Ras Kass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ras Kass | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Origin | Watts, Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Genres | West Coast hip-hop |
| Labels | RBC Records |
Ras Kass (born John Austin, on September 26, 1975 in Watts, California) is an American rapper. Fans laud not only his technical skill, but the passion he holds for his music and the no-compromise attitude evident in his lyrical content. He is recognized as one of the many intellectual members of the hip hop community.
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[edit] Career
Ras Kass released his debut album Soul on Ice in 1996. The album built up considerable hype through the release of several independent singles, including "Remain Anonymous" and "Won't Catch Me Runnin". Soul On Ice saw little commercial success but was adored by the hip hop underground, who appreciated both his sharp battle raps and his militant Afrocentricity. The latter also caused controversy due to the songs "Ordo Abchao" and "Nature Of The Threat" which were tracks detailing the history of white-on-black racism (the latter lasting for well over 7 minutes and likely his most well-known song). Many argued that Ras was extreme to the point of racism against caucasians, mostly since many listeners view much of the song as unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.
Ras Kass made a big push to make sure his second album Rasassination was commercially successful. As well as securing guest appearances from Xzibit and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, he received considerable assistance from superstar West Coast producer Dr. Dre, who provided beats for the album and rapped on the lead single "Ghetto Fabulous." The video for "Fabulous" was supported by an extravagant video shot on a luxury yacht.
Though this single became easily Ras' most popular among mainstream audiences, many of the underground enthusiasts who had adored his debut album accused him of watering down his subject matter for commercial success. The album in fact contained some of his most intellectual material to date ("Interview With A Vampire", a theological and spiritual exploration that featured Ras rapping from the perspectives of God, himself and the Devil) and occasionally addressed very personal subject matter ("It Is What It Is", concerning his relationship with his mother). Despite the single, his album still didn't sell as expected.
Ras Kass' third album Van Gogh was originally intended for release in 2001. However, the nearly-finished album was leaked onto the internet months before the release date. It received excellent reviews from fans and the hip hop media, but the bootlegging caused his label Priority Records to push the release date back twice before the record was eventually shelved indefinitely.
[edit] My priority is that I'm first priority
This further worsened the relationship between the label and Ras Kass, which was already strained due to disputes over several things, including the level of promotion Ras was being given, and the supposed block of the Columbia release of his supergroup Golden State Warriors' debut album.
The bootleg Van Gogh album even featured the lyrics "Fuck Priority Records, like Prince I'm writing SLAVE on my cheek" (this was later fulfilled as Ras Kass appeared in popular hip hop magazine XXL with SLAVE written on his face).
The relationship between Ras and Priority reached breaking point when the label also shelved the intended Van Gogh replacement Goldyn Chyld, an album which featured tracks from Van Gogh as well as new material. The "indefinite postponement" was due to a dispute over the lead single: Ras wanted to release the DJ Premier-produced title track, while Priority wanted a Dr. Dre-produced track, against the wishes of both Ras and Dre. This prompted Ras to launch a "Free Ras Kass" campaign (supported by an on-line petition and T-shirts) to gain his release from the label.
This affected his personal life to the extent that his music and subjects became steadily darker, and he began drinking heavily. Eventually, he was convicted under California's "three strikes" rule for DUIs, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
[edit] Free Ras Kass
In 2002, Ras Kass went on the run from the authorities. While fugitive, he recovered the masters of his albums from Priority Records studios and eventually gave himself up and was promptly jailed.
While incarcerated, he organized the independent release of a mixtape titled Re-Up which featured himself and other artists. Priority Records unsuccessfully attempted to block this release. In May 2004, Ras filed a lawsuit against Priority Records, Capitol Records and EMI in protest at his treatment by the label and claimed breach of contract in an attempt to have it nullified. Vinnie Paz, frontman of the hip-hop group Jedi Mind Tricks, says, "Free Ras Kass!" in the song "Rise of the Machines."
