# Crookers
Crookers are an Italian electronic music act founded in Milan in 2003 by Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia and Andrea "Bot" Fratangelo, best known for their remix of [Kid Cudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kid-cudi)'s "[Day 'n' Nite](https://www.edgepedia.org/day-n-nite)", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kid-cudi-vs-crookers-day-n-nite/) The pair worked as a duo until October 2012, when Bot left and Phra carried on under the Crookers name as a solo act.[3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/) Their late-2000s sound, tagged by internet communities as "fidget house", placed them alongside Hervé, Sinden, Diplo, and A-Trak at the front of a sample-stitched, genre-blending house movement.[4](https://www.thefader.com/2008/07/31/tk-2) • [5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) After years of lower activity, the act returned from hiatus in 2023 with new releases and live dates.[6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | Milan, 2003, by Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia and Andrea "Bot" Fratangelo[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145) • [7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers) |
| Signature hit | "Day 'n' Nite" (Kid Cudi vs Crookers), UK No. 2, 23 weeks on chart, first charted 24 January 2009[2](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kid-cudi-vs-crookers-day-n-nite/) |
| Labels | Mad Decent, Fool's Gold, Southern Fried, Data, Ed Banger, Pretty Weird, Lucky Beard[5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) • [3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/) • [6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers) |
| Albums | Put Your Hands on Me (2009), Tons of Friends (2010), Dr. Gonzo (2011), Sixteen Chapel (2015)[8](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phra/171824452) |
| Split | Bot left in October 2012; Phra continued as Crookers[3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/) |
| Return | "I Hope EP This Finds You Well" on Pretty Weird, 2023[6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers) |
| Recent dates | Castello Sforzesco, Milan (15 June 2024); Enter Shibuya, Tokyo (15 May 2025)[6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers) |
## History and formation
Phra and Bot met in 2003 while both were living in Milan. Bot managed the alternative corner of a local record shop with only a few customers; Phra was one of them.[7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers) The friendship became a production partnership, and as Crookers the two first began remixing tracks by AC/DC, Armand Van Helden, and N.E.R.D.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145)
Their early releases followed the white-label rhythm of the era. The 2006 debut "End 2 End" appeared on P House, and in 2008 they put out the four-track "E.P.istola" on Diplo's Mad Decent while signing to Southern Fried Records, where the cuts "Knobbers" and "Mad Kidz" marked their breakthrough on that label.[5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) • [7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers) Before their signature hit they had already remixed [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears), U2, and [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg).[7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers)
## Breakthrough: "Day 'n' Nite" and the fidget era
The remix that changed the duo's scale was made in 2007. It was originally released at the end of that year on A-Trak's independent label [Fool's Gold](https://www.edgepedia.org/fools-gold-record-label) and grew through blogs and repeated spins from taste-making DJs like Diplo.[9](https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/night/reviews/2010/interview_crookers_i.htm) • [5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) By the summer of 2008 it was a massive hit in Greek party destinations such as Malia, Crete, and Kos, which prompted a major-label UK and European release.[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/sep/08/welcometofidgethouse)
Signed to the dance label Data, the track "Kid Cudi vs Crookers – Day 'n' Nite" first charted in the UK on 24 January 2009, peaked at number 2 (held off the top by Lady GaGa) and spent 23 weeks on the Singles Chart.[5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kid-cudi-vs-crookers-day-n-nite/) AllMusic calls this collaboration the duo's big breakthrough.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145)
"Fidget house" was never a term the duo accepted. Internet writers applied it to their quick-edit sound; Bot called it meaningless, saying "It's just house music."[4](https://www.thefader.com/2008/07/31/tk-2) The Guardian traced the term to a joke made a few years earlier by Switch and Jesse Rose, describing an internet-centered scene rather than a real one, and grouped Crookers with the producers tied to it.[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/sep/08/welcometofidgethouse)
