Outsidaz
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| The Outsidaz | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Newark, New Jersey |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1991–Present |
| Label(s) | Ruffhouse/Columbia Rufflife |
| Members | |
| Ax Az Izz BSkills Denton D.U. DJ Muhammed Leun One NawShis Pacewon Slang Ton Yah Ya Young Zee |
|
| Former members | |
| Eminem Bizarre Rah Digga |
|
The Outsidaz are a hip hop group from Newark, New Jersey, perhaps best known through their affiliation with Detroit rappers Eminem and Bizarre, who were former members of the group.
The group formed in 1991 after underground rappers Young Zee and Pacewon met at a New Year's Eve party. At the time they met, Young Zee and Pacewon were rival MCs. Pacewon was a member of a crew named PNS, while Zee headed a crew named Skitzo. They decided to unite into one group, The Outsidaz, following a lengthy microphone battle that it was decided ended in a tie. Along with Pacewon and Young Zee, The Outsidaz consisted of Ax, Azz-Iz, BSkills, DJ Muhammed, D.U., Denton, Leun One, Nawshis, Rah Digga, the late Slang Ton, and Yah Yah.[1] They were also affiliated with Detroit's D-12, (Eminem's group), collaborating with them on different projects. Eminem shouts out the Outsidaz at the end of the song "Just Don't Give a Fuck", featured on the Slim Shady LP.
The Outsidaz have been a very well-respected group on the underground hip-hop scene, although their commercial success has been limited. They were featured on The Fugees' multi-platinum album The Score, released in 1996. Female group member Rah Digga would later go on to be successful with Busta Rhymes' crew Flipmode Squad, and would go on to marry fellow Outsida Young Zee. DJ Miz of Freshco & Miz has worked with the Outsidaz, producing an early single called "Listen" and later working again with Pace Won, while Redman maintained association with the group in the late '90s as well, appearing with rhyme partner Method Man on a song from The Bricks, the lone Outsidaz full-length.
The Outsidaz released a 6-track EP entitled "Night Life" on Ruff Life Records in January 2000, which was followed up by The Bricks in 2001, a full-length featuring production from Rockwilder and DJ Twinz.
Many had speculated that Eminem's affiliation with the group would lead to him to work with them in the future, especially considering his success with D12. However, apart from Young Zee's appearance on Eminem's 8 Mile Soundtrack, this didn't happen, resulting in Pacewon's all-out diss track "Rap Music", which attacked Eminem in a classic dis mentality. In this song he suggests to Eminem: "You made noise, but then turned your back on your boys".
The status of The Outsidaz is currently unsure. An interview in The Source with Azz-Iz suggested the group may have broken up. However, Pacewon recently suggested through his MySpace page that The Outsidaz had new material coming soon.
Pacewon also announced that he will be realeasing a solo LP rumoured to be titled 'The Only Color That Matters Is Green' [2], some time around February, March 2008[3].
Tracks from the album, which is being entirely produced by an up and coming New Jersey producer by the name of Mr. Green, have been leaked on the Internet and been well-received.
[edit] Discography
- Night Life (EP) (1999)
- The Bricks (2001)
[edit] Singles
- "Rain or Shine" (1998)
- "The Rah Rah" (1999)
- "Macosa/Do It With a Passion" (1999)
- "Keep On/Done in the Game" (2001)
- "Who U Be?" (2001)
- "I'm Leavin'" (2002)