[edit] California love
After his release from prison in December 2004, Ras was met with nationwide support, even scoring the cover of XXL. He appeared on several radio shows and returned to the studio, releasing a few songs to some acclaim.
He then announced he would release a new album in 2005. To fire up his audience, Ras decided to drop the Guess Who's Back mixtape, which was mainly released through his official website at raskass-central.com. Though still not officially released because of the Priority Records situation, Ras did manage to independently release a mixtape/album entitled Institutionalized Vol. 1. Eventually, he was able to procure release from his contract. Revenge of the Spit, a 27 track mixtape featuring commercial instrumentals and original beats, was released in February, 2006. Institutionalized Vol. 2 is slated for a drop date in the summer. In early 2006 Ras Kass was seen working with Chinga Chang Records CEO D-MAK, on a track off the soon to be released mix tape "Stackin Euros". After that, Ras will then release another album under a new label. The title of this disc will probably be "H.T.K.G", rumored to stand for "How to Kill God". Before that, however, a mixtape titled "Eat or Die" will be released on September 19th. A sampler has been released on RasKass-Central, linked at the External Links section on this page.
[edit] The HRSMN
According to Canibus-central.com: [1]
- The Horsemen is a collaboration between 4 rappers; Canibus, Ras Kass, Kurupt and Killah Priest. Together they have released one album called "The Horsemen Project" in 2003 on Think Differently Music/Proverbs Records. Since that release, fans are waiting for another album.
- Although some members of the group kept calling it "The Four Horsemen", Canibus always had the idea to add more people and form some kind of rap supergroup. A lot of names have been mentioned in the past; Pharaohe Monch, Kool G Rap, Pacman, Young Zee, Chino XL, Royce Da 5'9", Journalist, Common, Rakim, Pace Won, Keith Murray, Vinnie Paz, Lonnie B, Danja Mowf and Crooked I. Unfortunately, none of these rappers was made a member of the group (though some artists on this list are featured on tracks).
[edit] Feuds
[edit] The Alchemist
Ras Kass' first industry "beef" was with The Alchemist, a popular producer for such artists as Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep and Nas. The situation came about when Ras allegedly bought a beat before Alchemist re-sold it to Jadakiss without notifying Ras or returning his money. (The beat eventually became Jada's We Gon' Make It from his first LP.) The Alchemist has blamed Priority, stating that he had had no communication with the label for months before he sold the track to Jadakiss, and thus assumed that Ras Kass had declined to use it.
This prompted Ras to diss Alchemist in freestyles and on a rap from Van Gogh. Eventually he dropped the beef to concentrate on his legal problems, but still cites a loss of respect for the producer. However, in 2006, The Alchemist was featured on a skit in the Revenge of the Spit mixtape. Furthermore, in an interview with www.hiphopgame.com, Ras admits that he was being stubborn, and refused to listen to what the Alchemist was trying to tell him. The two have squashed the beef and Alchemist produced the song "Past Feature & Present" and did the intro for the song that was placed on Revenge Of The Spit.
[edit] The Game
A confrontation between Ras Kass and fellow west coast rapper The Game took place on September 14, 2006 at Club Element in Los Angeles. The Game approached Ras Kass about a song in which he and his son were allegedly disrespected. A scuffle ensued in which Ras Kass was punched, giving him a black eye. No charges were filed. [1]. Three days later, Ras Kass dropped a diss record called "Hush Little Baby" which hinges on various veritably factual details from The Game's past and is available in mp3 format from RasKass-Central.Com.
Ras also released a video clip about the incident confirming his black eye. It shows him in a dark room with a group of friends hurling threats and insults at The Game, while Ras gives his version of the incident in which he claims he was actually attacked 30 men to 2. It can be seen here [2]
The Game later discussed his side of the incident in an interview with AllHipHop.com. He stated that the confrontation had in fact gone down, but had not involved more than 5 men, with no one attacking Ras but The Game himself. See the interview here.
