Ced-Gee
Cedric "Ced-Gee" Miller (born August 13, 1963) is an American hip-hop producer, rapper, and DJ from the Bronx, New York, renowned for his pioneering use of drum machines and sampling in the genre's golden age.[1] As a founding member of the influential group Ultramagnetic MCs alongside Kool Keith in 1984, Ced-Gee served as the primary producer, shaping the group's futuristic sound through innovative techniques on the E-mu SP-1200 sampler, which he mastered under mentor Keyboard Money Mike.[1][2] His work helped evolve hip-hop production by treating the sampler as a creative instrument rather than a mere rhythm tool, influencing countless artists with twisted funk samples and complex beats.[2] Raised in a musical family in the Bronx during hip-hop's formative years, Ced-Gee began his career as a DJ before transitioning to production, drawing influences from R&B, early hip-hop pioneers like Paul C, and the vibrant Bronx scene featuring acts such as Cold Crush Brothers and Treacherous Three.[1] With Ultramagnetic MCs, he co-produced their breakthrough debut album Critical Beatdown (1988) on Next Plateau Records, which he helped secure for the group, featuring standout tracks like "Ego Trippin'" that showcased abstract lyricism and experimental beats.[1][2] The group, completed by MCs TR Love and Kool Keith plus DJ Moe Love, released subsequent albums including Funk Your Head Up (1992) and The Four Horsemen (1993), cementing their status as rap evolutionaries during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1][3] Beyond Ultramagnetic MCs, Ced-Gee has produced for notable artists such as Tim Dog on the controversial track "Fuck Compton" (1991), as well as Nas, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Doug E. Fresh, earning global recognition for his crisp drum programming and creative sample flips.[1] In recent years, he has continued his legacy through solo instrumentals, collaborations like the 2022 project Ced Gee X Kool Keith, and his current group The Factshen with Doug E. Fresh, EZAD, and Spaceman Patterson, while reflecting on hip-hop's origins in interviews.[1][4][2]Early life
Upbringing in the Bronx
Cedric Miller, professionally known as Ced-Gee, was born on August 13, 1963, in the Bronx, New York.[1] Of African American descent, he was raised in a musical family in the West Bronx during the 1970s and early 1980s, a period marked by urban challenges including widespread fires that devastated the borough.[1][5] His cousin, Moe Luv, later became the DJ for Ultramagnetic MCs, reflecting the familial ties to music that influenced his early environment.[1] Growing up on University Avenue in a family-oriented community divided between Black and Italian residents, Ced-Gee experienced the shifting demographics of the West Bronx as the Italian population declined.[5] By eighth grade, his family had relocated to the Claremont Projects, amid the era's economic hardships and social upheaval.[5] Around fifth grade, his building was one of many consumed by the notorious Bronx fires, underscoring the precarious conditions of his formative years.[5] Details on his formal education remain limited, though he left school at age 19 to pursue creative endeavors.[1] The street culture of the West Bronx profoundly shaped Ced-Gee's worldview, immersing him in the raw energy of local gatherings and the burgeoning sounds of the neighborhood.[5] He frequently snuck out with his brothers to attend block parties and events, witnessing the early evolution of what would become hip hop culture through DJ sets and b-boy battles.[5] These experiences at venues like Junior High School 82, where DJ Kool Herc performed, exposed him to the foundational elements of the scene—music blasting from sound systems and the vibrant, improvisational spirit of the streets—fostering an innate interest in rhythm and performance long before his active involvement.[5]Introduction to hip hop
