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Matt Dike
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Matt Dike
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Matthew William Dike (December 2, 1961 – January 16, 2018) was an American music executive, record producer, and DJ. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Delicious Vinyl in 1987. In the 1980s, Dike was artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's studio assistant and he worked on the Beastie Boys album Paul's Boutique (1989). He co-wrote and produced the song "Bust A Move" (1989) by Young MC, and co-produced "Smart Girls" (1991) by Brian Wilson.

Life and career

[edit]

Matt Dike was born on December 2, 1961, in Suffern, New York to Tanya Kulikoff, a homemaker, and Constant Dike, a general contractor.[1] His family moved to Tuxedo Park, New York, where he attended high school.[1] While a junior in high school, Dike began DJing at New York University's Weinstein Dormitory.[2] After graduating from high school, Dike spent a year in London before relocating to Belmont Shores, California.[3]

Dike was Jean-Michel Basquiat's studio assistant for four years during Basquiat's intermittent residencies in Los Angeles. He first met Basquiat while DJing at a party at New York University in 1978.[2] In 1982, while Dike was the gallery assistant at Gagosian Gallery in West Hollywood, he befriended film director Tamra Davis, then a gallery assistant at Ulrike Kantor Gallery also in West Hollywood.[4] Dike helped stretch canvases and installed work for Basquiat's 1982 exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery.[5] When art dealer Larry Gagosian invited Basquiat to live and work at his Venice residence to prepare for his 1983 exhibition, he suggested that Dike and Davis spend time with Basquiat.[4] Dike took Basquiat and his companions Rammellzee and Toxic to Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard.[2] He also took them to the Rhythm Lounge bar on Melrose Avenue where Dike worked as doorman.[2]

While working as DJ at the Rhythm Lounge in 1983, Dike met Mike Ross. They bonded over their love of hip-hop music, which was unusual for white music fans at the time.[1] In the mid-1980s, Dike and Jon Sidel, a restaurateur and nightclub impresario, began a series of parties at temporary locations that amalgamated into the popular nightclub Power Tools.[1] Celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Andy Summers, Malcolm McLaren, and Annie Lennox were attendees at the club.[6] The Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers were among the acts that performed at Power Tools before the club closed in 1987.[6]

In 1987, Dike and Ross created the record label Delicious Vinyl and created a studio in Dike's Los Angeles apartment .[1] In 1988, The A&R director/Promo Orlando Aguillen discovered the Dust Bros at a local college radio station, Claremont cA. And once Orlando Aguillen introduced the Dust Bros. and Matt Dike, the Beastie Boys began recording their album Paul's Boutique (1989) at Dike's home studio.[2] Dike worked on the album as a member of the Dust Brothers production crew.[7][8] In 1989, Delicious Vinyl released the rap singles "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" by Tone-Loc, and "Bust A Move" by Young MC, which would all reach the top ten on Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The song "Bust a Move," produced and co-written by Dike and Ross, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1990.[9] Following the success of the label, Dike became increasingly reclusive.[1]

In 1995, Ross filed a petition in L.A. Superior Court seeking to become the provisional director for the label.[10] In his petition, Ross alleged that in 1992, Dike "began to abdicate responsibility and management" of the label. Ross claimed that despite demanding for Dike to resume his responsibilities, he failed to attend board meetings and missed other critical meetings pertaining to the label's business.[10]

Death

[edit]

On January 16, 2018, Dike died of complications of salivary gland cancer at his home in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.[1] He is survived by his brother Lane and sister Vikyana Dike.[1]

