Tash (rapper)

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Tash
Birth nameRico Smith
Also known asCatashtraphe
Born (1971-08-09) August 9, 1971 (age 52)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active1993–present
LabelsAmalgam Digital
Member of

Rico Smith (born August 9, 1971), better known by his

E-Swift. Tash has released two solo albums, Rap Life (1999) and Control Freek
(2009), and worked on five albums with Tha Alkaholiks.

History

Early life and career

Tash was born in

King Tee, but never with Tash or E-Swift. Tash's connection with J-Ro allowed Tha Alkaholiks to appear on King Tee's 1993 album, Tha Triflin' Album. Soon after their appearance, Tha Alkaholiks started touring with famed hip hop artists such as Ice Cube, and even inked a record deal with Loud/RCA. After appearing on more songs with Tha Alkaholiks in collaboration with other artists, his party-themed rhymes created much anticipation for his group's debut album, 21 & Over
.

Tha Alkaholiks work

The first album by Tha Alkaholiks, 1993's 21 & Over, lead critics to applaud Tash's "punch lines and comic timing," "killer delivery of topnotch MCs" and "more than enough talent and energy to back up [...] endlessly clever boasting."[1] The album as a whole was a great critical success but was not too commercially successful. It did have three charting singles though and likely gained Tash and his group a "sizeable cult following."[2] 1995 saw the release of Coast II Coast which was also a critical success, but had slightly more commercial success than its predecessor. It spawned two minor hit singles in "DAAAM!" and "The Next Level." Tha Alkaholiks changed their name to Tha Liks for their 1997 album, Likwidation. It was met with decent critical reception and about the same commercial reception as Coast II Coast. It did boast a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Hip Hop Drunkies" featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard, which is their most successful recording of all time. Tash and his group went on to release X.O. Experience in 2001 and Firewater in 2006, before disbanding as a group. The large amount of time in between releases allowed each member of Tha Liks to work on solo projects.

Solo work

Tash released one album,

Hot Rap Singles chart. Those two songs, "Rap Life" featuring Raekwon
and "Bermuda Triangle," remain as Tash's best-known solo tracks.

According to a 2009 interview, Tha Alkalholiks are done releasing albums, and Tash was 100% finished with his next solo album,

Maestro, and J. Wells
.

In a 2015 interview with Dubcnn, Tash revealed that he will be releasing a new album titled "Publicity Stunt". "Publicity Stunt", according to Tash is "a collaboration album where in the last 15 years, I just did so many songs with people."[4] The projected release date is May 2015.

Album information
Rap Life
  • Released: November 2, 1999
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #148
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #28
  • Singles: "Rap Life", "Bermuda Triangle". "G's Iz G's"
Control Freek
  • Released: June 30, 2009
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: -

References

  1. ^ "Tha Alkaholiks - 21 & Over Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Tha Alkaholiks - Coast II Coast Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ^ [1] [dead link]
  4. ^ "Exclusive Interview With Tash Of Tha Alkaholiks (March 2015) | DubCNN.com // West Coast Hip-Hop : Daily For Over A Decade". Dubcnn.com. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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