Ced-Gee, born Cedric Miller in 1963, began his music career in 1984 by experimenting with production equipment, including early drum machines, which marked his transition from DJing to beat-making in the vibrant Bronx hip hop scene.[1] Growing up in the West Bronx provided a cultural foundation steeped in the genre's origins, where he honed his skills as both a rapper and producer amid the underground parties and block sessions that defined early 1980s New York hip hop.[2] His innovative approach to rhythm programming quickly set him apart, as he became one of the first in his neighborhood to acquire and master sampling drum machines like the E-mu SP-12, laying the groundwork for his signature sound.[6] A pivotal aspect of Ced-Gee's early development was his longstanding friendship with Kool Keith (Keith Thornton), whom he met during high school in the Bronx.[1] This bond led to informal collaborations in the mid-1980s, where they exchanged ideas on rhymes and production techniques before any formal group commitments, often working alongside Keith's cousin Moe Love on beats and scratches.[2] These sessions in local studios and apartments allowed Ced-Gee to refine his dual role as MC and producer, drawing from the raw energy of Bronx cyphers and tape-trading circles.[1] By the mid-1980s, Ced-Gee had produced his first demos, including the 1985 single "To Give You Love" backed with "Make You Shake" for the independent Diamond International label, which showcased his emerging rock-infused hip hop style.[1] Several unreleased tracks from this period, captured during basement sessions between 1984 and 1986, later surfaced on compilations like The Basement Tapes (1984-1990), highlighting his experimental flows and rudimentary sampling experiments that foreshadowed his later innovations.[7]Career with Ultramagnetic MCs
Group formation and debut
The Ultramagnetic MCs were founded in 1984 in the Bronx, New York, initially brought together by Roonie Roon, who connected schoolmates Kool Keith and Ced-Gee, with DJ Moe Love joining as Ced-Gee's cousin and TR Love added later to round out the core lineup.[8][9] The group emerged from earlier, less successful collectives involving members like the Hardcore Brothers, where challenges in cohesion and performance led to their unification under the Ultramagnetic banner.[9] Ced-Gee served as the primary producer, leveraging his expertise with the E-mu SP-1200 sampler—then a cutting-edge tool he was among the first in the Bronx to master—to craft the group's innovative sound through chopped funk samples and experimental beats.[8][2] This production approach defined their early demos and singles, such as the 1986 breakthrough "Ego Trippin'" on Next Plateau Records, which showcased their unorthodox style and helped secure a deal after DJ Red Alert's endorsement.[8] The group's debut album, Critical Beatdown, was released on October 4, 1988, by Next Plateau Records, marking their full entry into the hip-hop scene with tracks like the opener "Watch Me Now," where Kool Keith and Ced-Gee delivered rapid-fire, futuristic rhymes over Ced-Gee's layered production.[10][2] Early hurdles included internal dynamics as members navigated distinct roles—Ced-Gee on beats, TR Love and Moe Love sourcing records—and label frustrations, as Next Plateau's emphasis on acts like Salt-N-Pepa diverted resources, leading to contract disputes that prompted their eventual departure after the album.[8][9]Key albums and contributions
Following the success of their debut album Critical Beatdown, Ced-Gee continued to shape Ultramagnetic MCs' sound as both rapper and primary producer on subsequent releases.[2] On the group's second album, Funk Your Head Up (1992), Ced-Gee handled production duties on key tracks such as "Message from the Boss," "Make It Happen," "Poppa Large," and "Chorus Line Pt. 2," while co-producing "Go 4 Yourz."[11] These contributions featured experimental, funk-driven beats that incorporated heavy sampling and rhythmic innovation, marking a shift toward more groove-oriented hip-hop.[2] However, the album was plagued by group tensions and label interference from Mercury Records, which remixed several tracks without the group's full approval, leading to Ced-Gee's later expressed dissatisfaction with the final product.[12] Despite this, Ced-Gee also contributed raps throughout, including on the standout single "Poppa Large," where he co-wrote the lyrics.[11] The following year, The Four Horsemen (1993) saw Ced-Gee reclaim creative control, handling most of the production alongside the group and engineering several sessions.[13] Track credits highlight his involvement in writing and producing cuts like "Checkin' My Style" and "Raise It Up," with the album evolving stylistically toward a jazz-infused boom bap sound, featuring swirling, intense beats and denser lyrical interplay between Ced-Gee and Kool Keith.[14][15] This release reflected a maturation in the group's approach, emphasizing live instrumentation and complex rhyme schemes over the raw futurism of earlier work.[16] Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, lineup changes affected Ultramagnetic MCs, including a temporary disbandment around 1990 and the addition of hype man Big D in 1988, but Ced-Gee maintained consistent production leadership across the group's output.[2] Reunions and compilations like The Best Kept Secret (2007) showcased his enduring influence, with Ced-Gee producing tracks such as "The Plaques," "Porno Star Part 2," and "Ain’t It Good 2 U," employing chopped and rearranged sampling techniques to blend old-school throwbacks with futuristic elements.[17][18] These efforts underscored his role in preserving the group's innovative sound amid evolving rosters.[19]Production work
