About DK Eng
In 1984, Eng first cracked the Billboard charts as producer and co-songwriter of the Paula Anderson's (Atlantic Records) dance hit, "Four Year Battle."
The following year, Eng established himself as a hip-hop pioneer as producer of "Inspector Gadget" by the Bad Boys. It was the first Billboard-charting rap song to incorporate a television theme song and trail blazed the fusion of hip-hop and TV/pop culture--a style that is still going strong in the 21st century.
In the later '80s, Eng also produced 12:41, the first recordings of Kris Parker and DJ Scott LaRock, who would later go on to international renown as KRS-One/Boogie Down Productions, Earth Wind and Fire's Jessica Cleaves and then 'New Kid on the Block,' Marky Mark (aka 21st century Hollywood leading man Mark Wahlberg).
Following these successes, Eng was one of an elite crew of producer/songwriters to be handpicked by Quincy Jones' partner Clarence Avant (who also manages Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and is a former Chairman of Motown Records) to produce and write songs for Avant's first hip-hop venture, the LA-based rapper Kid Flash's debut album, "He’s In Effect," released in 1988 on Tabu /Columbia Records.
In the early 90s, Eng, in partnership with Steve Salem, formed the management and record company, Motor Jam Records, whose records were distributed by East West/Elektra Warner Bros. Records. With this new enterprise, Eng would achieve his first international hit, when he discovered the Canadian pop/reggae phenomenon Snow. In 1993, with Eng as manager and executive producer, Snow soared to the top of the charts with the album, "12 Inches of Snow" whose single, "Informer" held the prestigious number 1 spot on Billboard's American pop charts for a staggering seven straight weeks. Snow would go on to sell over five millions records worldwide. In the 1999 Guinness Book of Records Snow was listed as having the most successful reggae single in the U.S. history. Eng and Motor Jam would return to the Billboard charts many times in the 90s with, among others, the renowned grunge rockers Dog Society and Collision, hip-hoppers Half Pit Half Dead, pop rockers Pilot Jones and the Miami-based house artist, Dominica, whose 1996 hit, "Gotta Let You Go" also became a million-seller in Europe. Eng followed this with a succession of international projects. He opened a second branch of Bayside Sound Recording Studios in Toronto, Canada (where he managed Juno Award-nominated dance artist Belinda and a team of hit producers), and also created a base in Kingston, Jamaica. In Jamaica, he co-managed such artists as Spanner Banner and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who recorded the international 1992 hit, "Murder She Wrote," produced by renowned reggae producers Sly & Robbie (Black Uhuru). In the mid-90s, Eng executive produced what would become Jamaica's unofficial anthem and biggest selling single ever, the all-star remix of Snow's “Anything For You” featuring Beanie Man, Buju Banton, Nadine Sutherland and produced by Tony Kelly (Shaggy, Sean Paul).
Eng's first major label release and Billboard charted record. The year was 1984.
Eng's first hip hop record that charted on the 1985 Billboard charts. It was the first recording using a TV theme hook (The Inspector Gadget). Later Doug. E. Fresh and Slick Rick used it on their song "The Show". The concept became extremely popular and many records used other TV theme hooks since then.
Eng managed and produced Pilot Jones. The single Fall Out of Love was a turntable hit released on Columbia Records.