Ras Kass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ras Kass | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Austin IV |
| Also known as | Rassy Kassy, The Waterproof MC, K.O.T.W. |
| Born | September 26, 1973 |
| Origin | Carson, California, United States |
| Genre(s) | hip hop |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | Priority/Capitol/EMI Records |
| Associated acts | the HRSMN Canibus Killah Priest Kurupt Xzibit Saafir Rakim Wu-Tang Clan Jedi Mind Tricks Dr. Dre Bishop Lamont Crooked I |
| Website | Official Web Site |
John Austin IV (born September 26, 1973), better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is also a member of underground supergroup The HRSMN along with: Killah Priest, Kurupt, and Canibus.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early 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, which appreciated both his sharp battle rhymes 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 seven minutes and likely his best-known song. Some claimed that Ras was extreme to the point of racism against Caucasians.
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 rhymed on the lead single "Ghetto Fabulous," the video for which was supported by an extravagant video shot on a luxury yacht.
The album contained some of his most intellectual material to date ("Interview With A Vampire," a theological and spiritual exploration that featured Ras rhyming 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,[citation needed] but the bootlegging caused his label Priority Records to push the release date back twice before the record was eventually shelved indefinitely. 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 alleged block of the Columbia/SME Records release of his supergroup Golden State Warriors' debut album. The unreleased 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 that featured tracks from Van Gogh as well as new material. The indefinite postponement[cite this quote] 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 his contract with the label.
[edit] Incarceration
In 2002, Ras Kass went on the run from the authorities after a warrant was issued following an arrest for drunk driving. He then gave himself up. 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 the 2003 song "Rise of the Machines," (which featured Ras) Vinnie Paz, front man of the hip-hop group Jedi Mind Tricks showed where he stood on the issue by saying the words Free Ras Kass on the track. In May 2004, Ras filed a lawsuit against Priority Records, Capitol Records, and EMI in protest to his treatment by the label and claimed breach of contract in an attempt to have the mixtape nullified. Ras was denied his release from his recording contract with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in January 2007, even though Priority was absorbed by Capitol during 2004. There was a petition circulating the internet to get his release, generating about 1,308 signatures.
[edit] The HRSMN
The HRSMN was collaboration between four emcees: Canibus, Ras Kass, Kurupt, and Killah Priest. Together the group released one album called The Horsemen Project during 2003 on Think Differently Music/Proverbs/Babygrande Records. Since that release, fans wait 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 hip-hop supergroup. A lot of names have been mentioned in the past, such as Pharaohe Monch, Kool G Rap, Pac-Man, Young Zee, Chino XL, Royce Da 5'9", Journalist, Lyrisick, Common, Rakim, Pace Won, Keith Murray, Vinnie Paz, Lonnie B, Danja Mowf, and Crooked I. Unfortunately, none of these emcees were made a member of the group (though some artists on this list were featured on tracks).[1]
[edit] 2004–present
After his release from prison in December 2004, Ras was met with nationwide support. 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 during 2005. To fire up his audience, Ras decided to drop the Guess Who's Back? mixtape, which was mainly released through his official Web site, raskass-central.com. Though still not officially released because of the Priority/Capitol/EMI Records situation, Ras did manage to independently release a mixtape/album titled Institutionalized Vol. 1. Revenge of the Spit, a 27-track mixtape featuring commercial instrumentals and original beats, was released in February 2006. Institutionalized Vol. 2 was slated for later that summer, but it never saw the light of day because Ras lost his case against Capitol/EMI Records. Ras was going to release another album under a new label but losing his battle with Capitol made that difficult. In September of 2006 Ras Kass performed a monumental show in conjunction with Scion events that also featered the artist Gambit from his record label, "RE-UP", as well Noyeek the Grizzley Bear, and The Roll Wit Us All Stars.
Recently, Ras announced that he and the newly revamped Priority Records are working on rebuilding their relationship. In new interviews that can be seen on Youtube, he mentioned that he is working on a new album to be titled The Autobiography of John Austin. However, on October 29, 2007, Ras Kass was arrested in Palmdale, California, for breaking his probation, leaving California and going to the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. Ras is currently incarcerated in the Pitchess Detention Center North Facility located in Castaic, California.
[edit] Feuds
[edit] The Alchemist
Ras Kass's first industry beef was with The Alchemist, a popular producer who has worked 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 album. The Alchemist blamed Priority Records, 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 dis Alchemist in freestyles and on a track from Van Gogh. Eventually the beef ended so he could concentrate on his legal problems but still cites a loss of respect for the producer. However, during 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, Future, and Present" and did the intro for the song that appeared on Revenge of the Spit.
[edit] The Game
A confrontation between Ras Kass and fellow west coast emcee 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 during which the Game punched Ras Kass in the face; Ras Kass was also rumored to have been hit from behind with a Moët bottle, and punched by one of the Game's entourage. No charges were filed. Ras Kass a video clip about the incident in which he claimed he was attacked 30 to two. Three days after the incident, Ras Kass dropped a dis record called "Hush Little Baby," produced by Krohme, that hinges on the Game's questionable past. Ras Kass later went on to release the diss record "Gayme Over," which further attacked the Game's credibility. The cover of the diss-track single featured a picture of the Game in his pose from the cover of The Documentary, this time holding a banana and wearing a pink wig.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Rasassination
- Released: September 22, 1998
- Chart positions: 63 U.S.
- Singles: "Ghetto Fabulous", "H20Proof"
- Van Gogh
- Released: Unreleased (planned for 2001)
- Chart positions: -
- Singles: "Back it Up"
- Goldyn Chyld
- Released: Unreleased (planned for 2002)
- Chart positions: -
- Singles: "Goldyn Chyld (Primo remix)"
- Revenge of the Spit
- Released: February 21, 2006
- Chart positions: -
- Singles: "Bars Up"
- Eat or Die
- Released: September 19, 2006
- Billboard 200 chart position: - 154
- R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
- Singles: "King Of The West", "Capital "P" (remix)"
[edit] Singles and EPs
- 1995 "High IQ"
- 1995 "Won't Catch Me Runnin"
- 1995 "Jack Frost"
- 1996 "Anything Goes"
- 1996 "Miami Life"
- 1996 "Soul On Ice"
- 1998 "Ghetto Fabulous"
- 1998 "Understandable Smooth"
- 1999 "Oral Sex"
- 2001 "Back It Up"
- 2002 "Goldyn Child"
- 2005 "Bars up"
[edit] Filmography
- 1997 Rhyme & Reason (film)|Rhyme & Reason (as himself)
- 1998 I Got the Hook Up
- 2002 The Brotherhood