Collaboration with Boogie Down Productions
Ced-Gee served as an uncredited co-producer on Boogie Down Productions' landmark 1987 debut album Criminal Minded, handling the majority of the tracks while excluding "Criminal Minded," "South Bronx," "9mm Goes Bang," and "Elementary." His involvement marked one of his earliest major external production credits outside Ultramagnetic MCs, leveraging skills honed in his group's formative sessions.[6][20] The collaboration originated from Ced-Gee's longstanding Bronx neighborhood ties with Scott La Rock, whom he regarded as a big brother figure from childhood. Studio sessions took place primarily at Ced-Gee's own setup in the Bronx, where he guided La Rock on mastering the Emu SP-12 sampler and collaborated closely with KRS-One—whom La Rock had scouted from the local Celebrity 3 crew—for record selection and beat construction. KRS-One contributed vinyl sources for sampling, fostering a hands-on, communal workflow that emphasized raw energy and street authenticity.[6][20] Ced-Gee's production innovations centered on drum programming and sampling techniques that pushed the boundaries of the era's technology, particularly by chopping and rearranging short audio snippets to create seamless, full-sounding loops despite the SP-12's 1.2-second sampling constraint—a method that contrasted with the prevalent straight-looping approach and anticipated broader trends in hip-hop production. This approach infused Criminal Minded with a gritty, percussive edge that became emblematic of the East Coast sound, influencing subsequent artists through its emphasis on rhythmic complexity and sonic aggression.[6][20] Despite his substantial contributions, Ced-Gee received only a "special thanks" acknowledgment in the album credits, which he later attributed to internal decisions that denied him formal co-producer status and royalties. This project nonetheless elevated his profile as a versatile producer capable of shaping iconic works beyond his primary group, solidifying his influence in the burgeoning New York hip-hop scene.[20]Productions for other artists
One of Ced-Gee's notable production contributions outside his core affiliations was his work on Tim Dog's debut album Penicillin on Wax, released in 1991 on Ruffhouse/Columbia Records. He co-produced several tracks, including the controversial single "Fuck Compton," which directly targeted West Coast rap acts like N.W.A. amid the East Coast-West Coast tensions of the era, using hard-hitting drum patterns and sparse samples characteristic of his style.[21][22] Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ced-Gee provided production for various hip hop and R&B artists, often incorporating his signature E-mu SP-1200 sampler for gritty, innovative beats. He co-produced tracks on Antoinette's 1989 debut album Who's the Boss? on Next Plateau Records, including "Here She Comes," blending tough rhymes with layered percussion to support the rapper's assertive delivery.[1][23] Similarly, he handled production on Sybil's 1989 house track "Bad Beats Suite," remixing elements from Leon Ware's "I Wanna Be Where You Are" into a funky, dance-oriented groove for EMI Manhattan Records.[24] In 1987, he co-produced selections from Tuff Crew's Phanjam on Soo Deff Records, contributing SP-1200-driven beats to tracks like "Kick the Ball" that highlighted Philadelphia's emerging hardcore sound.[25] He also produced tracks for artists including Nas and Prodigy of Mobb Deep, as well as Doug E. Fresh on "Spirit."[1] In the mid-1990s, Ced-Gee focused on underground projects, delivering full production for Detroit group MF911's 1993 album Idol the Bloodsport on Next Plateau Records, where his SP-1200 beats underpinned raw, lyrical content across tracks like "The Menu" and "Shots Cold Gunning," earning praise for its timeless, uncompromising hip hop aesthetic.[26][27] He also contributed beats to Tuff City releases during this period, including demos and remixes that showcased his enduring drum machine techniques, such as the Ced-Gee Remix of The 45 King's "The 900 Number" in 1991.[28] Ced-Gee's production output became more sporadic in the 2000s, but he maintained his distinctive style in select collaborations. In 2009, he co-handled audio production on Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency for Turtlehead Records, working alongside William "Spaceman" Patterson to craft beats for socially conscious rap tracks featuring artists like SupaNova Slom and Jace the Great.[29]Solo career
