Moka Only Explained

Daniel Denton (born November 14, 1973),^[1] better known by his stage names Moka Only and Ron Contour, is a Canadian rapper, singer and record producer. He has released music through Legendary Entertainment, Battle Axe Records and Urbnet Records.

Career

He is originally from Langford, British Columbia. As a teen, he did freestyles, graffiti and breaking.^[2] In 1989, he joined the rap group Sound Advice with Juice Dub (Rennie Foster), DJ Degree One, and DJ Tee Double.^[3] In 1992, he formed a new group named Splitsphere with Prevail. Through the early 1990s he lived in Vancouver until he moved to San Diego.^{[4] [5]}

In 1995, after returning to Canada, the duo met Madchild and formed the hip hop group Swollen Members, with Moka conceiving the name.^[6] Though he left to work on his own music, eventually re-joining in the early 2000s. In June 1995, he released his debut album titled Upcoast Relix.^[7] He continued making tapes independently through the late 1990s and was a pioneer of DIY hand to hand distribution.^[8] In 2001, he partnered with Legendary Entertainment to reissue them on CD.

Much of his earlier work was produced by a variety of different people (including himself). Most notably Deceo Ellipsis, who entirely produced 4 of Moka’s albums.^[9] However, in 2000 he attained a personal studio and released his first fully self-produced album Beauty is a Free Road in June, followed by Road Life in August.^[10] He has a large collection of keyboards, synthesizers and other instruments and uses both analog and digital techniques in his recording process.^[11] He produced lots of his own music and for other artists including Sunspot Jonz, Lil B, Snak the Ripper, and Gabriel Teodros.^{[12] [13] [14]} He has also collaborated with producers J Dilla, Oh No, Madlib, The Alchemist, J. Rawls, and KutMasta Kurt.^{[15] [16] [17]} Moka is the only Canadian musician to collaborate with J Dilla before his passing.^[18] He has also released multiple songs with Dilla's younger brother, Illa J.^[19]

In 1999, he was featured on the songs "Crypik Souls Crew" and "Crazy Cause I Believe (Early Morning Sunshine)" by LEN from their breakthrough album You Can't Stop the Bum Rush.^[20] He also made cameo appearances in the music videos for “Feelin’ Alright” and "Steal My Sunshine". Around this time, he paired with fellow British Columbia native Ishkan to create Nowfolk. Their first album together named Style Gangsters released in 1999, followed by The Moon in 2002. The duo recorded two more albums from 2001-2003 named Magnesium Opium & The Winter. From 2001. However, in June 2003 Moka's ADAT system was destroyed, effectively halting both albums release until 2016.^[21]

On April 3, 2001, he released Lime Green, his first album with Battle Axe Records, the same label as Swollen Members. Later in 2001, he returned to the group on the song "Fuel Injected", which won four MuchMusic Video Awards.^[22] The next single "Bring It Home" peaked at #3 on the Canadian Singles Chart.^[23] Both singles reached #1 on the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown.^{[24] [25]} The album Bad Dreams went on to win a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year and achieve Platinum status in Canada.^{[26] [27]} Also in 2001, he released the solo album Moka Only is… Ron Contour and the collaboration album with Prevail and Abstract Rude. In 2002, Swollen Members released Monsters in the Closet, a collection of B-sides, unreleased tracks and three newly produced songs. Two of the new songs "Breath" (featuring Nelly Furtado) and “Steppin’ Thru” reached #1 on the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown.^{[28] [29]} “Breath” also won a MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rap Video.^[30] The album won a Juno Award, earned a Gold certification and peaked at #7 in Canada.^{[31] [32]}

Just weeks prior to Monsters in the Closet, Moka released the solo album Flood, though it was overlooked in favor of the group's album. On June 3, 2003, he released the album Lowdown Suite, which suffered a similar fate as his previous solo effort.^[33] The group's next album Heavy was released later in the year and included Moka on every song, for the first time. The album debuted at #14 on the Canadian albums chart. The song “Watch This” peaked at #21 on the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown.^[34] Also in 2003, he featured on the song “Better Days” from the album Natural Progression by Sweatshop Union, which peaked at #23 on the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown in August of 2004.^[35] All three albums were nominated for Western Canadian Music Awards in 2004, Natural Progression, Lowdown Suite, and Heavy, which won the award.^[36] After this he left Swollen Members and returned his focus mostly to solo work.

