Egyptian Lover


Gregory James Broussard, known professionally as Egyptian Lover, is an American musician, vocalist, producer, DJ, and graphic artist. He was an early figure in the Los Angeles electro and hip hop scenes of the 1980s and is widely recognized for his pioneering use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine in rap and dance music. His original pen-and-ink drawings on 12-inch LP sleeves have been offered by Sotheby's and covered by independent music press. He was the subject of the 2025 book Egyptian Lover: On the Nile, a limited-edition volume documenting his career and the early Los Angeles electro scene.
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Early life

Broussard was born and raised in the Central-Alameda area of South Central Los Angeles, part of the historic South Los Angeles district and a major hub for early West Coast hip hop and electro-funk scenes during the late 1970s and early 1980s. During that period, as part of the Los Angeles Unified School District's court-ordered desegregation plan, students from his neighborhood, including Broussard, were bused to James Monroe High School in the San Fernando Valley. While in high school, Broussard began experimenting with a cassette deck and turntable to make what he later described as "Pause-Button Mix Tapes". He sold these to classmates, gaining an early reputation as a party DJ and performer.
He adopted the stage name "Egyptian Lover" in the early 1980s, drawing on ancient Egyptian imagery, mystique, and romantic iconography that circulated in early hip hop, electro, and club culture.

Career

Beginnings: Uncle Jam's Army and the Radio Crew

Broussard began performing in 1982 as a member of Uncle Jam's Army, a Los Angeles party and performance collective that organized large-scale dances at venues such as the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Founded by Rodger Clayton and Gid Martin, the crew's core DJs included Broussard, DJ Bobcat, Bleeps, and Dave "Dr. Funkenstein". Their independent 12-inch singles, including "Dial-A-Freak" and "Yes, Yes, Yes", were among the earliest West Coast electro-rap releases distributed directly by local DJs.
In 1983, while still performing with Uncle Jam's Army, Broussard also appeared regularly at the Radio Club, a Los Angeles venue that became a hub for hip-hop, dance, and DJ culture. The club brought together many of the same performers later featured in the documentary Breakin' ’n’ Enterin’, including Ice-T, The Glove, and Super AJ. For the film, these regulars were formally credited as The Radio Crew, a group created specifically for the production.
Released later that year, Breakin' ’n’ Enterin’ showcased the Los Angeles hip hop and dance scene centered on the Radio Club and its performers, with Broussard featured among the film’s principal DJs. The documentary later inspired the 1984 feature film Breakin'.
In 1985, Broussard composed the electro soundtrack for the television film The Pilot, featuring b-boy Adolph "Oz Rock" Alvarez.

1990s and 2000s

In the early 1990s Broussard released Get Into It, Pyramix, and Back from the Tomb. He returned with Platinum Pyramids, blending 1980s textures with early-2000s funk. He continued touring with vintage gear and the TR-808.

Visual art

Broussard produces hand-drawn pen-and-ink artwork on 12-inch record sleeves, often featuring Egyptian iconography, turntables, boomboxes, extraterrestrial motifs, numerology, and references to the TR-808. A set of thirty-six signed drawings was offered by Sotheby's in its September 2020 Hip Hop sale. Contemporary music press reported on the auction, noting the inclusion of Egyptian Lover materials alongside other hip hop artifacts. Separately, the Metropolitan Museum of Art lists the 1986 video work Freak-A-Holic and the 1984 record On the Nile under the artist name The Egyptian Lover in its Modern and Contemporary Art department, indicating institutional cataloging of his creative output beyond audio releases.

Book

In 2025 Broussard was the subject of Egyptian Lover: On the Nile, a 200-page clothbound art and photo book created by curator and designer Bob Dominguez and published by Beyond the Streets. The book chronicles the rise of Los Angeles electro and hip-hop scenes surrounding Broussard’s 1984 debut album On the Nile. It features archival photographs, flyers, handwritten lyrics, and reflections from peers including Ice-T, Arabian Prince, Chris “The Glove” Taylor, Cozmo D, Moodymann, Dam-Funk, J Rocc, and David Broussard.
The first edition was limited to 808 copies, measuring 8.25 × 10.25 inches, printed by Oddi Sales, and issued with ISBN 979-8-218-73197-7. A launch pop-up event took place on September 6, 2025, with the book becoming widely available by late October 2025 through Beyond the Streets and Stones Throw’s online stores.

