A-Trak is the professional name of Canadian DJ, producer, and record executive Alain Macklovitch, born March 30, 1982, in Montreal, Quebec. He became one of the most recognizable figures in modern turntablism by combining the technical discipline of competitive scratching with the broader reach of hip hop, electronic music, and festival culture.
Macklovitch began developing his skills as a teenager in Montreal's hip hop scene. In 1997, at the age of 15, he won the DMC World DJ Championship, becoming the youngest winner in the competition's history and the first Canadian to take the title. He went on to compete internationally and became the first DJ to win the DMC, ITF, and Vestax World Extravaganza championships. His competitive success established him as one of the leading scratch DJs of his generation, but he eventually moved away from battle competitions to concentrate on touring, production, and recording.
During the late 1990s, A-Trak was involved with the Montreal hip hop crew Obscure Disorder and helped establish the independent label Audio Research with his older brother, David Macklovitch, later known as Dave 1 of Chromeo, and creative director Willo Perron. He was also associated with the DJ crew the Allies, whose members included DJ Craze. The group released the album "D-Day" in 2000, reflecting the emphasis on turntablism and technical performance that defined the era.
A major career turning point came when A-Trak became Kanye West's touring DJ. The position introduced him to a much larger audience and helped him develop a style that connected traditional turntable technique with contemporary rap performance. He later expanded his work as a producer and remixer, contributing to projects connected with artists such as Kid Sister, Kid Cudi, and other performers working across hip hop and dance music. His releases included the Nike-associated project "Running Man" in 2008, the "Tuna Melt" EP in 2012, and the remix collection "In the Loop: A Decade of Remixes" in 2016.
In 2007, A-Trak co-founded Fool's Gold Records with Nick Catchdubs. The Brooklyn-based label became known for releasing music that moved freely between rap, house, electro, and experimental club styles. Its roster and associated projects helped bring wider attention to artists including Kid Cudi, Danny Brown, Flosstradamus, and others. Fool's Gold also developed the Day Off concert series, turning the label into a visible cultural platform rather than simply a record company.
A-Trak formed the production duo Duck Sauce with Armand Van Helden in 2009. Their playful disco-house single "Barbra Streisand" became an international dance hit and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. The duo's debut album, "Quack," followed in 2014, and later releases continued their deliberately humorous take on classic house and disco tropes.
Beyond his solo work and label activities, A-Trak has participated in projects including Low Pros and the Brothers Macklovitch. His career is notable for its unusual range: he moved from adolescent battle champion to major touring DJ, remix producer, festival performer, and influential label head without abandoning the turntable skills that first made his name.