Kato On The Track
Kato On The Track | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Chris Ju |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, songwriter, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Website | www |
Chris Ju (born c. 1987), known professionally as Kato On The Track, is an American record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur from Atlanta, Georgia. He first gained recognition as an in-house producer for the independent label Funk Volume (2013–2016), working with artists including Jarren Benton, Dizzy Wright, and Hopsin.[1] Kato later produced Reyanna Maria’s viral single So Pretty, which spread on TikTok before its official release and remix featuring Tyga,[2][3] and co-produced Big Subwoofer for the hip hop supergroup Mount Westmore (Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short).[4] His credits include multiple Billboard-charting projects.[5]
Career
2010–2016: Funk Volume and early credits
Kato worked extensively with Atlanta rapper Jarren Benton. Benton's debut studio album My Grandma’s Basement (2013), which included production from Kato, peaked at No. 152 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[6]
After Benton signed to Funk Volume, Kato served as an in-house producer for the label until its closure in 2016.[7] During this period he contributed to Dizzy Wright’s mixtape The Golden Age (2013)—whose tracklist includes “Step Yo Game Up” featuring Jarren Benton and Tory Lanez—and to the single “Free Meal” (2015) by Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, and Jarren Benton.[8][9]
Kato launched the online rap contest No Sucka MC’s in 2012 to spotlight emerging artists. The series helped draw early attention to entries by Joyner Lucas and Token, and later partnered with the A3C Festival to offer prizes and performance opportunities.[10][11][12]
Benton’s EP Slow Motion Vol. 1 (2015), featuring Kato’s production, reached No. 168 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Heatseekers,[13] while Slow Motion Vol. 2 (2016) peaked at No. 20 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 43 on Top Rap Albums.[14] Kato also contributed to Rittz’s Next to Nothing (2014), which debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200,[15] and to Rittz’s Top of the Line (2016), including “Ghost Story” and “Back to Yesterday.”[16]
2017–2020: Expanded output
Kato’s work extended beyond Funk Volume alumni to collaborations with artists including Joyner Lucas and K Camp, and he released widely used sample packs such as Bay To LA (Splice) and Trap Jumpin (LANDR).[17][18]
2021–present: Viral singles and recent projects
In 2021, Kato produced Reyanna Maria’s breakout single So Pretty, which originated as a TikTok duet challenge and later received an official remix featuring Tyga.[19][20]
That year he co-produced Big Subwoofer, the debut single by Mount Westmore (Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short), which received coverage from music press and entered Billboard genre charts.[21][22]
In 2022, he produced rapper Ktlyn’s single Big Mad, which drew traction across social platforms and regional music press.[23]
In 2025, Kato worked with nobigdyl. on the single Never Going Back, featuring Project Pat,[24] and with Lecrae and Miles Minnick on the single Heaven Sent.[25][26]
Kato also hosts a weekly live-streamed music review show, Hot Takes. In 2025, EDM.com covered his partnership with Audius to launch a $15,000 competition tied to the series.[27]
Artistry and style
Kato’s production blends trap drums, melodic synths, and R&B influences, and has been profiled by independent music and production outlets.[28][29]
Discography
Extended plays
Selected singles
- "So Pretty" (with Reyanna Maria, 2021; remix featuring Tyga) (2021)[32][33]
- "Big Subwoofer" (with Mount Westmore, 2021)[34]
- "Big Mad" (with Ktlyn, 2022)[35]
- "Never Going Back" (with nobigdyl., featuring Project Pat) (2025)[36]
Selected production credits
- Jarren Benton – My Grandma’s Basement (2013)[37]
- Jarren Benton – Slow Motion Vol. 1 (2015)[38]
- Jarren Benton – Slow Motion Vol. 2 (2016)[39]
- Rittz – Next to Nothing (2014)[40]
- Rittz – Top of the Line (2016)[41]
- Mount Westmore – "Big Subwoofer" (2021)[42]
- Reyanna Maria – "So Pretty" (2021); "So Pretty (Remix)" feat. Tyga (2021)[43][44]
- Ktlyn – "Big Mad" (2022)[45]
- nobigdyl. – "Never Going Back" (2025)[46]
- Lecrae & Miles Minnick – "Heaven Sent" (2025)[47][48]
Media coverage
Kato has been profiled by independent outlets including RESPECT. magazine and Red Bull, and covered for initiatives involving social music platforms and competitions.[49][50][51]
References
- ↑ "The Producer Behind the Beat: Kato On The Track". RESPECT. 2014.