The Game along with Black Wall Street member Juice, retaliated with the track "Pistol Grip Pump". Ras Kass struck back with "Gayme Over".
[edit] Trivia
- Created the name "Ras Kass" as his alias after the Ethiopian King Ras Kassa.
- Ras Kass has twin boys called Ras & Taj with New Orlean's born R&B singer Teedra Moses.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums/Mixtapes
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
 |
Soul on Ice |
 |
Rasassination
|
 |
Van Gogh
|
 |
Goldyn Chyld
|
 |
Institutionalized Vol. 1
|
 |
Revenge of the Spit
|
 |
Eat or Die
|
[edit] Mixtapes/unofficial albums
- 1994 Soul On Ice Demo
- 2003 HRSMN album entitled The Horsemen Project
- 2003 Run Away Slave
- 2003 Ras Kass Presents... Re-Up (The Compilation)
- 2005 Guess Who's Back: 2005 Mixtape Songs & Freestyles
- 2005 "Volume 1: Razzy"- presented by DJ Exclusive
- 2005 "Volume 2: Kazzy"- presented by DJ Exclusive
[edit] Singles and EPs
- 1995 "High IQ"
- 1995 "Won't Catch Me"
- 1996 "Miami Life"
- 1996 "Soul On Ice"
- 1998 "Ghetto Fabulous"
[edit] Appears on
(not including Freestyles and spur-of-the-moment radio show songs)
- 1994 "Come Widdit" (from the Street Fighter soundtrack)
- 1996 "Plastic Surgery" (from the Xzibit album At The Speed Of Life)
- 1996 "Riiiot!" (from the Chino XL album Here To Save You All)
- 1997 "Uni-4-Orm" (from the Heltah Skeltah album Rhyme & Reason: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- 1998 "Abide By" (with other HRSMN members Canibus, Killah Priest, & Kurupt from a 12" single called White Label)
- 1998 "3 Card Molly" (from the Xzibit album 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz)
- 1998 "Handwriting On The Wall" (from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo)
- 1999 "Sophisticated Thugs" (from the Bootleg album Death Before Dishonesty)
- 2000 "Horsementality" (from the Canibus album 2000 B.C.)
- 2000 "Heart Of The Assassin" (from the DJ Muggs compilation Muggs Presents The Soul Assassins II)
- 2001 "Whut Part Of The Game" (from the Killah Priest album View From Masada)
- 2002 "My Bloc" (from Caz album (with Kurupt & Rosco) "Goin Head Up")
- 2003 "Horsemen Enforcements" (from Canibus album (with Kurupt) The Brainstream)
- 2003 "Harder" (from the Xzibit album Man vs Machine)
- 2003 "Vengeance" (from the Killah Priest album "Black August -Revisited-")
- 2003 "Rise Of The Machines" (from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Visions of Gandhi)
- 2004 "Can I See You What I See" (from Pharoahe Monch & Hi-Tek 12" single "Can You See What I Can See")
- 2004 "Ain't No Way" ((from the HRSMN) off the unreleased album "Catch Me If You Can")
- 2005 "Lyrical Swords & "Verses" (from the compilation Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture)
- 2005 "Horsemen" (by Pak-Man and the HRSMN off the Pak-Man album "Chow Time")
- 2005 "Destruction of A Guard (DJ Khalil Remix)" (from the Soul Assassins mixtape Take Aim...)
- 2005 "Horsemen Talk" (from the Canibus album MicClub Master Vol.1)
- 2006 "Introducin" (from the Vakill album Worst Fears Confirmed)
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Acting
- 1998 I Got The Hook Up
[edit] Appearances
- 1997 Rhyme & Reason (as Himself)
[edit] References
- ^ Two West Coast rappers scuffle over lyrics. The Washington Times. UPI (September 15, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
