{{Short description|British electronic music producer and DJ}} {{distinguish|Shitmat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} '''Matthew Nelson''' (born 22 April 1967 in Loughton, Essex, England<ref name=rave.org>{{cite web |url=http://www.rave.org.uk/raveinfo/slipmatt.htm |title=DJ Slipmatt - Rave Scene - 1988-2006 |publisher=Rave.org.uk |date=2007-06-05 |accessdate=2012-04-25 |archive-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124133050/http://www.rave.org.uk/raveinfo/slipmatt.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>), better known as '''DJ Slipmatt''', is a British electronic music producer and DJ. He was one half of breakbeat hardcore group SL2, who had a 1992 UK hit with "On a Ragga Tip".<ref name="Music">{{cite book | first= Paul | last= Du Noyer | year= 2003 | title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music | edition= 1st | publisher= Flame Tree Publishing | location= Fulham, London | isbn= 1-904041-96-5 | page= 320}}</ref><ref name="AM">{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=John |title=Slipmatt Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/slipmatt-mn0000558846 |website=Allmusic |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416203025/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/slipmatt-mn0000558846 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Biography== In 1988, while working as an electrician and courier, Nelson obtained his first turntables and started playing hip-hop and house.<ref name=rave.org/> He then founded a pirate radio station named "Raw FM" in London's East End, and in 1989 began his professional DJ career as DJ for the Raindance rave event.<ref name=rave.org/> His first music production was in 1989 where Slipmatt collaborated with DJ Lime forming SL2. The single, "Do That Dance", was released in that same year. This was followed by the number 11 UK chart hit "DJs Take Control" / "Way in My Brain". The follow-up single, "On a Ragga Tip", reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1992. As a result of their chart success, the band were propelled into the media spotlight and made appearances on ''Top of the Pops'' and other television shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Joe |title=How SL2's 'On A Ragga Tip' became '90s UK rave culture's most enduring anthem |url=https://djmag.com/features/how-sl2s-ragga-tip-became-90s-uk-rave-cultures-most-enduring-anthem |website=DJ Mag |date=26 October 2022 |access-date=19 February 2023 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219205008/https://djmag.com/features/how-sl2s-ragga-tip-became-90s-uk-rave-cultures-most-enduring-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref> SL2's chart success continued with a remix of "Way in My Brain", which made the top twenty in the UK chart.<ref name="RA"/>
Amidst the chart success, Slipmatt cemented his name on the rave DJ circuit and was a regular at major Fantazia and Dreamscape events. In 1993, Nelson set up a new project, the '''SMD series''' (Slip Matt's Dubs). The first release, ''SMD#1'', sold over 10,000 copies,<ref name="Music"/> with a further three instalments following in the series. A compilation album collected these recordings.
1994 saw the release of "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" on Slipmatt and Lime's own Awesome Records imprint, the former being embraced by jungle and rave DJs alike. The tracks were later remixed by DJ SS (Formation Records) and DJ Seduction (Impact Records) respectively. By 1995, Slipmatt's DJ sets had veered strongly towards the tougher hardcore genre and Nelson set up Universal Records to represent this burgeoning style.<ref name="dac">{{cite news |last1=Ravens |first1=Chai |title=Happy hardcore will never die: the life of rave's most juvenile subculture |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |website=Dazed and Confused |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=11 March 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224709/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Music"/> Releases from Force & Styles (as A Sense of Summer), DJ Sy & Unknown, DJ Demo and others followed. The tracks "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" were again remixed, this time by Ramos & Sunset Regime.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
As Slipmatt, he has compiled and mixed several albums, including ''United Dance Anthems 1 & 2'' and ''Moondance True Rave Anthems''.<ref name="RA">{{cite web |title=Slipmatt / Biography |url=https://ra.co/dj/slipmatt/biography |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=20 February 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220192623/https://ra.co/dj/slipmatt/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> Slipmatt's remixes include many remixes for Ministry of Sound and various well known and established record labels.
Since 1994, Nelson presented his own radio shows on Kiss 100 as well as numerous other stations over the years.<ref name="Music"/> Nelson has played in the US, Australia, Thailand, and around Europe. He has DJ'd at Ibiza's Space, Es Paradise, Eden, Summum, and most of the San Antonio West End clubs.<ref name="RA"/>
In 2003, Slipmatt's track, "Space", peaked at #41 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 164}}</ref>
Slipmatt has DJ'd at Fantazia, Raindance, Moondance, Dreamscape, Pleasuredome, Hardcore Heaven, Dance Concept, Helter Skelter, One Nation, United Dance, Uprising, Dizstruxshon, Alderney Bunker Parties, World Dance, Slammin Vinyl, Glastonbury, Bestival, O2 London & thousands of raves over the years.<ref name="RA"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.slipmatt.net/}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:English DJs Category:English electronic musicians Category:English techno musicians Category:Breakbeat hardcore musicians Category:English record producers Category:English drum and bass musicians Category:People from Loughton Category:Musicians from Essex Category:British electronic dance music DJs Category:Rave culture in the United Kingdom Category:British hardcore techno musicians