Aaron LaCrate is a DJ, the designer of Milkcrate Records and Milkcrate clothing, and a film producer. He grew up in East Baltimore, and his home town is the inspirational core of many of his creative endeavors, which include producing music and designing clothing for his Milkcrate clothing collection.
At the age of 10, LaCrate began experimenting with DIY culture. LaCrate began DJing at Baltimore nightclubs, house parties, writing graffiti and even started making custom t-shirts. His first music studio was in his basement where he created mixtapes and t-shirts sold throughout inner city Baltimore. LaCrate was the youngest working DJ in Baltimore prior to attending Syracuse University, where he took over the campus music scene. He spent his summers in New York City interning for Def Jam Recordings, Payday (Record Label), and Roc-A-Fella Records, helping launch Jay-Z’s classic Reasonable Doubt.
LaCrate has produced and remixed music from Madonna, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Young MC, Lily Allen and The Cool Kids. Tracks from LaCrate's album B-More Gutter Music, released in 2005, was used by Marc Jacobs in a fashion show.
LaCrate has toured with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, Dizzee Rascal, Rakim, and most recently Kanye West for Perez Hilton's South by Southwest event. Aaron has developed exclusive special-edition fashion collaborations with Vans, ColetteWhich Colette?, Jay-Z and cashmere king Lucien Pellat-Finet. LaCrate has also collaborated with Coca-Cola, HBO, Delicious Vinyl, Dazed Confused and FerrariWhich Ferrari?. His music has been featured on HBO, The Wire, Entourage, Life SupportWhich Life Support?, and on the soundtrack to Observe and Report starring Seth Rogen.
Recently, LaCrate released the first B-more major label record in history, B-more Club Crack, which features Mr. Vegas, Eliza Doolittle, and local Baltimore gutter artists (including Mz Streamz and Verb).
