music kind of inspired me to incorporate my influence to make it my own type of vibe."
[10]
[3] His sound has been described as percussive and organic production with "an eclectic amalgamation of Hip-Hop, R&B, and melody-heavy electronic sounds."
[11]
Discography
Extended plays
Soulection White Label: 016 (2015)
Instrumental mixtapes
Production discography
2014
Smino - Smellin Like a Re-Up - Single
00. "Smellin Like a Re-Up"
2015
Smino - S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck
[12]
01. "Ruby Red"
02. "Ballet" (featuring Bari)
03. "Raw"
Ravyn Lenae - Moon Shoes
[13]
01. "Venezuela Trains"
03. "Blossom Dearie"
04. "Recess"
05. "Free Room"
06. "Sleep Talking"
08. "Everything Above"
Monte Booker - Soulection White Label: 016
01. "Flight"
02. "Kolors" (featuring Smino)
03. "Homealone"
04. "Baby" (featuring Ravyn Lenae)
Smino -
Blkjuptr
[14]
01. "Blkjuptr"
02. "Zoom"
03. "Runnin'" (featuring Jay2)
04. "Poppa" (featuring Julian Bell)
05. "Oxygen"
Smino - Ciabatta - Single
2016
Smino - Kajun - Single
Ravyn Lenae - Alive - Single
Noname -
Telefone
[15]
02. "Sunny Duet" (with theMIND) (produced with
Cam O'bi )
Mick Jenkins -
The Healing Component
[16]
14. "Angles" (featuring Xavier Omär & Noname) (produced with Cam O'bi & THEMpeople)
Saba -
Bucket List Project
[17]
12. "California" (featuring Ravyn Lenae & Phoelix) (produced with Phoelix & Daoud)
2017
Ravyn Lenae - Midnight Moonlight
[18]
02. "Unknown"
03. "Spice'" (solo or remix with Smino)
04. "Hiatus (Interlude)"
05. "Oxygen"
06. "Sleep Talking"
Sango - De Mim, Pra Você
Smino -
Blkswn
[19]
01. "Wild Irish Roses"
02. "Maraca"
03. "Glass Flows"
04. "Flea Flicka" (featuring Bari)
05. "Spit Shine"
06. "Netflix & Dusse"
07. "Anita"
08. "Lobby Kall"
09. "Edgar Allen Poe'd Up" (featuring theMIND)
11. "B Role"
12. "Blkoscars" (featuring Jay2)
14. "Long Run" (featuring Via Rosa) (produced with Phoelix)
15. "Innamission"
16. "Silk Pillows" (featuring Akenya) (produced with THEMpeople)
17. "Ricky Millions" (featuring Drea Smith) (produced with J. Bird)
18. "Amphetamine" (featuring Bari, Jean Deaux & Noname) (produced with Phoelix & J.Robb)
Roseangelica - Butta - Single
Bari - Protein - Single
Hoosier Scott - Shade Spectrum
Didi Park - Neon Bandages
06. "B&W Movies are Voodoo" (produced with JNTHN STEIN)
08. "Method Acting"
Zero Fatigue - Manegos - Single
[20]
00. "Manegos" (featuring Bari, Smino, and Jay2)
Monte Booker - KOMPANY - Single
00. "KOMPANY" (featuring Phoelix & Smino)
2018
Phoelix - TEMPO
14. "Taranphoeno" (featuring Smino and Jean Deaux) (produced with Phoelix)
KYLE - Light of Mine
Smino -
NØIR
[21]
03. "Klink"
05. "Spinz"
06. "Summer Salt" (featuring Bari)
07. "Z4L" (featuring Bari & Jay2)
08. "Merlot"
09. "We Got The Biscuits"
12. "Low Down Derrty Blues"
13. "Fenty Sex" (featuring Dreezy)
14. "Bam 2x"
18. "Verizon" (produced with Da-P)
Bari - The Prefix
01. "Tortas"
02. "Glacier"
03. "Intrigue" (featuring Smino)
Zara Bash - Heaven on Earth
05. "Bad4Me" (featuring Ty Safari)
2019
Young Pink - MSTRGLSS
01. "Ooze"
04. "Relax"
05. "Ice Cup"
06. "Eya"
08. "Luhbish"
10. "Caress"
11. "Fluid"
12. "Joi"
13. "Stamina"
Ash Jetson - 814CK.HO13
Monte Booker - Interstellar - Single
00. "Interstellar" (featuring Bari)
Jay2 - 4 Tha Wait
01. "Are You OK?"
