| Hank Shocklee | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Birth name |
James Henry Boxley III |
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Born |
15 May 1967 |
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Origin |
Long Island, New York, United States |
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Genre |
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Occupation(s) |
Record producer, DJ |
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Years active |
1986-present |
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Label |
Def Jam, Soul |
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Associated acts |
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James Henry Boxley III (born May 15, 1967), better known by his stage name Hank Shocklee, is an American record producer from Long Island, New York. He is best known for his work with Public Enemy as a member of production team The Bomb Squad.
Shocklee began his career as a DJ with the party crew Spectrum City, which included Chuck D, among others. Shocklee helped run a nightclub and hosted mix shows at Aldephi University's student-run radio station. When Chuck D was signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1986 as a member of Public Enemy, Shocklee joined him to produce the group's debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show. The production, with its unusual sounds, was noticeably unique, and the group began to attract a following. Shocklee developed a talent for multi-track recording, and Public Enemy's second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, was both hugely critically and commercially successful; its production was amongst its most praised elements. While still producing for Public Enemy, Shocklee and his brother Keith Shocklee produced songs for Slick Rick's The Great Adventures of Slick Rick and Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted.
In 1993, he and Keith Shocklee established Shocklee Entertainment. Shocklee's innovative production work continues to influence hip hop producers.