Matko Šašek, also known as Koolade is a Croatian hip-hop, electronic, and urban music producer. Born in Zagreb in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he played a major role in establishing hip-hop genre in the Croatian and regional (Balkans) music scene, rocking charts, record sales and winning a few national music awards (local equivalent to the Grammys) in Croatia and Bosnia. Later he and his partner/manager Phat Phillie realized that his production would make a good export, and continued to expand his work throughout Europe and the U.S., where he is perhaps best known for his production work on Masta Ace's "Beautiful" on the album A Long Hot Summer, as well as a number of other prominent American hip-hop artists such as Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa of the Wu Tang Clan, Sean Price, Xzibit, Sadat X, Styles P, Diamond D, Das EFX, Peedi Crakk, Tony Touch, Rah Digga, Too Short, Bow Wow, and others. Koolade is locally and regionally known for his collaborations with the Croatian hip-hop groups Tram 11 and Bolesna Braća, as well as Bosnian rappers Edo Maajka and Frenkie.

Early years

Born on 1 June 1978 in Zagreb, Croatia, he showed great interest in music from his early days. Growing up in the 1980s he listened to artists like Queen (being a fan since age of 6), Michael Jackson, U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, Human League, Dire Straits etc. In 5th and 6th grade he took piano lessons, but quit after two years due to a lack of interest in classical music education. He did not play the piano again, until the start of his professional music career in the mid/late 1990s.

Hip Hop

In the years 1989/1990 his sister introduces him to Hip Hop music which he initially hates, but after a year or so, Hip Hop music becomes his obsession. Artists like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Ice Cube, EPMD would very soon take over his tape deck. Due to a few shows like MTV's Yo! MTV Raps, Rap Attack, and his future manager Phat Philly's own Blackout Rap Show on Radio 101, he keeps track of the international scene and all the fresh new releases. Soon enough he starts forming his first high school demo bands of pretty much no significance like G-Style and Ill Behavior. Having interest in both rapping and beatmaking he makes his first tracks. Although those would end up being just tries and attempts, but a good practice for his later work.

Blackout

As Hip Hop scene would start resonating more and more with the local kids in Croatia during the early/mid 1990s he starts hangin around clubs and people playing, promoting and making Hip Hop music. Hearing the local artist's demos being played on Blackout Rap Show, he wasn't overwhelmed with the production on those, and decides he wants to contribute to the scene with his musical talent as a beat-maker and producer. Eventually he focuses on beat-making and production, and gets embraced by the local scene very quickly, due to the quality of his material. Very soon he becomes a member of the Blackout Project, the DJ's, MC's and beat-makers revolving and evolving around the Blackout Rap Show. In 1998, his 1st production credit release, which marked the start of his professional career, were two tracks by Tram 11 "Des Mozges" & "Kog je briga za vas", on Blackout Project's "Project Impossible" album. He collaborates with many soon to be renowned local and regional hip hop artists like Tram 11, Sick Rhyme Sayazz aka Bolesna Braća, El Bahattee, Nered & Stoka, Edo Maajka, Frenkie, Shorty, Elemental etc... Meaning, they all make history together, rockin the charts and sales on a mainstream level. In the following years, he gains respect not just in the hip hop scene, but throughout the local, regional, and European urban music scene. In the Balkans region he enjoys a legendary status. He and his manager Phat Phillie continue to work up to date, having a strong bond as partners in crime, and continue shopping and delivering the world music scene with some of that Koolade, placing his music worldwide. He produced "Beautiful" by Masta Ace.

Media & marketing

Being a music producer and sound engineer, Koolade does and scores quite a few commercials, locally and worldwide, and copyrights his music in the world of media, TV and marketing. Some of the references are H&M, Nivea, Alizee, EA Sports, Y2K, and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance & Ugly Betty etc.

Recent Days

Today Koolade continues to produce for other acts as he always used to. One of the recent ones he is affiliated with would be Kandžija, High5, Geralt iz Rivije, Frenkie, Kontra, and the whole of Zagreb's and regional underground scene. His 2016 single "Say Nothing" featured Rah Digga, Sean Price, and Tony Touch, and was released on Duck Down Music. Koolade also has a stream of instrumental EP's, singels and albums, genre wise ranging from beats, alternative hip-hop, electronic beats to future funk. Since 2016, he's been affiliated with a US label Blvnt Records. His music got picked up and played by many international podcasts and radio shows such as Soulection, Voyage Funktastique and WeFunk. He also performs his music live, which includes live sampling, fx tweaking, playing bass lines, leads and talkbox.

Awards and recognition

In 2007, Los Angeles-based URB magazine named Koolade one of the top 100 best up-and-coming urban artists, along with artists like M.I.A. and Block Party.

Discography

Croatian & regional production credits

International production credits

Remixed by Koolade...

Featuring Koolade...

Various artist compilation, film & theater placements and scores

Marketing & media