Moka Only

Moka Only
Moka Only in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Denton
Also known as	Moka, Moka O, Moke, Ron Contour, RonCon, Dokta Swatch, Flow Torch, Torch, Tank Gawd, Kareem Serene, Durable Mammal, Gargoyle, The Most Prolific
Born	(1973-11-14) November 14, 1973 Langford, British Columbia, Canada
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres	Hip hop, Underground hip hop, alternative hip hop, Hip-hop soul, Jazz rap, Instrumental
Occupations	Rapper Songwriter Record producer Freemason
Years active	1989–present
Labels	URBNET Records, Beautiful Records

Daniel Denton (born November 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist and producer . He is originally from Langford, British Columbia, where he cultivated a deep passion for hip hop. Later, moving to San Diego to progress his career. In his late teens, he started out as a graffiti artist before switching to music. In 1995, along with Madchild and Prevail, the trio formed the hip hop group Swollen Members, Moka conceiving the name. Though, he left soon after to pursue solo efforts (eventually joining again shortly in the early 2000’s). As a part of the group, he won three JUNO Awards, five MuchMusic Video Awards, and was nominated for 11 Western Canadian Music Awards.He was also very briefly featured in the band LEN, even making a cameo appearance in the music video for the groups hit song “Steal My Sunshine”. In addition to these groups, he also paired with artist Ishkan to create Nowfolk. Their first album together “Style Gangsters” released in 1999, followed by “The Moon” in 2002. Later in 2016, two more Nowfolk albums released, (Magnesium Opium & The Winter. From 2001) after both being shelved for a number of years. In 2007, Moka released “Airport”, a spring themed album. Later in the same year he released “Martian Xmas”, a winter themed project. He continued the “Airport” series, releasing annually, for six years. His “Martian Xmas” series, has totaled 18 releases and still releases every December. Denton has also released music under different aliases, most notably Ron Contour. Other notable collaborations include MF Doom, Del the Funky Homosapien and Kool Keith.

Moka’s hard work and productivity, diverse skillset as an emcee/producer helped him establish a reputation in the rap scene. He has released over 100 projects through multiple different labels, including Feelin' Music, Legendary Entertainment, Battleaxe Records, Domination Recordings, Camobear Records, Wandering Worx and URBNET Records.

Discography

Studio albums

• Upcoast Relix (1995)
• Dusty Bumps (1996)
• Durable Mammal (1997)
• Fall Collection 97 (1997)
• Apenuts (1998)
• Monsterpiece (1998)
• Mount Unpleasant (1999)
• Mr. Behaviour (1999)
• Everyday Details (1999)
• Beauty Is a Free Road (2000)
• Flowtorch (2000)
• She Ran Away to Mexico to Join a Circus (2001)
• Mokefluenza (2001)
• The Quick Hits (2001)
• Road Life (2001)
• Lime Green (2001)
• Flood (2002)
• Lowdown Suite (2003)
• Martian Xmas 2004 (2004)
• Desired Effect (2005)
• Dirty Jazz (2005)
• The Creepee Eepee (2006)
• The Station Agent (2006)
• Airport (2007)
• Vermillion (2007)
• Moka Only vs Numata (2007) (with Atsushi Numata)
• Dog River (2007) (with Def 3)
• Martian Xmas 2006 (2007)
• Martian Xmas 2007 (2007)
• Airport 2 (2008)
• Clap Trap (2008)
• Fall Collection 2005 (2008)
• Psychodelic (2008)
• Carrots and Eggs (2008)
• Martian Xmas 2008 (2009)
• Lowdown Suite 2 ... The Box (2009)
• Airport 3 (2009)
• Summer Notations (2009) (with Nebz Supreme)
• Martian Xmas 2009 (2009)
• Airport 4 (2010)
• Dynamite Sandwich (2010) (with E.D.G.E.)
• Martian Xmas 2010 (2010)
• Airport 5 (2011)
• Barbecued Horse Contest (2011)
• Martian Xmas 2011 (2011)
• Crickets (2011) (with Chief)
• Bridges (2012) (with Ayatollah)
• Airport 6 (2012)
• Martian Xmas 2012 (2012)
• Doctor Do Much Mixtape (2013)
• Mutant Mixtape (2013)
• Vintage Beats 2002 vol. 1 (2013)
• Martian Xmas 2013 (2013)
• Sex, Money, Moka (2014)
• Martian Xmas 2014 (2014)
• California Sessions Volume 1 (unreleased 2003) (2015)
• California Sessions Volume 2 (unreleased 2003) (2015)
• Chicken Wingz (2015)
• Magickal Weirdness (2015)
• Martian Xmas 2015 (2015)
• Martian Xmas 2005 (2015)
• Brutal (2016)
• São Paulo (2016)
• Re-Bent Twisted and Gnarled (2016)
• I'm Delighted (2016)
• Presents Malkin Jackson - Summerland (2016)
• #99 (2016)
• California Sessions Volume 3 (unreleased 2003) (2016)
• Milky State (2016)
• Martian Xmas 2016 (2016)
• To the Next Season (2016)
• Concert for One (2017)
• Martian Xmas 2017 (2017)
• Concert for One (Instrumentals) (2018)
• Martian Xmas 2018 (2018)
• Patina (2019)
• Patina (Instrumentals) (2019)
• Martian 2019 (2019)
• It Can Do (2020)
• She ran away to Mexico to join the circus (2001) (2020)
• It Can Do (Instrumentals) (2020)
• Martian 2020 (2020)
• Martian Xmas 2021 (2021)
• Summer 2002, Volume 1 (2022)
• Summer 2002, Volume 2 (2022)
• Martian Xmas 2022 (2022)
• In and of Itself (2023)
• In and of Itself (Instrumentals) (2023)
• Spooky Beats N' Other Treats (2023)
• Martian Xmas 2023 (2023)
• AMALAMA (2024) (with Alcynoos & Parental)
• Arbutus Canyon (2024)
• Martian Xmas 2024 (2024)
• More Vibes & B-Sides (2025)
• Arbutus Canyon (Instrumentals) (2025)