On August 16, 2005, he released his final album with Battle Axe Records titled The Desired Effect, which he later described as "The Not So Desired Effect" due to issues with distributor Nettwerk.^[37] The song "Once Again" (featuring Madchild) peaked at #13 on the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown.^[38] In October of the same year, he released an alternate version of the album titled Dirty Jazz, a Japan exclusive CD, with new tracks and a few from the previous album. A year later, Desired Effect was unveiled. In his own words, "THIS is what I really wanted The Desired Effect to be.. raw, continuous and to the point". Finally, in 2007 he released Vermilion, which includes more songs that were initially intended for The Desired Effect.^[39]

In 2007, Moka started the Airport series, with a spring themed album. In the same year he released three winter-themed albums titled Martian Xmas. He continued the Airport series, releasing annually for six years. The Martian Xmas series is ongoing and has totaled 22 releases.^[40] From 2006–2012, he released music through a number of different record labels, including Urbnet Records, which became his primary label by the early 2010s. The albums Vermilion (2007), Dog River (2007), Carrots and Eggs (2008), Airport 6 (2012) and Sex Money Moka (2014) each received nominations for Western Canadian Music Awards.^{[41] [42] [43] [44]} In 2016, he released 12 full length albums, one in each month.^[45] The albums were released digitally and as a limited edition, two part cassette collection. He was nominated again by Western Canadian Music Awards for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year in 2018 and 2020.^{[46] [47]}

Moka has collaborated with a number of artists including MF Doom, Del the Funky Homosapien, Kool Keith, K-OS, Billy Woods, and Sweatshop Union.^{[48] [49] [50] [51]} He has also collaborated with individual members of rap groups, including Grand Puba and Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Plug 2 of De La Soul, Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde, and Opio of Souls of Mischief.^{[52] [53] [54] [55] [56]} He has named Native Tongues, and jazz artists like Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock as influences. He once said, "In the back of my head, I always wanted to be a jazz artist, but didn't feel I had all the skills, so I channeled that energy into hip-hop. The way I did it was to marry both worlds together."^[57] In addition to making music, he painted the cover artwork for his albums In and of Itself, AMALAMA & Spooky Beats n' Other Treats; EP's The Mothership & Beaming; and the single “Heart at Home”.^[58]

Moka is a fan of skateboarding and can be seen riding in a few music videos. His music is featured in two Red Dragons skate videos "RDS / FSU / 2002"^[59] and "Skateboard Party".^[60] In 2012, he and Def3 released a music video for the song "Dragon's Gate", which was filmed in the Red Dragons warehouse.^[61] Additionally, the brand Skull Skates made the cover art for his 2013 album Mutant^[62] and in 2015 they released a limited edition signature deck coinciding with the release of his album Magickal Weirdness.^[63]

