KOVAS

Kovas functions as a songwriter, producer, and recording artist who fuses punk with thug music—hip-hop—into the hybrid style he terms "thunk." Brooklyn upbringing exposed Kovas to a wide range of inspirations stretching from Dr. Dre through Nirvana. Attention later shifted toward producers, drawing him to the output of Rick Rubin, the Neptunes, and Timbaland. The year 2000 brought his recording debut when the Maseo collaboration "Words & Verbs" appeared on the Tommy Boy compilation Hip Hop 101. Production of the track "Attitude" for Nick Cannon's self-titled album followed in 2003, after which 2006 yielded remixes of "Fiddle with the Beat" for Lady Sovereign and "Hips Don't Lie" for Shakira. Kovas resumed his own recording efforts in 2007 through the EP The Arrogance of Youth.