As Ron Contour

• Moka Only Is ... Ron Contour (2001)
• Hotdog (2008)
• The Summer of Ron (2009)
• The Beach (2009)
• Saffron (2010) (with Factor)
• Rontario (2010)
• Lomgmile Buggedness (2011)

As Dokta Swatch

• Precious Gems Vol. 1 (2021)
• Precious Gems Vol. 2 (2021)
• Precious Gems Vol. 3 (2021)
• Precious Gems Vol. 4 (2021)

EPs

• The Crystal Senate (1997) (with Sixtoo)
• Imagine Me (2000)
• Where's My Honey (2003) (with Wicked Lester)
• The Honey EP (2006) (with Wicked Lester)
• Creepee Eepee 2 (2007)
• EP (2008) (with DJ Motive)
• Run & Find EP (2008)
• Do Work (2009)
• Isn't Over EP (2010)
• Crickets Remixes Part 1 (2011)
• Crickets Remixes Part 2 (2011)
• J Sands Presents… Dankovic (feat. Moka Only) (2015) (with J Sands)
• Vibes EP (2017) (with Reckonize Real)
• Myopic Bubble (2018)
• Myopic Bubble (Instrumentals) (2018)
• Preach EP (with Telephone Switches) (2022)
• The Mothership (2024)
• Inference and Hearsay (2024) (with K-Rec & Checkmate)

Singles

• "Live from Rio" (2000)
• "Been There" (2000)
• "I'll Be Cool" (2002)
• "Once Again (2005)
• "Flaunt (2009)
• "Like That" (2012)
• "NO" (2015)
• ”Funky Like” (2019)
• ”Handclap Shadack” (2020)
• ”Do It Again” (2020)
• ”Wood Panelled” (2021)
• "Shivers 2" (2021)
• ”Fallin…” (2021)
• ”Get Gone” (2022)
• ”Takin’ Off” (2022)
• ”Good Indeed” (2022)
• "Who Are We" (2024)

Collaborative work

NOTE - Chart appearances are based on peak position

The Rappers (with Jeff Spec)

• Rappin Atchu (1999)

Nowfolk (with Ishkan)

• Style Gangsters (1999)
• The Moon (2002)
• Magnesium Opium (unreleased 2003) (2016)
• The Winter (unreleased 2001) (2016)

Dominant Mammals (with Kirby Dominant)

• Dominant Mammals (2000)
• Super Future Stars (2002)

Perfect Strangers (with MadChild)

• Forefront EP (2001)

Code Name: Scorpion (with Abstract Rude & Prevail)

• Code Name: Scorpion (2001)

Swollen Members

• Heavy (2003) (#14 CAN)

The Nope (with Psy)

• Melba (2009)
• Rain All Day EP (2009)
• Sinus EP (2014)

Zzbra (with Evil Ebenezer)

• Zzbra: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011)

Mr Mista (with Mr. Brady)

• The Bug Out EP (2012)
• 2008-2021 Vaults Vol. 1 (2024)