Early solo releases
Ced-Gee ventured into solo territory in 1998 with the release of his debut single "Long Gev / The Impossible" on 3-2-1 Records, a 12-inch vinyl that represented his first independent output following Ultramagnetic MCs' hiatus after their 1993 album The Four Horsemen.[30] Self-produced by Ced-Gee, the record featured him on lead vocals alongside Woozie Wooz, while the B-side "The Impossible" included contributions from Doug E. Fresh. This release marked a pivotal shift to solo work during the group's downtime, allowing Ced-Gee to apply his production expertise independently.[31] The single's limited distribution through the small 3-2-1 label resulted in modest promotion, confining its reach primarily to underground hip-hop circles in the late 1990s.[32] Despite this, it garnered attention in industry publications such as CMJ, which listed the release.[31] Tracks like "Long Gev" explored themes rooted in Bronx street experiences, with Ced-Gee's dense, futuristic production style experimenting with layered samples and rhythms that echoed his earlier group innovations.[33] The single's underground reception underscored Ced-Gee's enduring influence during this transitional period, though its scarcity has since made it a sought-after collector's item among hip-hop enthusiasts.[34]Later projects and appearances
In 2004, Ced-Gee released his solo EP The Underground Show on the independent label The Factshen, a self-produced project featuring original tracks such as "Duress" and "Rhyming Psycho" with guest rapper Marq Spekts, alongside "You'll Never Find" featuring Woozie Wooz.[35] The EP also incorporated unreleased demos from his Ultramagnetic MC's era, highlighting his continued affinity for raw, underground hip-hop sounds.[35] Throughout the 2000s, Ced-Gee made sporadic guest appearances on compilations and mixtapes, contributing verses and production to projects like DJ TK421's Volume 4 (2000), where he featured on the track "Long Gev," and various bootleg collections that surfaced his archival material.[36] These efforts underscored his selective engagement with the scene, often revisiting early influences without pursuing mainstream visibility. Ced-Gee's later career has emphasized selective projects and mentorship, as evidenced by his frequent interviews sharing production techniques and hip-hop history with emerging artists, such as discussions on the E-mu SP-1200 sampler in recent podcasts (as of 2024) and 2025 discussions of influences like Paul C.[37][38]Legacy
Influence on hip hop production
Ced-Gee pioneered the use of the E-mu SP-1200 sampler in hip hop production during the late 1980s, creating dense, bass-heavy beats that defined East Coast soundscapes. His innovative manipulation of the SP-1200 allowed for intricate sample chopping and layering, transforming raw funk breaks into propulsive rhythms with pronounced low-end frequencies, as heard in his work on Ultramagnetic MCs' Critical Beatdown. This approach moved beyond basic drum programming, establishing the sampler as a core creative tool for producers seeking gritty, textured beats.[2][39] His sampling techniques, characterized by aggressive edits and rearrangement of source material—often drawing from James Brown records—influenced subsequent East Coast producers, who adopted similar methods of sample manipulation to craft soulful, looped arrangements in the early 1990s. Ced-Gee's emphasis on dynamic sample flips encouraged a shift toward more experimental and precise manipulation, setting a template for the genre's evolving production palette.[39] Ced-Gee played a pivotal role in shaping golden age hip hop through his innovative drum arrangements, particularly on Critical Beatdown and his uncredited contributions to Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded, where he layered hard-hitting snares and kicks over sparse, menacing loops to underscore socially charged lyrics. These productions emphasized rhythmic complexity and sonic aggression, helping to bridge raw street narratives with sophisticated beats during hip hop's formative commercial era.[39][40][6] The lasting impact of Ced-Gee's techniques extends to underground and experimental rap production styles, where his SP-1200-driven methods continue to inspire lo-fi, sample-heavy aesthetics in independent scenes. Producers in niche subgenres often reference his bass-forward innovations as foundational for maintaining hip hop's raw edge amid digital production dominance.[2][39]Recognition and interviews
