| Busdriver | |
|---|---|
Busdriver performing at Coachella in 2007 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Regan John Farquhar |
| Born | February 12, 1978 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, alternative hip hop, experimental |
| Occupations | Rapper |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Epitaph Records Mush Records Fake Four Inc |
| Website | busdriversite.com |
Busdriver (born Regan John Farquhar; February 12, 1978)[1][2] is a rapper from Los Angeles currently signed to Epitaph Records and Fake Four Inc
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Born in Los Angeles, he was introduced to hip hop at an early age, his father Ralph Farquhar being the screenwriter for the film Krush Groove,[3] one of the earliest films focusing on hip hop culture. Farquhar began rapping at age 9, and by 13 he had released his first album, as part of the group 4/29.[4] At the age of 15, he attended open-mic nights at the Good Life Cafe in 1993. A regular at the Project Blowed open mic during the mid-1990s, he would be introduced to fellow underground artists, leading him to being a guest on at least 20 singles. He first recorded in 1995 with Chillin Villain Empire, and was featured on Fat Jack's Cater to the DJ in 1999.[5]
Busdriver released his first album, Memoirs of the Elephant Man, in 2001, followed by This Machine Kills Fashion Tips and Temporary Forever in 2002. 2003 brought a collaboration with fellow underground artists Radioinactive and Daedelus for the experimental LP The Weather. He followed those albums with 2004's Cosmic Cleavage (produced by longtime collaborator Daddy Kev) and Fear of a Black Tangent in 2005, which included a sample of the song "Turtles Have Short Legs" by Can on the track "Avantcore". In 2005 he was also enlisted (along with Vic Booz and Subtitle (now Giovanni Marks)) as a "Corn Ganggster", rapping with The Unicorns' offshoot project, Th' Corn Gangg. He later appeared on the Islands' album Return to the Sea, on the song "Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone." Nicholas Thorburn once again worked with Busdriver featuring him on the track, "Crony Island," from Reefer's self-titled debut released in November 2008. Busdriver's last two albums have been released on Epitaph Records, including his most recent album, Jhelli Beam, which came out in June 2009. In late 2010 he released a free mixtape called Computer Cooties.[6]
A single from his upcoming album, as of yet untitled, was released on Polyvinyl Records in April 2011. The single features the song "Ass To Mouth" and was printed on a limited run of blue vinyl.[7] In 2010, Busdriver started a band, Physical Forms, with a former member of The Mae Shi, Jeff Byron. The band has been described as "DIY punk" and "experimental pop" with members of the band displaying a reluctance to label their sound. Busdriver is the singer in the group and writes most of the music with Byron and other members.[8] Physical Forms released a split 7" with Deerhoof on Polyvinyl Records called Hoofdriver.[9][10] An album is due in late 2011. Another project of Busdriver's in 2011 is a duo called Flash Bang Granada, a collaboration with rapper Nocando. As of March 2011, an album is rumored to be near completion.[11]
Busdriver gained a small amount of mainstream recognition when "Imaginary Places", from Temporary Forever, appeared in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground in 2003.[12]
Busdriver has worked with MCs such as MC Paul Barman, Aceyalone, Myka 9, Abstract Rude, 2Mex, Rifleman Ellay Khule, and the band Toca, among others. His primary producers have been Paris Zax, Daedelus, Daddy Kev, Omid, Nobody, Fat Jack, Loden and Boom Bip. He was also featured on Z-Trip's album Shifting Gears. He's also worked on two albums with DJ D-Styles.
Busdriver is the executive producer of the album Watergate for the rap group Thirsty Fish made up of fellow Project Blowed artists Psychosiz, Dumbfoundead, and Open Mike Eagle.[13]
