Egyptian Lover

The Egyptian Lover
Egyptian Lover (left) performing at Moogfest, 25 April 2014.
Egyptian Lover (left) performing at Moogfest, 25 April 2014.
Background information
Birth nameGregory James Broussard[1][2]
Born (1963-08-31) August 31, 1963 (age 61)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • vocalist
  • producer
  • DJ
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • synthesizer
  • TR 808
Years active1983–present
LabelsEgyptian Empire
A concert ticket from a 1987 Egyptian Lover performance in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Gregory James Broussard (born August 31, 1963), better known by his stage name Egyptian Lover, is an American musician, vocalist, producer and DJ, and was a part of the L.A. dance music, electro, and rap scene in the early 1980s.[3]

History

The Egyptian Lover was born in Los Angeles, California, and started out there as a DJ with Uncle Jamm's Army, DJing dances as large as the L.A. Sports Arena with 10,000 people.[4] He began recording around Los Angeles in 1982 as a member of the Radio Crew, as well as Uncle Jamm's Army. Members of Uncle Jamm's Army and the World Class Wreckin' Cru, including Dr. Dre, The Unknown DJ, Egyptian Lover, Ice-T and Kid Frost would later go on to help define the early West Coast Hip-Hop sound throughout the 1980s.

Most of the Egyptian Lover's successful recordings were 12" singles. "Egypt, Egypt" was one of the most popular, which was called part of the "b-boy canon."[4] He eventually released some of the earliest rap LPs, but they were less popular commercially than his singles. On the strength of an alternative mix of his most popular single "Egypt, Egypt", 1984's On the Nile was moderately successful, reaching the Billboard Top 200. It was called "one of the first hip-hop records to come out of the left coast".[5] He also collaborated with several other hip-hop and dance music artists. After a break in the early 1990s, Egyptian Lover returned in 1994 with Back from the Tomb, his first full-length album in over ten years.

The Egyptian Lover also established his own record company, Egyptian Empire Records, which included artists such as Rodney O & Joe Cooley, 2 O'Clock & Te & Joezee.

His 2015 release, 1984, continues his tradition of using all analog equipment, including the Roland TR-808, along with much of the same gear used on his recordings of the 1980s. The name "1984" refers to his earlier albums. The album was recorded at Skip Saylor, Encore Studios, and at RUSK Studios, the same studio where On The Nile was recorded in 1984. It is widely available on double gatefold LP, CD and cassette tape.

2000s

  • 2005 – New single "Party", backed with "Dancefloor"
  • February 2006 – Platinum Pyramids was released
  • End of 2006 – Recorded "UFO" and "Futuristic" with Jamie Jupiter for Jupiter's new 12" single (never released)
  • 2007 – Remade "Modernaire" by Dez Dickerson (from the film Purple Rain) for the label Citinite
  • 2007 – Collaborated with Clone Machine and Egypt Ear Werk
  • December 2008 – Released exclusive songs on iTunes: "Electro Pharaoh", "Freaky D.J.", and "Scandinavian Summer"
  • 2008 – Joined Who Cares on the song "They Killed the Radio"
  • 2008 – Worked with Jamie Jones on the song "Galactic Space Bar"
  • 2008 – Worked with M.I.A. on "Rock off Shake off" for new artist Rye Rye
  • May 2009 – Collaborated with Debonaire on "Do U Wanna Get Down?" for a new Street Sounds compilation
  • May 2009 – New video "Freaky D.J." with producer/director Victor Brooks a.k.a. Who007
  • 2009 – New album that included songs "Electro Pharaoh", "U.F.O.", "Freaky D.J.", "BellyDance", "Scandinavian Summer", and "Do U Wanna Get Down?"
  • June 2009 – Remix of James Pants's Cosmic Rapp was released
  • 2011 – work on new album entitled 1984 begins
  • 2014 – Collaborated with Dye on the song "She's Bad"
  • 2015 – 1984 released

Touring

The Egyptian Lover began touring again in 2004 throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. His performances often begin with mixing records on turntables before segueing into his original compositions.[6]

In 2008, he supported M.I.A. in her People vs. Money Tour.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Chart positions
US
[8] 		US
R&B
[9]
1984 On the Nile 146 44
1986 One Track Mind – 37
1988 Filthy – 99
1989 King of Ecstasy – –
1990 Get Into It – 72
1993 Pyramix – –
1994 Back from the Tomb – –
1998 Get Into It – –
2006 Platinum Pyramids – –
2015 1984 – –
2018 1985 – –
2021 1986 – –

EPs

  • 1984 – "Egypt, Egypt EP"
  • 2009 – "Electro Pharaoh"
  • 2009 – "James Pants Meets Egyptian Lover" (split 12" with James Pants)

Compilation albums

Charted singles

Year Title Chart positions
US
Dance
[10] 		US
R&B
[11]
1984 "Egypt, Egypt" – 67
1987 "The Lover" – 50
"Freakaholic" 43 52

References

  1. ^ "Gregory J Broussard". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gregory James Broussard". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Ohanesian, Liz (2015-10-26). "Egyptian Lover Helped Invent '80s Electro — Now He's Bringing It Back". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  4. ^ a b Bell, Max. "A Freak Is a Freak, and Egyptian Lover Is an Icon", Noisey, 13 April 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  5. ^ Red Bull Music Academy https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/egyptian-lover-lecture
  6. ^ Lover, Egyptian (May 23, 2013). "Egyptian Lover Lecture". Red Bull Music Academy (Interview). Interviewed by Andrew Nosnitsky. New York: Red Bull.
  7. ^ Murphy, Tom (2008-05-19). "Over the Weekend...M.I.A., the Egyptian Love, and Low B at The Fillmore". Westword. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  8. ^ "Egyptian Lover: Album 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Egyptian Lover: Album R&B". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Egyptian Lover: Dance". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Egyptian Lover: R&B". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2020.