Ced-Gee has received critical acclaim for his production work in hip-hop retrospectives, particularly highlighted in a 2023 Spin magazine feature that revisited the innovative sound of Ultramagnetic MCs and their influence on the genre's evolution.[2] While Ced-Gee has not received major awards, his contributions have been recognized in golden age hip-hop documentaries and books that chronicle the era's pioneering artists and producers.[41][42] In the 2020s, Ced-Gee has appeared in several interviews reflecting on his career, including a 2020 VladTV discussion on YouTube where he detailed the origins of hip-hop in the Bronx and the formation of Ultramagnetic MCs.[43] He further explored these early influences in a 2024 YouTube interview breaking down the genre's foundational elements, such as the role of figures like Disco King Mario.[44] Additional 2020s appearances include a 2023 joint interview with Kool Keith on YouTube, addressing the group's experimental style, and a 2024 conversation with DJ Kenny Parker on the evolution of Ultramagnetic MCs and related productions.[45][46] In 2025, Ced-Gee received birthday tributes highlighting his impact on hip-hop production and participated in new interviews discussing his career and collaborations.[47][48]Discography
Solo releases
Ced-Gee's solo output in the late 1990s and early 2000s was limited to independent releases on small labels, reflecting his shift toward underground hip-hop after his time with Ultramagnetic MCs. His first solo single, "Long Gev," was released in 1998 on 3-2-1 Records, a New York-based indie label distributed by ADA.[30] The 12-inch vinyl featured Ced-Gee as the primary artist and producer, with Woozie Wooz on vocals for the title track and cuts by DJ JC; recording and mixing were handled by Jeff Jones, Cedric Miller (Ced-Gee), and William Patterson, with publishing credits to Ced Music (ASCAP) and BIPA Music (BMI).[30]| Track | Title | Featuring | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Long Gev (Clean Radio Edit) | Woozie Wooz | 3:36 |
| A2 | Long Gev (Instrumental) | - | 4:00 |
| B1 | Long Gev (LP Version) | Woozie Wooz | 4:00 |
| B2 | Long Gev (Accapella) | Woozie Wooz | 3:58 |
| B3 | The Impossible | Special K | 3:28 |
| Track | Title | Featuring |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duress | Marq Spekts |
| 2 | Rhyming Psycho | Marq Spekts |
| 3 | You'll Never Find | Woozie Wooz |
| 4 | Wake Up (Skit) | - |
| 5 | Meltdown | Marq Spekts, Zoran |
| 6 | Crazy Interview (Skit) | - |
| 7 | Son U On Some... | Mic-Kel |
| 8 | Make U Shake | - |
| 9 | To Give You Love | - |
| 10 | Somebody Else's Thug | - |
| 11 | Daydreamin (Skit) | - |
| 12 | Daydreamin | - |
| 13 | Platinum | - |
With Ultramagnetic MCs
Ced-Gee served as a core member of Ultramagnetic MCs, contributing as both a rapper and producer on the group's releases from their formation in 1984 through later reunions. His production work, often characterized by innovative sampling and futuristic beats, was integral to the group's sound, particularly on their debut album Critical Beatdown (1988), where he received production credits on all tracks alongside engineer Paul C. and DJ Moe Love.[10] Tracks like "Watch Me Now," "Ego Trippin'," and his solo showcase "Ced-Gee (Delta Force One)" highlighted his dual roles, blending dense rhymes with electro-influenced production that influenced early East Coast hip-hop.[10] The group's second album, Funk Your Head Up (1992), featured Ced-Gee as co-producer on several tracks, including "Go 4 Yourz" and the hit "Poppa Large," where he helped craft the album's funkier, more commercial edge while maintaining abstract lyrical themes.[53] He also rapped on cuts like "MC Champion" and "Funk Radio," though the project marked internal tensions that affected the group's cohesion.