Spacesuits (with Mr. Brady, LMNO & Jules Chaz)

• Spacesuits (2014)

The J.M.B's (with Jon Rogers & Mr. Brady)

• JMB's Vol. 1 (2019)

Tank Gawd (produced by Kutmasta Kurt)

• Microphone Deflection EP (2020)

The Deli (with Baptiste Hayden)

• The Deli (2024)

Guest appearances

• Birdapres & RKV - "Now" (1997)
• Isosceles - "All I Got" from Face the Music (1998)
• LEN - “Cryptik Souls Crew” (#28 UK) from You Can't Stop the Bum Rush (RIAA: Gold, MC: Gold, #1 CAN, #46 Billboard 200, #32 RPM (1999)
• Battle Axe Records - “Variety” from Defenders of the Underworld (1999)
• Ishkan - “Good Weather Bring”, “Transition” & “Big Rap Stars” (ft. Jeff Spec & Kirby Dominant) from Cousin Coolout (2000)
• Ishkan - “Right There” from The Rapper Writs (2001)
• Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique - "She's Always Right" from P.A.I.N.T (2001)
• Pelding - "Lonewolf" from Pelding (2001)
• DJ Moves - “ Moked Out” from Hiss 2 (Hysteria) (2001)
• Abstract Rude - “Propayne” (ft. Previal) from Making Lava Tracks (2002)
• Abstract Rude - “Screwed On Tight” & “Rolling Along” from Making Tracks (2002)
• Swollen Members - “Steppin Thru” & “Red Dragon” from Monsters in the Closet (MC: Gold, #7 CAN, #12 CAN Rap, #25 CAN R&B) (2002)
• Swollen Members - "Fuel Injected" & “Bring It Home” (#3 CAN) from Bad Dreams (MC: Platinum, #87 CAN, #7 CAN Rap, #16 CAN R&B) (2003)
• Sweatshop Union - "Better Day" from Natural Progression (2003)
• Aceyalone & Abstract Rude (The A-Team) - "Every Breath" from Lab Down Under (2003)
• Sunspot Jonz - “There She Go” from Don’t Let Em Stop You (2003)
• Sunspot Jonz - “Oz” from No Guts No Glory (Part One) (2004)
• Fat Jack - "Warriors" from Cater to the DJ 2 (2004)
• Abyssinian Creole - "Save As I Ever Was" from Sexy Beast (2005)
• Swollen Members - “Grind” & “Put Me On” from Black Magic (#22 CAN, #21 Billboard Indie, #19 Billboard Heatseekers) (2006)
• Planet Asia - "Time After Time" from The Sickness: Part One (2006)
• Lenny Diko - "Nothing to Prove" from Recession Proof (2006)
• Joey Stylez - “Sik Side” from The Blackstar: The Lost Filez (2006)
• Shingo Suzuki - “Flyable” from The Abstract Truth (2008)
• Crunk23 - "Yeah" from Dirty Bling (2008)
• Sweatshop Union - "Shoot Low" from Water Street (2008)
• Dragon Fli Empire - "Paradise" from Redefine (2009)
• Elaquent - “2AM Reflections” (ft. Es) from After Midnight (2009)
• Jennifer Abadesso - "Did You Think" from Expose (2010)
• King Dylan - "I Still Fly" from Disheartened (2010)
• Rushden & Diamonds - "Runway" & "I'm Out" from 2010 (2010)
• Factor Chandelier - "Went Away" from Lawson Graham (2010)
• Awol One & Factor - "The Wasp" from The Landmark (2011)
• Young Kazh - “Money Up / Krazy World” (2011)
• Potatohead People - “It Gets Good” from Kosmichemusik - EP (2012)
• Sixo - "Paper Pathways" from Free Floating Rationales (2012)
• Myka 9 & Factor - "Ode to Cosmosis" from Sovereign Soul (2012)
• Union Analogtronics - “Good Morning” from Analogtronics (2012)
• Muneshine - "Show Me the Money" from In Transit (2013)
• billy woods - "Fool's Gold" from Dour Candy (2013)
• Dan-e-o - "Cherry On Top" from Immortal (2013)
• Jazz Spastiks - “Frequency” from The Product (2014)
• Lord Diamonds - "Change of the Guard" (2014)
• Matt Brevner - “Crashed” from URBNET - Underground Hip-Hop, Vol 9 (2014)
• Def3 - “Live It Up” (ft. Panther) from WILDLIF3 (2014)
• Illa J - “She Burnt My Art”, “All Good” (ft. Ivan Ave) & “All I Need” from Illa J (feat. Potatohead People) (2015)
• CGB - "Senseless" from Homegrown EP (2016)
• Midflite - “Maybloom” from Liquid Lullabies (2016)
• BluntOne - “Coastin’” from Orbiting Rawbits (2016)
• Def3 - “Small World” (ft. Del the Funky Homosapien & The Gaff) from Small World (Produced by Late Night Radio) (2017)
• Dan-e-o - "League Of Legends" from Dear Hip Hop: 20 Years Later (2017)
• Dayo - "Stay" (ft. Ishkan) from Dayo (2017)
• Gabriel Teodros - "Liquid Sunshine 2.0" from History Rhymes If It Doesn't Repeat (A Southend Healing Ritual) (2018)
• Monrabeatz - "Phases" (2021)
• Switch - “Skeletons” (2018)
• Sacx One - Love What We Do from Never Give Up (2019)
• Switch - “Passenger” (2020)
• Factor Chandelier - “So Cold” from Time Invested II (2022)
• Word Burglar - "Wanna Be On My Posse Cut?" from Burgonomic (2022)
• Potatohead People - “For The Soul” from Eat Your Heart Out (2024)