References

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Matt Dike

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Matthew William Dike (December 2, 1961 – January 16, 2018) was an American record producer, DJ, and music executive best known for co-founding the influential hip-hop label and producing seminal late-1980s rap hits that bridged underground scenes and mainstream success. Born in , to a strict Jehovah's Witness family, Dike rebelled against his upbringing by immersing himself in the New York music and art scenes during his youth, where he worked as a DJ and befriended artist . He moved to in 1980, becoming a fixture in the city's emerging underground club culture by DJing eclectic sets blending , rock, R&B, and rap, including gigs for artists like and co-founding the influential Power Tools club night. In 1987, Dike co-founded Delicious Vinyl with Mike Ross using a modest $5,000 loan, operating initially from an apartment studio he built with collaborator Mario Caldato Jr. The label quickly gained prominence through Dike's productions, including Tone Lōc's breakthrough singles "Wild Thing" (1989, No. 1 on Billboard Hot Rap Singles, over 2 million copies sold) and "Funky Cold Medina" (No. 3 on Hot 100), as well as Young MC's "Bust a Move" (No. 7 on Hot 100, platinum-certified). He also co-produced the Beastie Boys' innovative, sample-heavy album Paul's Boutique (1989) as a founding member of the Dust Brothers production team, an effort that, despite initial commercial underperformance, became a landmark in hip-hop for its genre-blending creativity and extensive sampling from Dike's vast record collection of over 40,000 items. Other notable works included productions for Pharcyde, Mellow Man Ace, and remixes for Aerosmith, alongside early contributions like co-producing the first N.W.A. diss track "Crackerjack" with Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd. Dike left in 1992 amid personal challenges and withdrew from the public eye, living reclusively in an mansion until his death from complications of salivary gland cancer at age 56. His legacy endures as a pivotal figure in 1980s Los Angeles hip-hop and club scenes, whose radio-friendly yet innovative productions helped propel the genre into the pop mainstream while influencing sampling techniques and eclectic fusions in .

Early life

Family and upbringing

Matthew William Dike was born on December 2, 1962, in . His family soon relocated to the nearby town of , where he spent much of his childhood. Dike's parents were Constant Dike, a , and Tanya Kulikoff, a homemaker. Dike grew up in a strict household, where his parents imposed rigid rules on entertainment, including unsuccessful attempts to prohibit music from bands like Led Zeppelin and . This religious environment shaped his early years but ultimately fueled his rebellion against such constraints, fostering an early interest in music and culture. He had two siblings: a brother, Lane Dike, and a sister, Vikyana Dike. During his high school years as a junior at George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo Park, Dike began DJing parties, which led to an early encounter with artist in the fall of 1978. The meeting occurred at New York University's Weinstein Dormitory, where Dike was spinning records in the basement and Basquiat, then a painting student known by his graffiti pseudonym , was in attendance. This serendipitous introduction marked the start of artistic influences that would later intersect with Dike's burgeoning career in music.

Education and early interests

Dike attended high school in , graduating in the late 1970s. While still a junior there, he began developing his interest in music by taking on early DJ gigs, including spinning records at parties in New York University's Weinstein Hall dormitory, where he honed skills in mixing and record selection that would define his career. These experiences marked his initial forays into the New York music scene, contrasting sharply with his family's strict background, which had discouraged secular entertainment like . Following high school, Dike spent about a year living in , immersing himself further in international music culture before financial constraints prompted his return. In 1980, he returned to the , settling in Belmont Shores, , where he moved in with his brother to rebuild his resources amid the vibrant West Coast creative landscape. This shift from East Coast influences to California's emerging opportunities laid the groundwork for his professional growth in music. Upon arriving in , Dike quickly engaged with the local art and music worlds, taking on the role of studio assistant to artist in the early 1980s. Their collaboration, which began through shared musical interests—stemming from an earlier encounter where Dike DJed and played songs like Joe Jackson's "Got the Time" at Basquiat's request—included support on Basquiat's projects and inspirations for works like the painting Got the Time. This period solidified Dike's transition into professional creative roles on the West Coast.