02. "Pomegranate"
04. "Dork" (featuring Smino)
05. "Dropped"
07. "Shoppin'"
MFnMelo - What a Life - Single
00. What a Life (featuring Saba)
MFnMelo- Everybody Eats
04. "Flow Seats"
09. "Notice"
10. "What a Life" (featuring Saba)
ICECOLDBISHOP - Creep - Single
00. Creep (featuring Mick Jenkins) (produced with Naz)
Smino - High 4 Da Highladays
01. "Sleigh" (featuring Monte Booker &
Masego ) (produced with Masego)
2020
Dreamville -
Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut
[22]
Ravyn Lenae -
Insecure: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 4
09. "Rewind" (produced with Phoelix)
Hansel Mac - Limbo
01. "Mario" (featuring Saiki Music & Zagor)
Smino -
Madden NFL 21
[23]
14. "Backstage Pass" (with Monte Booker and
The Drums )
Spillage Village -
Spilligion
[24]
06. "Judas" (with
JID featuring Ari Lennox, Buddy,
Chance the Rapper and Masego) (additional production from Mesita)
Femdot - Buy One, Get One Free Vol. 1
01. "Lifetime" (featuring Saba)
Bari - Fuck It... Burn It All Down
13. "One Night"
15. "Heart Is Valuable"
Plvto - Hangout 4
Florence The Infinite - This Ain't That
00. "This Ain't That" (featuring Bunge)
Lord Red - Tired
2021
Monte Booker - Lil Sounds Tape
01. "Maple"
02. "Stay"
03. "Feels Good"
04. "Astro"
05. "Shordie"
06. "I Been Rollin" (produced with Phoelix)
07. "Transition"
08. "I Luv U All"
09. "FM"
VanJess - Homegrown
[25]
03. "Roses" (produced with Da-P)
Jay2 - Send Heartss
Symphani Soto - Energy - Single
reggie - Ain't Gon Stop Me - Single
[26]
Felly - Everybody Loves You - Single
Vince Staples -
Vince Staples
05. "Taking Trips" (produced with Kenny Beats)
Pink Siifu -
Gumbo'!
15. "Voicemails Uptown" (featuring Monte Booker, Turich Benjy, Lance Skiiiwalker, JayBee Lamahj, VCR & Nelson Bandela)
Shane Eagle - Skydream - Single
Maxo Kream - Weight of the World
07. "Don't Play With Shawty Ass" (produced with Naz)
11. "Whole Lotta" (produced with Teej)
16. "Believe" (featuring
Don Toliver ) (produced with Smino)
Mick Jenkins -
Elephant In the Room
09. "Truffles" (produced with Renzell)
2022
Saba -
Few Good Things
08. "A Simpler Time" (featuring
Mereba ) (produced with Daoud & Jacob Rochester)
JayBaby TheGreaty - Orange Belt
Ravyn Lenae -
Hypnos
02. "Venom"
08. "Higher"
09. "3D" (featuring
Smino ) (produced with Phoelix)
10. "Satellites" (produced with Luke Titus &
Steve Lacy )
11. "Lullabye"
JID -
The Forever Story
Pandi - #Batposting
Mavi - Laughing So Hard It Hurts
03. “Baking Soda” (produced with Amarahbeats)
12. “Trip” (featuring Amindi) (produced with AmarahBeats)
Smino - Luv 4 Rent
01. “4rm Da Source”
02. “No L’s” (produced with Karl Banx)
03. “90 Proof” (featuring
J. Cole ) (produced with Groove)
04. “Pro Freak” (featuring
Doechii &
Fatman Scoop ) (produced with
Childish Major , Phoelix,
DJ Dahi & Nami)
05. "Ole Ass Kendrick" (produced with prodxvzn)
06. “Louphoria” (featuring Cruza) (produced with Adam Sylvester, AJ Thomas & AmarahBeats)
07. “Blu Billy”
09. “Modennaminute” (featuring
Lucky Daye & Phoelix) (produced with Phoelix)
11. “Garden Lady” (produced with Smino, Sucuki & Phoelix)
12. “Settle Down” (featuring
Cory Henry &
Ravyn Lenae ) (produced with Charlie Myles)
14. “Curtains” (produced with Cory Henry)
Tours
Headlining
European Tour (with
Smino ) (2016)
Europe Tour (2017)
Kouple Drillz Tour (with Smino) (2018)
North America Tour (with Soulection) (2018)
Supporting
ITCO Tour (with
Sango ) (2018)
References
^ Terry, Josh (7 August 2016).
