Mantronix was an innovative and influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik (Kurtis el Khaleel), and rapper MC Tee (Touré Embden). Mantronix underwent several genre (and line-up) changes during its 7-year existence (1984–1991), from old school hip hop to electro funk to house music, but the group is primarily remembered for its original, heavily synthesized blend of old school hip-hop and electro funk.

Mantronix was a 1980s hip-hop crew led by Kurtis Mantronik, a native of Jamaica who had moved to New York City after residing in Canada in the late 1970s. There, he met Touré Embden (MC Tee) and the duo made a demo, eventually signing with Sleeping Bag Records. Their debut single, “Fresh is the Word,” was a club hit in 1985 (see 1985 in music) and was followed by The Album the next year. The LP was one of the first best-selling hip-hop albums in the United Kingdom. Mantronik went on to work