[53] This was followed by The Four Horsemen (1993), Ced-Gee's final full-group studio album before a hiatus; he produced and rapped on key tracks such as "Checkin My Style," "Delta Force II," and "Yo Black," emphasizing conscious themes and raw beats amid lineup changes.[54] After a period of inactivity, Ultramagnetic MCs reconvened for The Best Kept Secret (2007), with Ced-Gee returning as a rapper and contributor on tracks like "Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)," "Delta 2006," and "Porno Star (Part 2)," produced under DMAFT Records to revisit their classic style.[55] Later compilations and archival releases, including The Basement Tapes 1984-1990 (1995) featuring early demos with Ced-Gee's production on "Smack My Bitch Up" and "Ya Not That Large," and Kool Keith x Ced Gee (2022), a collaborative effort where he co-produced and rapped on songs like "Elevator Up" and "Double XX," extended the group's catalog into the 2020s.[56] A live album, The Ultra's Live In Brixton (2024), captured performances with Ced-Gee's involvement, preserving their legacy up to 2025.[57] During the group's active era, Ced-Gee's rapper and producer roles extended to singles and EPs, such as the debut "Ego Trippin' / Funky Potion" (1986), where he co-produced the A-side and rapped alongside Kool Keith, establishing their off-kilter flow.[57] Other notable releases include the Watch Me Now single (1988) from Critical Beatdown, fully produced by Ced-Gee, and the Poppa Large EP (1992), highlighting his production on the remix-heavy B-side.[57] These efforts, often on Next Plateau and Mercury labels, underscored his foundational contributions to the group's innovative hip-hop output.[57]Production and guest credits
Ced-Gee's contributions as a producer and guest artist for other projects highlight his versatility in shaping early hip-hop sounds through innovative sampling and beat construction. Although often uncredited in his early career, his work on landmark albums influenced the genre's transition toward harder-edged production techniques. One of his most significant external productions was on Boogie Down Productions' debut album Criminal Minded (1987). Ced-Gee co-produced five of the nine tracks, including "Poetry," "Word from Our Sponsor," "Dope Beat," "P Is Free," and "Super Hoe," collaborating closely with DJ Scott La Rock and KRS-One to craft gritty, sample-heavy beats that defined the album's raw energy.[20] Despite his substantial role, he remained uncredited on the original release, a fact he later confirmed in interviews.[6] Ced-Gee took on more prominent production duties for Tim Dog's debut Penicillin on Wax (1991), where he handled beats for five tracks: "Fuck Compton," "Step to Me," "Fuck the Niggas," "Goin' Off (The Hard Way)," and "Big Mad." His contributions, often in tandem with Tim Dog and fellow Ultramagnetic members TR Love and Moe Love, delivered dense, aggressive boom-bap arrangements that amplified the album's confrontational tone and anti-West Coast diss tracks.[58] This effort marked one of his most comprehensive external production credits, earning praise for its technical precision.[22] In the 1990s and 2000s, Ced-Gee's guest raps and production appeared on select albums and singles by other artists, often through labels like Tuff City, where he contributed beats and remixes to various releases. Notable examples include his production on MF911's underground album Idol the Bloodsport (1993), featuring raw, uncompromising tracks that showcased his signature sampling style. He also produced "Bad Beats Suite" for Sybil's self-titled album (1989) and handled hip-hop remixes for Jeff Redd's "Larry, That's What They Call Me" (1991), blending funk samples with club-ready energy. Additional credits encompass work with artists like Paperboy, Spaceman Patterson, and Treacherous Three, emphasizing his role as a staff producer for labels including Next Plateau, Wild Pitch, and Ruffhouse.[59]| Year | Artist | Album/Single | Role | Specific Tracks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Boogie Down Productions | Criminal Minded | Co-producer | "Poetry," "Word from Our Sponsor," "Dope Beat," "P Is Free," "Super Hoe" (uncredited) |
| 1989 | Sybil | Sybil | Producer | "Bad Beats Suite" |
| 1991 | Tim Dog | Penicillin on Wax | Producer | "Fuck Compton," "Step to Me," "Fuck the Niggas," "Goin' Off (The Hard Way)," "Big Mad" |
| 1991 | Jeff Redd | "Larry, That's What They Call Me (Hip Hop Remix)" | Producer/Remixer | Full track |
| 1993 | MF911 | Idol the Bloodsport | Producer | Multiple tracks (specifics include core beats for album) |