Productions

• Gabriel Teodros - "No Label" from Lovework (2007)
• Dragon Fli Empire - "Day Job" from Intermission EP (2008)
• Lil B - "Gods Father" and “Words Not Spoken” from God's Father (mixtape) (2012)
• Lord Diamonds - "Bentley Rolls", "Dom Henley", "Lamborghini Bikini Remix", "It's Addicting" & "Change The Knight" from Robert's Quest (2015)
• Gabriel Teodros - History Rhymes If It Doesn't Repeat (A Southend Healing Ritual) (2018)

Awards

2001 - Juno Awards Best Rap Recording (Swollen Members)

2002 - Juno Awards Best Rap Recording (Swollen Members)

2003 - Juno Awards Rap Recording of the Year (Swollen Members)

2002 - MuchVIBE Best Rap Video ("Fuel Injected" feat. Moka Only and directed by Wendy Morgan)

2002 - MuchMusic Best Director ("Fuel Injected" feat. Moka Only and directed by Wendy Morgan)

2002 - MuchMusic VideoFACT Award ("Fuel Injected" feat. Moka Only and directed by Wendy Morgan)

2002 - MuchMusic Best Independent Video ("Fuel Injected" feat. Moka Only and directed by Wendy Morgan)

2003 - MuchVIBE Best Rap Video ("Breathe" feat. Nelly Furtado and directed by Todd McFarlane)

2002 - Canadian Radio Music Awards Breakthrough Artist ("Fuel Injected" feat. Moka Only)

2002 - West Coast Music Awards Best Urban Release (Bad Dreams)

2002 - The Georgia Straight Readers Choice Best Urban Act

2003 - COCA Campus Entertainment Awards Entertainer of the Year

2003 - Western Canadian Music Awards Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Recording ("Monsters In The Closet")

2003 - Western Canadian Music Awards Outstanding Video ("Breathe" feat. Nelly Furtado)

2009 - Won "Most Fabulous Canadian Man" Award, given by Livia Murray Incorporated.

Style

Moka is a versatile emcee and producer with many different unique techniques. Throughout the years, he has refined and evolved his sound with a number of distinct styles.

While other artists have certainly mixed elements of rapping and singing. Mok sets himself apart by not sacrificing his rap prowess for catchy hooks. He effortlessly intertwines quick-witted verses with smooth choruses on much of his work.

Moka O has worked with a number of talented producers such as J Dilla, Madlib and Ayatollah, though the majority of his music is self produced. Through not exclusively used, he prefers analog equipment over digital, and has a large personal collection of keyboards and other musical instruments. His production includes elements of jazz & soul. Aside from his own projects, he has produced for other artists as well like Gabriel Teodros, Lil B, & Lord Diamonds.

Moka’s alter ego Ron Contour takes a more eccentric and quirky approach on songs. Many tracks under the Ron Con name feature more outlandish themes, comical lines and references to food (including debut album “Hot Dog”).

He loves trains and often mentions them in tracks, even sampling their sounds for instrumentals. The most notable example is the song “My Trains”. Transportation has also played a role in the titles of his albums like “Station Agent”, “Bridges”, “Road Life” and the “Airport” series.

The “Moka” in his name comes from his love of coffee. He is also a fan of skateboarding.

External links

• Official website
• urbnet.com/mokaonly
• Cream Magazine interview
• platform8470 interview, November 2006
• platform8470 interview, June 2009
• bio, July 2008
• Moka Only discography at Discogs