Musical influences and style

Broussard has cited Kraftwerk, Prince, Zapp and Roger Troutman, Afrika Bambaataa, and Dean Martin as key influences. He credited Kraftwerk’s "Numbers" as a model for TR-808–based production, Prince and Troutman for vocal and performance style, Bambaataa’s "Planet Rock" as a blueprint for electro-rap, and Martin’s phrasing for his smooth vocal tone.

Equipment

Core synthesizers and drum machines

He has worked at Skip Saylor, Encore, Rusk Sound Studios, Ameraycan, Record One, Paramount Studios, Record Plant, Larrabee Studios, Clear Lake, and other Los Angeles recording facilities. His studio work uses analog mixing desks and tape-based production methods with no MIDI sequencing. Live performances employ Technics SL-1200 turntables and original TR-808 units, maintaining a stage format close to his 1980s shows.

Discography

Studio albums

On the Nile One Track Mind Filthy Get Into It Back from the Tomb Platinum Pyramids 1984 1985 1986
  • ''1987''

Compilation and archival albums

King of Ecstasy: His Greatest Hits Album ”, “My House ”, “Egypt, Egypt Pyramix ", and "Get High 1983–1988 Instrumentals and Demos
  • ''Pyramix Party''

Singles and EPs

The first Egyptian Lover 12-inch records were released on Freak Beat Records. The initial 12-inch featured "Egypt, Egypt", "And My Beat Goes Boom", "What Is a D.J. If He Can't Scratch?", and "The Ultimate Scratch". The second 12-inch, "Computer Love " / "And My Beat Goes Boom ", followed shortly afterward. Both used the same catalog numbering system later continued by Egyptian Empire Records, which succeeded Freak Beat as Egyptian Lover's primary label.
  • "Egypt, Egypt" / "And My Beat Goes Boom" / "What Is A D.J. If He Can't Scratch?" / "The Ultimate Scratch"
  • "Computer Love " / "And My Beat Goes Boom "
  • "Dubb Girls"
  • "Dance"
  • "Girls" / "Voices"
  • "You're So Fine" / "E-Rap " / "Scratch Force One" / "The Ultimate Scratch II"
  • "The Lover / I Want To Make Love"
  • "Freak-A-Holic / Livin' On The Nile "
  • "The Alezby Inn " / "Sexy Style "
  • "Get Into It " / "Dance Music "
  • "D.S.L.'s " / "I Want Cha "
  • "Baddest Beats Around " / "Filthy "
  • "Dial-A-Freak " / "Yes, Yes, Yes" – Uncle Jamm's Army featuring The Egyptian Lover
  • "Let's Get It On / Let's Get It On "
  • "Egypt Rave '93" / "Egypt, Egypt " / "Planet E " / "Get High "
  • "Bounce That Bootie" / "Gotta Have Ya"
  • "Party" / "Dance Floor"
  • "Electro Pharaoh" / "Keep It Hot "
  • "Egypt, Egypt" / "Girls"
  • "Killin' It " / "Tryin To Tell Ya"
  • "I Need a Freak" / "My House on the Nile "
  • "Seduced " / "Belly Dance"
  • "808 Beats Volume 1"
  • "Beyond the Galaxy" feat. DJ Q-bert / "5 Cent Camel Ride "
  • "Into the Future "
  • "Freak a Holic " / "2 The Extreme "
  • "Freaky Girl " / "We The Freaks "
  • "Lose Control " / "Vocoder Jam"
  • "The Freak Pack"
  • "Egypt, Egypt" / "Girls "
  • "Emotions" / "Dirty Passionate Yell"

Uncle Jamm's Army and related projects

  • "Dial-A-Freak" / "Yes, Yes, Yes" – Uncle Jamm's Army
  • "Naughty Boy" / "What's Your Sign " – Uncle Jamm's Army

As Jamie Jupitor

  • "Computer Power"
  • "Future Computer"