## Sound and scene
Bot described the duo's method as hip-hop in a house structure: taking the raw sample feel of hip-hop and fitting it into house.[11](https://www.clashmusic.com/features/crookers-interview/) AllMusic characterizes their music as a mix of old-school rave with 2000s house and hip-hop.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145) Fact magazine described their late-2000s style as glitchy, bass-heavy electro house.[3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/)
They emerged alongside like-minded producers Hervé and Sinden and their US counterparts Diplo and A-Trak, and [DJ Mag](https://www.edgepedia.org/dj-mag) credits them with spearheading a movement.[5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief) Their network spanned Milan, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Toronto, including Brodinski, Justice, MSTRKRFT, Soulwax, and Busy P.[4](https://www.thefader.com/2008/07/31/tk-2) Demand ran ahead of their discography: they commanded DJ fees of over a thousand pounds before releasing a physical single, and their first gig outside Italy was in Fabric's main room.[11](https://www.clashmusic.com/features/crookers-interview/) At peak they drew festival bookings such as the Get Loaded In The Park festival in London in August 2009.[5](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief)
## Discography
**Albums.** Apple Music lists three albums made by Phra and Bot together: Put Your Hands on Me (2009), Tons of Friends (2010), and Dr. Gonzo (2011), followed by the fourth Crookers album, Sixteen Chapel (2015), under Phra.[8](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phra/171824452) Qobuz dates Tons of Friends to 8 March 2010 and Dr. Gonzo to 24 October 2011, both on Southern Fried Records.[12](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/interpreter/crookers/126039) The Italian edition of Tons of Friends appeared in 2010 on Universal Music Italia.[13](https://www.discogs.com/release/3045389-Crookers-Tons-Of-Friends) Amsterdam Dance Event calls Tons of Friends, released in 2010, the debut album.[14](https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/artists-speakers/crookers/6162/)
Tons of Friends carried a large guest roster: AllMusic names Kelis, Pitbull, and will.i.am,[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145) ADE adds [Miike Snow](https://www.edgepedia.org/miike-snow) and [Major Lazer](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-lazer),[14](https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/artists-speakers/crookers/6162/) and the Danish chart archive lists tracks with [Róisín Murphy](https://www.edgepedia.org/roisin-murphy), Hudson Mohawke & Carli, Leftside & Supahype, and others.[15](https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?cat=a&interpret=Crookers&titel=Tons+Of+Friends) The album peaked at number 8 on the UK albums chart with 3 weeks on the list.[16](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20034/crookers/) After the more low-key Dr. Gonzo, which AllMusic describes as a return to their underground roots, Sixteen Chapel followed in 2015 with the single "I Can't Wait" featuring Jeremih.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145)
## Collaborations and remix work
The duo's remix credits include Britney Spears, U2, Snoop Dogg,[7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers) and [Dennis Ferrer](https://www.edgepedia.org/dennis-ferrer)'s "Hey Hey" for Defected around the release of Tons of Friends.[7](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers) Their collaborations include Wiley, Kelis, Miike Snow, and Yelle.[3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/) On Tons of Friends, some collaborations were built in the studio with the guest present; the duo said will.i.am's track was made that way.[9](https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/night/reviews/2010/interview_crookers_i.htm)
## The 2012 split and Phra's Crookers
In October 2012 the duo stopped working together, announced in a post on their website; Bot pursued a new direction while Phra continued under the Crookers name.[3](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/) Rolling Stone reported that Phra carried straight on, releasing the Giga a Go Go EP and joining Deadmau5 at a Grammy-night benefit for Children's Hospital at the [House of Blues](https://www.edgepedia.org/house-of-blues) in Los Angeles.[17](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/longtime-dance-duo-crookers-downsize-to-solo-act-237108/) Defected now describes Crookers as the solo outfit of founding member Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia.[18](https://defected.com/news/post/spotlight-crookers)
