Prefuse 73 is the alias of
Scott Herren, an experimental hip-hop producer whose material often features MCs buried in the mix to become more a part of the sonic texture than a focal point.
Herren began his career working in commercial studios in Atlanta, but later went on to more experimental work. His first record under the
Prefuse name,
Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives, not only buried but cut up and spliced raps as well as allowing some more straightforward vocals from several MCs. The 2003 follow-up,
One Word Extinguisher, carried on in a similar vein. That same year, Warp released
Extinguished: Outtakes -- a fascinating EP of beats and samples that ran through 23 tracks in about 35 minutes.
Surrounded by Silence, the proper successor to
One Word Extinguisher, was released in March of 2005, featuring collaborations with rappers
Ghostface and
Aesop Rock, plus
Blonde Redhead and
EL-P. Three months later, an EP of recordings made with the band
the Books appeared, titled
Reads the Books. The next
Prefuse record, 2006's
Security Screenings, was relatively collaboration-free; it featured only two guests,
Four Tet's
Kieran Hebden and
Tunde Adebimpe from
TV on the Radio. Preparations, featuring
Battles drummer
John Stanier on one track, followed in 2007, and
Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian appeared in early 2009.
Herren has also worked under his own name and that of
Savath + Savalas and
Delarosa & Asora. ~ Geoff Orens, All Music Guide