"Interview: How St. Louis rapper Smino found his path in Chicago" . Chicago Tribune .
^ Mahadevan, Tara.
"Chicago's Zero Fatigue Collective Comes to St. Louis for the Biggest Vibes Showcase Yet" . River Front Times .
^
a
b Brinkley, Vanice (4 January 2019).
"Monte Booker's Hip-Hop & Soul Productions Are Based in Found Sound" . Bandcamp .
^ Drake, David (4 February 2016).
"Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries" . Pitchfork .
^
"Monte Booker's 2015 Smino Collaboration "Kolors" Is Experiencing A TikTok-Fueled Resurgence" . Genius .
^
"Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries" . Pitchfork . 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2018 .
^ Chesman, Donna-Claire (25 February 2019).
"Monte Booker Only Loves Music—Fame Is Second" . DJBooth .
^
"Spillage Village Returns With Their Fourth Compilation Album 'Spilligion' " . OkayPlayer . 25 September 2020.
^ Miller, Austin (2 February 2021).
"Monte Booker Lays Down Masterful Beats On New Mixtape, 'lil sounds tape' " . This Song is Sick .
^
"Why Monte Booker matters: A look into the future of Chicago's sound" . Kulture Hub . 17 September 2017.
^
" "Not no Fame Shit, None of That": An Interview with Smino & Monte" . PassionWeiss . 13 September 2016.
^
"Premiere: Listen to Smino's 'S!CK S!CK S!CK' EP" . Complex .
^
"EP: RAVYN LENAE - MOON SHOES" . The Le Sigh .
^ Galil, Leor (16 December 2015).
"Smino is one of the best up-and-coming rappers in Chicago's underground scene" . Chicago Reader .
^
"The Making of Noname's 'Telefone' " . Complex .
^ Lilah, Rose (August 26, 2016).
"Mick Jenkins Reveals Tracklist For "The Healing Component" " . Hotnewhiphop.com .
^
"Saba – Bucket List Project" .
Consequence of Sound . 28 October 2016.
^
"Ravyn Lenae: Midnight Moonlight EP Album Review" . Pitchfork .
^ Tanzer, Myles (March 8, 2017).
"Smino Announces Debut Album 'blkswn' " . The Fader .
^
"Zero Fatigue Releases Posse Track "Manegos" Following 'Swanita' Tour" . Vibe . 6 June 2017.
^
"Smino Announces "NØIR" Tracklist Featuring Bari, Jay2, Valee & More" . HotNewHipHop . 7 November 2018.
^
"Dreamville Unveil 'Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut': Stream It Now" . Billboard . 17 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020 .
^
"Backstage Pass - Single by Smino, Monte Booker & The Drums on Apple Music" . 14 August 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via
Apple Music .
^
"Spillage Village drop new album, Spilligion" . The Fader .
^
"VanJess Perfected Their Own R&B Sound on the 'Homegrown' EP" . OkayPlayer . 5 February 2021.
^
"reggie Drops New Song "Ain't Gon Stop Me": Stream" . Consequence of Sound . 17 March 2021.