- ↑ "Reyanna Maria: Inside Her Meteoric Rise". Rolling Stone Australia. Aug 16, 2024.
- ↑ "Tyga Remixes Reyanna Maria's Viral Track "So Pretty"". HotNewHipHop. Feb 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too $hort's Mount Westmore Share Video for "Big Subwoofer"". Pitchfork. Oct 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Mount Westmore Chart History". Billboard.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "The Producer Behind the Beat: Kato On The Track". RESPECT. 2014.
- ↑ "Dizzy Wright Exclusively Reveals 'The Golden Age' Tracklist". HotNewHipHop. Aug 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Dizzy Wright, Hopsin & Jarren Benton – "Free Meal"". RESPECT. 2015.
- ↑ "Studio Sessions: Kato On The Track on Joyner Lucas, Jack Harlow and B.o.B's unique recording processes". Revolt. Mar 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Tech N9ne & Token Bully Rappers In A Back-&-Forth Display Of Lyricism". Ambrosia For Heads. 2019.
- ↑ "No Sucka MC's: Epic Rap Contest". A3C Festival. 2018.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Rittz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "He's A Lyrical Rapper — Producer Kato Linked Up With Rittz On 'Top Of The Line'". Strange Music Inc. Apr 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Bay to LA — Kato On The Track". Red Bull. 2019.
- ↑ "Kato On The Track — Producer Profile". Reason Studios. 2020.
- ↑ "Reyanna Maria: Inside Her Meteoric Rise". Rolling Stone Australia. Aug 16, 2024.
- ↑ "Tyga Remixes Reyanna Maria's Viral Track "So Pretty"". HotNewHipHop. Feb 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too $hort's Mount Westmore Share Video for "Big Subwoofer"". Pitchfork. Oct 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Mount Westmore Chart History". Billboard.
- ↑ ""Big Mad" By Ktlyn Is The Bad Bitch Anthem Of The Year". Respect My Region. Aug 29, 2022.
- ↑ "nobigdyl. Links Up With Project Pat on New Track "Never Going Back"". Hot 100.9. Apr 2025.
- ↑ "Lecrae and Miles Minnick Share Why They Linked Up For an Album". Rapzilla. Apr 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Lecrae Delivers West Coast Flow On "Heaven Sent" Feat. Miles Minnick". The Christian Beat. Mar 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Billboard-Charting Producer Kato On The Track Launches $15,000 Contest with Audius". EDM.com. 2025.
- ↑ "Kato On The Track — Producer Profile". Reason Studios. 2020.
- ↑ "Get to Know Rising Producer Kato On The Track". Red Bull. 2019.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Reyanna Maria: Inside Her Meteoric Rise". Rolling Stone Australia. Aug 16, 2024.
- ↑ "Tyga Remixes Reyanna Maria's Viral Track "So Pretty"". HotNewHipHop. Feb 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too $hort's Mount Westmore Share Video for "Big Subwoofer"". Pitchfork. Oct 20, 2021.
- ↑ ""Big Mad" By Ktlyn Is The Bad Bitch Anthem Of The Year". Respect My Region. Aug 29, 2022.
- ↑ "nobigdyl. Links Up With Project Pat on New Track "Never Going Back"". Hot 100.9. Apr 2025.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Jarren Benton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Rittz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ "He's A Lyrical Rapper — Producer Kato Linked Up With Rittz On 'Top Of The Line'". Strange Music Inc. Apr 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too $hort's Mount Westmore Share Video for "Big Subwoofer"". Pitchfork. Oct 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Reyanna Maria: Inside Her Meteoric Rise". Rolling Stone Australia. Aug 16, 2024.
- ↑ "Tyga Remixes Reyanna Maria's Viral Track "So Pretty"". HotNewHipHop. Feb 20, 2021.
- ↑ ""Big Mad" By Ktlyn Is The Bad Bitch Anthem Of The Year". Respect My Region. Aug 29, 2022.
- ↑ "nobigdyl. Links Up With Project Pat on New Track "Never Going Back"". Hot 100.9. Apr 2025.
- ↑ "Lecrae and Miles Minnick Share Why They Linked Up For an Album". Rapzilla. Apr 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Lecrae Delivers West Coast Flow On "Heaven Sent" Feat. Miles Minnick". The Christian Beat. Mar 21, 2025.
- ↑ "The Producer Behind the Beat: Kato On The Track". RESPECT. 2014.
- ↑ "Get to Know Rising Producer Kato On The Track". Red Bull. 2019.
- ↑ "Billboard-Charting Producer Kato On The Track Launches $15,000 Contest with Audius". EDM.com. 2025.
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