Divine Styler

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Divine Styler (born Mark Richardson 1968 in Brooklyn, New York) is an alternative rapper who first emerged as part of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate. His first LP, Word Power, was hailed by critics and fans, but was not a commercial success. His second album, the wildly experimental Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light, also failed to sell well. In 1998, Divine Styler hooked up with the Quannum posse, teaming up with his dear friend and fellow Rhyme Syndicate alum Everlast, Styles of Beyond and the Beat Junkies. The Beat Junkies' DJ Rhettmatic also appeared, along with DJ Shadow, on his third LP, Wordpower 2: Directrix (1998), which trafficked in Information Age paranoia.

Divine Styler is a convert to Sunni Islam after a number of years spent in the Nation of Gods and Earths; he influenced the decision by Everlast to become a Muslim. Many of the songs on Spiral Walls Containing Autums of Light are songs of praise to Allah, and the 1999 song "Make It Plain" (recorded for the Funky Precedent compilation) details the joy he feels at having finally found a way of life he loves after decades of uncertainty and woes.

Aside from those major albums his tracks are scattered among other artists' albums and projects. He has done several tracks with John Tejada but they're scattered on several compilations and albums by Tejada. He appeared (along with Sadat X and Cockni O'Dire) on several tracks on the final House of Pain album, Truth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise Again (1998). His most recent work has been with Len, Swollen Members and DJ Shadow.

He's on/part of Monster Island Czars, listed under an alias stage name.

[edit] Discography

1989 Word Power (Epic)
1992 Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light (Giant)
1998 Wordpower: 2 (DTX Recordings)

[edit] Miscellenea:

Sometimes credited as Islamic convert name, Mark Safiyullah
His first few verses from 'Whats That Smell' on House Of Pain's Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again is from his first single, Ain't Sayin' Nothin', and it has been led to believed that House Of Pain used the same scratch noise from Ain't Sayin' Nothin' on their song Jump Around also.