Remembering Veteran Hip-Hop Triple-Threat Paten Locke
The Hip-Hop community has had a somber week with the passing of producer Ras G on July 29, and the loss of both DJ Kaos and Paten Locke yesterday (August 5). For those not familiar with Paten, he was a full-time MC/DJ/producer who grew up in both Boston, Massachusetts as well as Chicago, Illinois, before representing Jacksonville, Florida as a professional. He was believed to be 40 years old at the time of his passing.
Locke made his first forays into the underground scene with his group Asamov in the early 2000s. The four-person crew consisted of Willie Evans Jr., Ja-One-Da, Basic, and Locke, who initially went by the alias DJ Therapy. After legal issues with science fiction writer Isaac Asimov’s estate, the posse changed their name to The AB’s (Alias Brothers) around 2006.
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Next, Therapy started a Funk/Hip-Hop group called The Smile Rays with producer Batsauce and his wife, vocalist Lady Daisey. Their debut album, Smilin’ On You, was part of “the Rawkus 50,” which was a Rawkus Records campaign in which the label digitally released 50 underground Hip-Hop projects in 2007. His work with the husband and wife team lead into his first solo outing, Super Ramen Rocketship, that dropped on Tres Record in 2009. From there he hooked up with Dillon Maurer and entirely produced his debut offering Studies In Hunger, featuring De La Soul affiliate Supa Dave West.
The two then started the Full Plate label together in 2013 and released their own projects, including a collaboration with Diamond D that was featured in Ambrosia For Heads‘ “Ready Or Not” section. Releases from Willie Evans, Jr. and Batsauce are also part of the imprint’s discography. Additionally, “Planet Locke” also participated in a side group with renaissance man Jay Myztroh called Stono Echo, as well as Dumbtron, a second group with Evans.
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P. Locke was well known for his love of vinyl and his collaborative spirit. He worked with Dres, Jarobi White, The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif and Akrobatik), and Edan, among others. Locke recently produced a song on Reef The Lost Cauze’s 2018 LP, The Majestic. The triple-threat was also part of a movement that includes a handful of artists Stateside and across the Atlantic in the UK such as Dillon, Mac McRaw, Paul Nice, Phill Most Chill, Oxygen, DJ Format, and more.
It was made public knowledge that Paten had Stage 4 cancer on July 16, 2019, when a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help pay his medical bills. Paten is survived by his parents, Ron and Cheryl Locke, his sister Inala, his fiancé Shannon, and his daughter Asha.
Ambrosia For Heads extends condolences to the family and friends of Paten Locke.