Phra runs two record labels, Lucky Beard and Ciao Recs, saying Ciao Recs is where he releases music similar to what he plays in his Crookers set.[14](https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/artists-speakers/crookers/6162/) • [18](https://defected.com/news/post/spotlight-crookers)
## Recent developments
**The 2023 return.** [Resident Advisor](https://www.edgepedia.org/resident-advisor) records Crookers' return from hiatus in 2023 with I Hope EP This Finds You Well on Pretty Weird Records, with help from Mr. Oizo, Nikki Nair, and DJ ADHD.[6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers)
New releases followed steadily. The album Jazz ain't shit, credited to Crookers and North of Loreto and produced by Crookers/Bassi, came out on 25 October 2024 on Com Era Records/Lucky Beard.[19](https://audiomack.com/crookers/album/jazz-aint-shit) In 2025 the single "Disco Estate (feat. Phra)" with Dwarf appeared on 13 June on Lucky Beard Rec,[20](https://music.apple.com/bm/album/disco-estate-feat-phra-single/1813441922) the Disco Estate EP followed on Bandcamp on 21 July with tracks including "Minimal haze w/ Dwarf" and a Dubstrumental,[21](https://crookers.bandcamp.com/album/disco-estate-ep) and the club edit "Another Disco Banger", produced, mixed, and mastered by Phra on his laptop, arrived on 12 September 2025.[22](https://crookers.bandcamp.com/track/another-disco-banger-club-edit)
AllMusic also lists 2020s production credits beyond the Crookers name: Marco Mengoni's Materia (Prisma) (2023), Myss Keta's Club Topperia (2022), and remix and engineer work on Tiësto's Super Bowl LVIII Dance Party (2024).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145) Live bookings remain active in Europe and Asia: a 15 June 2024 performance at [Castello Sforzesco](https://www.edgepedia.org/castello-sforzesco) in Milan and a 15 May 2025 Tokyo date at Enter Shibuya with Ckrono, CYBERHACKSYSTEM, HW BINGO, Licaxxx, and Seimei.[6](https://ra.co/dj/crookers)
## References
1. [Crookers, Songs, Albums, Discography & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000588145)
2. [DAY 'N' NITE – KID CUDI VS CROOKERS | Official Charts](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kid-cudi-vs-crookers-day-n-nite/)
3. [Italian electro-house duo Crookers break up, Fact Magazine](https://www.factmag.com/2012/10/19/italian-electro-house-duo-crookers-break-up/)
4. [FADER 55: Crookers Feature | The FADER](https://www.thefader.com/2008/07/31/tk-2)
5. [Mid-Summer Mischief! | DJ Mag](https://djmag.com/content/mid-summer-mischief)
6. [Crookers · Artist Profile, Resident Advisor](https://ra.co/dj/crookers)
7. [By Hook and Crook-ers | Defected Records](https://defected.com/news/post/by-hook-and-crook-ers)
8. [Phra, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phra/171824452)
9. [Interview: The Crookers | Ibiza Spotlight](https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/night/reviews/2010/interview_crookers_i.htm)
10. [Welcome to the fidget house | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/sep/08/welcometofidgethouse)
11. [Crookers Interview | Clash Magazine](https://www.clashmusic.com/features/crookers-interview/)
12. [Crookers Discography, Qobuz](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/interpreter/crookers/126039)
13. [Crookers – Tons Of Friends, Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/release/3045389-Crookers-Tons-Of-Friends)
14. [Crookers, Amsterdam Dance Event](https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/artists-speakers/crookers/6162/)
15. [danishcharts.com - Crookers - Tons Of Friends](https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?cat=a&interpret=Crookers&titel=Tons+Of+Friends)
16. [CROOKERS songs and albums | full Official Chart history](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20034/crookers/)
17. [Longtime Dance Duo Crookers Downsize to Solo Act, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/longtime-dance-duo-crookers-downsize-to-solo-act-237108/)
18. [Spotlight: Crookers, Defected Records](https://defected.com/news/post/spotlight-crookers)
19. [Jazz ain't shit by Crookers, North of Loreto - Audiomack](https://audiomack.com/crookers/album/jazz-aint-shit)
20. [Disco Estate (feat. Phra) - Single by Crookers & Dwarf - Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/bm/album/disco-estate-feat-phra-single/1813441922)
21. [Disco Estate (EP) | Crookers, Bandcamp](https://crookers.bandcamp.com/album/disco-estate-ep)
22. [Another Disco Banger (Club edit) | Crookers, Bandcamp](https://crookers.bandcamp.com/track/another-disco-banger-club-edit)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › Artists, groups, and people: Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › Mainstage EDM and dance-pop crossover artists*
*Initially written Sep 19, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 19, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license