Toni Cottura | |
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Also known as | Smooth T |
Born | June 7, 1971 |
Origin | Italy |
Genres | Eurodance, hip hop |
Years active | 1988–present |
Labels | Eastwest Records |
Associated acts | Fun Factory |
Toni Cottura (born June 7, 1971), better known by his stage name Smooth T., is a German Eurodance and hip-hop producer and rapper.
He started his career in 1988 as a hip-hop producer with David Fascher and later worked with DJ Shahin.
In 1993, he founded the Eurodance group Fun Factory, where he started as a producer, songwriter and dancer, before moving up to rapping on the band's second album. Cottura and partner Bülent Aris disbanded Fun Factory in 1996 to concentrate on their burgeoning hip-hop collective, Booya Family.
While at Booya, he produced tracks for a variety of artists including Nana (a.k.a. Darkman), Pappa Bear, Ray Horton, Jonestown, A.K. Swift and Alex Prince, mostly in hip-hop and R&B. He also produced tracks for boy bands 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys and collaborated with P. Diddy.
In 2000, Cottura parted ways with Aris and disbanded Booya, returning to Eurodance to form The Underdog Project and Popstars winners Bro'Sis. He made a surprise return in 2003 with a pop ballad, "Fly".
In 2002, Cottura produced the track "Bounce" for Sarah Connor's 2002 album "Unbelievable"
In 2006, Cottura returned to the scene with a new single entitled "Quieres Una Aventura", a duet with Romanian singer Corina.