Labels

Felix Da Housecat


Born: 1971
Location: Detriot, Michigan, USA
Genre: Dance, House
Years Active: 1987
AKA: Thee Maddkatt Courtship, Aphrohead
Real Name: Felix Stallings Jr.
Meaning of the Name: Housecat refers to house music
Way of Working: DJ and Producer
Associated: 2 Black Ninjas, DJ Pierre

Essential Releases

Thee Maddkatt Courtship - I Know Electrikboy

Thee Maddkatt
Courtship -
I Know
Electrikboy (1999)

A loose concept album that serves as a love letter to house music.

Felix Da Housecat - Kittenz and Thee Glitz

Kittenz and Thee
Glitz (2001)

A groundbreaking electroclash album that blended house and electro with detached, witty vocals.


Sometimes people need to dance. Whether bored teenagers, or working folk exhausted by the grind of full-time employment, when the weekend comes, so do the dancing shoes. And in 1980s Chicago, a new type of music emerged to fill the void left by the demise of disco in 1979. That music was house, and Felix Da Housecat was one such teenager.

He released the 1987 genre classic 'Phantasy Girl' in collaboration with his mentor DJ Pierre when he was only 15. He wasn't old enough to get down in the tightly packed nightclubs that had become a safe haven for the city's gay, Black and Latino communities, but he made his presence felt through the speakers that carried his work.

Building on his success well into house music's second wave of the '90s, Felix pioneered a more polished manner of production, known for blending house with groove and funk elements, which, ultimately, saw the genre spread around the world.

The music of Felix Stallings Jr., released under many monikers, is not only highly danceable but, in turns, funny, as on 'Madame Hollywood,' whose music video bizarrely features an elderly woman leading a glamorous, movie-star lifestyle, and atmospheric, as on efforts like 'Wet Wednesday', released as Thee Maddkatt Courtship.

Whatever strain of Felix you listen to on a particular day, his role as a pivotal player in house music, from its first wave and beyond, is assured.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
55

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
45

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
65

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
70

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
85

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
65

Textures

i Technical attributes.
70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
80

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
90

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
85

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
45

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
80

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
65

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
40

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics >>>

  • Resident Advisor: Kittenz and Thee Glitz - Best Albums of the 2000s: 73rd


CRITICISM

  • Attended Diddy parties.


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