Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Troy Donald Jamerson |
Born | October 31, 1972 |
Origin | South Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels |
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Troy Donald Jamerson (born October 31, 1972), better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American
Biography
Monch released three albums as part of the rap duo Organized Konfusion with partner Prince Poetry: The self-titled Organized Konfusion, Stress: The Extinction Agenda and The Equinox. The duo handled a large amount of production on these albums themselves. All albums received positive critical reviews, but moderate sales. As a result, the duo split up after recording their final album The Equinox in 1997. Prince Poetry has since denied the possibility of an Organized Konfusion reunion. [citation needed]
Pharoahe Monch then signed to
Following the controversy, Pharoahe would not release another solo project for several years, but still released some songs and had guest appearances. In 2000, he collaborated with
There were rumors his next album, at first tentatively titled Innervisions, was to be released under
On July 9, 2009, Pharoahe Monch allowed hip hop website
Pharoahe Monch released his third solo album
In 2011, Pharoahe Monch was a judge on the Ultimate MC TV show alongside
Pharoahe Monch recently made his second appearance on an R&B song - the first being "It Ain't The Money" on
Pharoahe released his fourth album, PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, on April 15, 2014, under his independent label, W.A.R. Media. The album is a conceptual follow up to his third album, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). The album featured two singles, "Damage" and "Bad M.F.", both produced by Lee Stone.
In late 2017 Pharoahe Monch was featured in a song by Keyon Harrold titled "Her Beauty Through My Eyes" from Keyon's latest album Mugician.
In 2019, Pharoahe formed the rap-rock supergroup th1rt3en, featuring guitarist Marcus Machado and drummer Daru Jones; releasing their debut single "Palindrome" in September 2019.[9] On October 19, 2019, Internal Affairs was finally released to streaming services, on its 20th anniversary.[10]
Th1rt3en's debut album A Magnificent Day for an Exorcism was released two years later on January 22, 2021, and was supported by the three singles "Fight" featuring rap group Cypress Hill, "666 (Three Six Word Stories)" and "Cult 45".[11]
Rapping technique
Pharoahe Monch is acclaimed for his complex rapping technique;[1] AllMusic says he has, "a reputation as one of underground hip hop's pre-eminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps."[12] Kool Moe Dee ranks him at 26 in his best MCs of all-time list, from his book, There's a God on the Mic,[13] noting: "Pharoahe Monch is like an eloquent linguistics professor moonlighting as a rhyme serial killer terrorist, challenging the listeners' I.Q. while daring him or her to keep up."[13]
Having been afflicted with chronic asthma since the age of thirteen months,[14] Monch developed new and creative ways to deliver his lyrics when rapping. In an interview with HipHopDX, he stated that "asthma forced [him] to really go against the issue and push the envelope in terms of breath control," developing a technique he "wouldn't try if [he] didn’t have asthma."[15]
Monch compares writing and recording his lyrics to writing and filming a movie - in the book How to Rap he says he will 'punch-in' vocals so he can "retake some things, just like a film",[16] and he 'rewrites' lyrics, saying he will "go back as a screenwriter and rewrite scenes and leave more to the imagination."[17]
For his biggest hit, "Simon Says", he comments that he wrote the choruses before he wrote the verses,[18] and fellow rapper and collaborator O.C. notes that Monch will write single lines down and then use them five years later.[19] His vocal delivery is inspired by Jazz music and musicians such as John Coltrane.[20]
Discography
Solo albums
- Internal Affairs (1999)
- Desire (2007)
- W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) (2011)
- PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2014)
- External Affairs (2024)[21]
Group albums
- Organized Konfusion (1991) (with Prince Po as Organized Konfusion)
- Stress: The Extinction Agenda (1994) (with Prince Po as Organized Konfusion)
- The Equinox (1997) (with Prince Po as Organized Konfusion)
- A Magnificent Day for an Exorcism (2021) (with th1rt3en)[22]
References
- ^ a b Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 327.
- ^ "Hip Hop Icons Series: Pharoahe Monch". Halftimeonline.net. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Pharoahe Monch – The Awakening". Nah Right. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ a b shamz on January 21, 2011 (2011-01-21). "Audio: Pharoahe Monch "Clap (One Day)" feat. Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind « Okayplayer". okayplayer.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Pharoahe Monch Vs. The Black Panther, www.frolab.com, 2009-01-12. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
- ^ Staff (2011). "Home". Ultimate MC. UMC Productions Inc. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Day 8 - The Cycle (Feat. Pharoahe Monch) (12 Days of The Box)". youtube.com. Eric Roberson. Retrieved 23 Nov 2015.
- ^ Eric Roberson - The Box (CD liner notes). Blue Erro Soul/Liaison Records. BES-CD-012
- ^ A., Aron (17 September 2019). "Pharoahe Monch Returns With New Group TH1RT3EN For "Palindrome"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Findlay, Mitch (October 1, 2019). "Pharoahe Monch's "Internal Affairs" To Finally Hit Streaming Services". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ "Pharoahe Monch Delivers The Long-Awaited Album Alongside His Band Th1rt3en". Ambrosia for Heads. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Steve Huey (2012). "Pharoahe Monch". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ There's A God On The Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs, Thunder's Mouth Press, p.147.
- ^ "Pharoahe Monch Discusses Chronic Asthma, New "Still Standing" Video". XXL. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Pharoahe Monch Talks Asthma and Rap Delivery". HipHopDX. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 276.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 198-199.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 190.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 164.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 255-256.
- ^ "Pharoahe Monch - External Affairs". www.youtube.com/@PharoaheMonchtv. July 27, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "th1rt3en & Pharoahe Monch - A Magnificent Day for an Exorcism". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2021-01-22.