Career

Founding Delicious Vinyl and early ventures

In the mid-1980s, Matt Dike entered the music scene as a prominent DJ, leveraging his deep knowledge of hip-hop and eclectic tastes honed from his New York roots. He co-founded the Power Tools with Sidel, a and promoter, starting as underground parties in temporary venues before establishing a permanent spot at the Park Plaza Hotel in 1985. Power Tools quickly became a hub for the emerging LA underground, where Dike served as the resident DJ, spinning hip-hop, punk, and alternative tracks to diverse crowds, and hosting performances by rising acts including the and [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/page/Red Hot Chili Peppers). The venue's innovative programming helped bridge subcultures in a city where hip-hop was gaining traction amid the dominant rock and pop scenes, drawing up to 2,000 attendees on peak nights. However, by 1987, Dike and Sidel closed Power Tools, citing boredom and a desire to pursue new opportunities, marking the end of this influential chapter in LA's club history. Following the club's closure, Dike pivoted to the record industry by co-founding in 1987 with fellow DJ and partner Mike Ross, whom he had met while spinning at the Rhythm Lounge in 1983. Operating initially from Dike's apartment in with a modest $5,000 loan, the independent label focused on hip-hop and urban sounds, aiming to capture the raw energy of the city's burgeoning rap community during the 1980s. As an executive and producer, Dike emphasized artist development and innovative releases, positioning as a key player in amplifying LA's hip-hop infrastructure at a time when the genre was transitioning from East Coast dominance to West Coast innovation. This venture reflected Dike's dual role as a tastemaking DJ and savvy label head, directly responding to the local scene's need for platforms that celebrated independent, genre-blending talent.

Key productions and hits

Matt Dike's production work in the late 1980s played a pivotal role in bringing West Coast hip-hop to mainstream audiences through his collaborations on releases. He co-produced Tone Lōc's debut single "Wild Thing" in 1989, which became a breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 2 on the and selling over two million copies as one of the first rap songs to achieve such widespread commercial success. Following this success, Dike co-produced Tone Lōc's follow-up single "" later in 1989, which peaked at No. 3 on the and further solidified the artist's presence in pop culture with its infectious, narrative-driven rap style. These tracks exemplified Dike's innovative approach to production, heavily relying on eclectic sampling from , and pop sources to create layered, party-ready beats that bridged underground rap with Top 40 radio. Dike also co-wrote and co-produced Young MC's "Bust a Move" in 1989, a socially conscious yet upbeat track that reached No. 7 on the and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1990. This hit, featured on the album Stone Cold Rhymin', highlighted Dike's ability to craft accessible anthems that addressed dating and diversity, contributing to the genre's broader appeal. Beyond these singles, Dike's oversight of other Delicious Vinyl projects, such as albums by artists like and , emphasized a sample-heavy aesthetic that influenced the sound of West Coast rap, helping to popularize its laid-back grooves and witty lyricism in the national hip-hop landscape.

Collaboration with Beastie Boys

In the late 1980s, Matt Dike formed the production collective known as the with John King and Michael Simpson, initially collaborating on sample-based tracks drawn from Dike's extensive personal record collection. This trio's innovative approach to music production emerged from their shared work at , where Dike served as co-founder, blending eclectic influences into early demos that caught the attention of the . Dike and the co-produced the ' second album, (1989), a project that spanned two years of recording sessions primarily held at Dike's apartment in , with additional work at the studios. The album's creation was deeply informed by Dike's earlier connections to the group, including hosting their performances at his underground Power Tools club nights. Key elements, such as the opening sample from Idris Muhammad's "Loran’s Dance," were sourced directly from Dike's collection, highlighting his curatorial role in the process. The production on showcased a groundbreaking sample-heavy mash-up style, layering an encyclopedic array of samples from rock, , and records into dense, polyrhythmic collages that redefined hip-hop's sonic possibilities. Dike's discerning ear was in selecting and integrating these elements, contributing to the album's reputation as a landmark in multi-layered sampling techniques. Following the album's release, Dike stepped away from the , leaving King and Simpson to continue as a production duo on subsequent projects.

Death and legacy

Illness and death

After achieving significant success in the music industry during the and 1990s, Dike became increasingly reclusive, stepping back from active production and public appearances. One of his last major contributions was co-producing Wilson's "Smart Girls," a rap track recorded in 1991 for the unreleased album Sweet Insanity. Dike battled cancer. He died on January 16, 2018, at his home in the neighborhood of , , at the age of 56, due to complications from the cancer. Dike was survived by his brother, Lane Dike, and his sister, Vikyana Dike.