Discography

Solo albums

Notes and References

1. Web site: Admin2015 . 2025-11-13 . Today in High Prairie: November 14, 2025 . 2025-11-14 . South Peace News . en-US.
2. Web site: Moka Only . 2025-11-09 . First Avenue . en-US.
3. Web site: 2006-10-19 . Moka Only . 2025-11-09 . Hand'Solo Records.
4. Web site: 2010-05-06 . Vancouver's Most Awesome: Moka Only! . 2025-11-09 . Vancouver Is Awesome . en.
5. Web site: 2008-11-14 . The many faces of Moka Only . 2025-11-12 . Pique Newsmagazine . en.
6. Web site: @HipHopCanada . 2002-05-07 . Swollen Members (with Moka Only) talk Bad Dreams, Monsters In The Closet & more . 2025-10-09 . HipHopCanada.com . en-CA.
7. Web site: Moka Only Exclaim! . http://web.archive.org/web/20210801031225/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/moka_only . 2021-08-01 . 2026-02-25 . exclaim.ca . en.
8. Web site: matt2.9 . Moka Only . 2025-11-05 . ug rap . de-DE.
9. Web site: matt2.9 . Moka Only . 2025-10-24 . ug rap . de-DE.
10. Web site: Music . CBC . January 2, 2024 . Can you believe these albums are turning 25 in 2025? . CBC.
11. Web site: Moka Only │ Exclaim!. 2025-10-09. Moka Only │ Exclaim!. en.
12. Web site: 2025-11-07 . Sunspot Jonz :: Don't Let Em Stop You – RapReviews . 2025-11-13 . en-US.
13. Web site: White Dynamite . 2025-11-13 . en-US.
14. Web site: Gabriel Teodros Battles His Inner Demons on History Rhymes If It Doesn't Repeat (A Southend Healing Ritual) . 2025-11-13 . kexp.org.
15. Web site: "This That" by Moka Only . 2025-11-14 . WEFUNK Radio.
16. Web site: J Rawls . 2025-11-14 . Tiffin University . en-US.
17. Web site: MEDIA . VOLUNTEER . Moka Only / Tank Gawd . 2025-11-13 . VOLUNTEER MEDIA.
18. Web site: 2013-04-04 . Moka seeks second shot with Swollen Members . 2025-12-11 . Times Colonist . en.
19. Web site: 2015-10-02 . Stream The Self-Titled Album From J Dilla's Brother Illa J . 2025-12-11 . Hypebeast.
20. Web site: CMJ New Music Monthly April 2001 . Worldradiohistory.
21. Web site: Magnesium Opium [2003], by Moka Only ]. 2025-10-09 . Moka Only . en.
22. Web site: Staff . Billboard . 2002-06-17 . Swollen Members Clean Up At MuchMusic Awards . 2025-11-04 . Billboard . en-US.
23. Web site: Canada Top 20 (2002-04-18). Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
24. Web site: Swollen Members - Fuel Injected. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
25. Web site: Swollen Members - Bring It Home. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
26. Web site: Staff . Billboard . 2001-12-20 . Canadian Mainstream Embraces Swollen Members . 2025-11-09 . Billboard . en-US.
27. Web site: @HipHopCanada . 2002-09-28 . Bad Dreams by Swollen Members is Certified Platinum . 2025-10-09 . HipHopCanada.com . en-CA.
28. Web site: Swollen Members & Nelly Furtado - Breath. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
29. Web site: Swollen Members - Steppin' Thru. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
30. Web site: June 23, 2003 . Lavigne, Our Lady Peace among winners of video awards . CBC.
31. Web site: 2004-03-22 . Swollen Members to Perform in Whistler . 2025-11-09 . SKI . en-US.
32. Web site: 2002-12-06 . Keeping it real . 2025-10-09 . Pique Newsmagazine . en.
33. Web site: 2005-08-18 . Moka makes a move . 2025-11-04 . The Georgia Straight . en.
34. Web site: Swollen Members - Watch This. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-01-31. en.
35. Web site: Sweatshop Union - Better Days. Top40-Charts.com. 2026-02-01. en.
36. Web site: Manitoba Nets 33 Nominations at 2004 WCMAs. Manitoba Music. 2004-08-17. 2026-02-01. en. Manitoba. Music.
37. Web site: 2025-10-31 . Moka Only :: Vermilion – RapReviews . 2025-11-09 . en-US.
38. Web site: Moka Only - Once Again . 2025-12-11 . Top40-Charts.com . en.