Influence and tributes

Matt Dike emerged as a pivotal figure in the 1980s hip-hop scene, where his work as a DJ and producer helped bridge underground club culture with emerging commercial rap. Through innovative sample-based production techniques, he influenced the genre's sonic evolution, particularly by blending eclectic elements from , and soul into hip-hop tracks. His co-founding of in 1987 with Mike Ross elevated the label's status as a cornerstone of independent rap, releasing breakthrough records that demonstrated the viability of artist-driven, sample-heavy music outside major label dominance. Dike's contributions extended to shaping hip-hop's broader cultural footprint, most notably through his collaboration on the Beastie Boys' 1989 album Paul's Boutique, where he facilitated a groundbreaking mash-up style that integrated dense sampling to create an innovative sound bridging rap with mainstream audiences. This work, alongside Delicious Vinyl hits like Young MC's "Bust a Move," exemplified his role in facilitating hip-hop's crossover appeal, paving the way for the genre's pop chart dominance in the 1990s. A forthcoming biography, Bust a Move: Matt Dike, Delicious Vinyl, and the Hip-Hop Hits that First Conquered Pop by Peter Relic, announced in 2025 and slated for June 30, 2026 publication, explores his life, including collaborations with artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as a studio assistant. As of November 2025, recent coverage has highlighted the book's cover reveal and renewed interest in Delicious Vinyl's pioneering role in hip-hop history. Following his death on January 16, 2018, at age 56, Dike received widespread posthumous recognition in major obituaries that underscored his enduring impact. The highlighted his foundational role in Delicious Vinyl's success and hip-hop's mainstream breakthrough, while Variety and pieces emphasized his production innovations and reclusive genius. Peers offered heartfelt tributes, with producer Dante Ross calling him a "brilliant cat" akin to , Jon Sidel praising his DJ prowess as that of a "savant," and Bob Forrest dubbing him the "Howard Hughes of hip-hop" for his enigmatic influence on the scene.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/obituaries/matt-dike-hit-making-founder-of-hip-hop-label-dies-at-56.html
  2. https://variety.com/2018/music/news/matt-dike-dead-dies-delicious-vinyl-1202725874/
  3. https://www.phillips.com/detail/jeanmichel-basquiat/NY010319/29
  4. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-matt-dike-appreciation-follow-20180316-story.html
  5. https://pitchfork.com/news/matt-dike-rap-producer-and-delicious-vinyl-co-founder-dead-at-55/
  6. https://www.wral.com/matt-dike-hit-making-founder-of-hip-hop-label-dies-at-56/17431193/
  7. https://www.phillips.com/article/42810482/got-the-time-matt-dike-and-jean-michel-basquiat
  8. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-hip-hop-producers-basquiat-hit-phillips
  9. http://cheekyentertainment.blogspot.com/2014/06/from-power-tools-to-lollapalooza-1985.html
  10. https://www.spin.com/2023/07/la-story-a-tribute-to-the-park-plaza-hotels-underground-music-scene/
  11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-03-ca-2389-story.html
  12. https://www.okayplayer.com/the-secret-history-of-delicious-vinyl-the-la-based-indie-label-that-birthed-some-of-the-most-iconic-rappers/695017
  13. https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/matt-dike-lessbrgreater1962-2018
  14. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1989-04-01/
  15. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1989-05-06/
  16. https://www.grammy.com/news/grammy-rewind-watch-young-mc-win-best-rap-performance-bust-a-move-new-kids-on-the-block
  17. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/young-mc/bust-a-move
  18. https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-of-bust-a-move-by-young-mc/
  19. https://kexp.org/read/2015/7/24/inside-pauls-boutique-interview-john-king-dust-brothers/
  20. https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/excerpt-beastie-boys-book-michael-diamond-adam-horovitz.html
  21. http://hiphopgoldenage.com/albums/beastie-boys-pauls-boutique-1989/
  22. https://333sound.com/the-drum-machine-that-helped-open-pauls-boutique/
  23. https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2018/03/delicious-vinyl-matt-dike-obituary/
  24. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-matt-dike-obituary-20180313-story.html
  25. https://www.discogs.com/release/18727825-Brian-Wilson-Smart-Girls-
  26. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-06-12/brian-wilsons-rap-song-smart-girls-beach-boys-hip-hop
  27. https://hiphopdx.com/news/delicious-vinyl-co-founder-matt-dike-has-died/
  28. https://www.discogs.com/artist/52972-Matt-Dike
  29. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/818161/bust-a-move-by-peter-relic/
  30. https://wastoids.com/2025/11/15/the-story-of-hip-hop-pioneers-delicious-vinyl-music-news/amp/
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