39. Web site: 2025-10-06 . Moka Only :: Vermilion – RapReviews . 2025-10-09 . en-US.
40. Web site: Moka Only │ Exclaim! . 2025-10-09 . Moka Only │ Exclaim! . en.
41. Web site: Weakerthans, Corb Lund vie for Western Canadian Music Awards. July 31, 2008. CBC.
42. Web site: Jul 2009: 43 Manitobans vying for western music awards. Winnipeg Free Press. 2009-07-14. 2026-02-01. en-US.
43. Web site: Western Canadian Music Awards Announce 2013 Nominees Including Japandroids, Hannah Georgas, Yukon Blonde, KEN Mode Exclaim!. exclaim.ca. 2026-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023123155/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/western_canadian_music_awards_announce_2013_nominees_including_japandroids_hannah_georgas_yukon_blonde_ken_mode. 2021-10-23. en.
44. Web site: 2015 Western Canadian Music Award Winners Revealed │ Exclaim!. 2015 Western Canadian Music Award Winners Revealed │ Exclaim!. 2026-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20250623064034/https://exclaim.ca/Music/article/2015_western_canadian_music_award_winners_revealed. 2025-06-23. en-US.
45. Web site: 2017-01-11 . Moka Only's new release To the Next Season is Vancouver to the core . 2025-10-29 . The Georgia Straight . en.
46. Web site: Exclaim! Canada's Authority on Music, Film and Entertainment. exclaim.ca. 2026-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20241205044858/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/here_are_the_2018_western_canadian_music_awards_winners. 2024-12-05. en.
47. Web site: Here Are the Winners of the 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards. September 24, 2020. Exclaim!. Thiessen. Brock.
48. Web site: Moka Only - In and of Itself (Album) . 2025-11-13 . WORDPLAY . en-GB.
49. Web site: 2013-04-04 . Moka seeks second shot with Swollen Members . 2025-11-14 . Times Colonist . en.
50. Web site: 2013-05-15 . Billy Woods & Blockhead Announce "Dour Candy" Album . 2025-12-11 . HipHopDX . en-US.
51. Web site: Sweatshop Union to Release Three New Albums this Summer │ Exclaim! . 2025-10-12 . Sweatshop Union to Release Three New Albums this Summer │ Exclaim! . en.
52. Web site: 2025-11-07 . Moka Only :: Magickal Weirdness – RapReviews . 2025-11-13 . en-US.
53. Web site: 2025-11-16 . Moka Only :: Carrots and Eggs – RapReviews . 2025-11-20 . en-US.
54. Web site: Moka Only - Airport 6 -Scratched Vinyl . 2025-11-13 . scratchedvinyl.com.
55. Web site: Moka Only :: Lowdown Suite 2... The Box :: Feelin' Music . 2025-11-13 . www.rapreviews.com.
56. Web site: 2011-05-05 . Moka Only - Airport 5 . 2025-11-13 . HipHopDX . en-US.
57. Web site: Ricci . Benjamin . 2017-03-21 . Moka Only Skirts the Line Between Jazz and Hip-Hop Performer Mag . 2025-10-29 . en-US.
58. Web site: Moka Only - In and of Itself (LP, CD) . 2025-10-09 . Fat Beats . en.
59. Web site: Red Dragon - RDS / FSU / 2002 SkateVideoSite . 2025-10-30 . www.skatevideosite.com . en.
60. Web site: Red Dragon - Skateboard Party SkateVideoSite . 2025-10-29 . www.skatevideosite.com . en.
61. Web site: Cayne . Sugar . 2013-04-24 . Red Dragon Apparel Dragon's Gate featuring Moka Only and DEF3 . 2025-10-29 . Sugar Cayne . en-US.
62. Web site: Skull Skates Blog Archive » Moka Only Mutant Mixtape . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627031948/http://www.skullskates.com/2014/03/07/moka-only-mutant-mixtape/ . 2021-06-27 . 2025-10-29 . www.skullskates.com . en-US.
63. Web site: Skull Skates Blog Archive » Moka Only Skull Skates Collab . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627023835/http://www.skullskates.com/2015/07/14/moka-only-skull-skates-collab/ . 2021-06-27 . 2025-10-29 . www.skullskates.com . en-US.