P.O.S

P.O.S
Birth name Stefon Alexander
Also known as P.O.S.
Emily Bloodmobile
LeRon
Born August 18, 1981
Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genres Alternative hip hop
Hardcore punk
Occupation(s) Rapper, multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer
Instruments Sampler, guitar, bass, keyboard, drums
Years active 2001–present
Labels Doomtree
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Associated acts Doomtree, Dessa, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, Sims, Paper Tiger, Lazerbeak, Astronautalis, Gayngs, Marijuana Deathsquads, Solid Gold
Website www.doomtree.net/p-o-s/

Stefon Alexander, better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an underground hip hop artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He is a founding member of the indie hip hop collective Doomtree and is currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment. He has also fronted a number of punk rock bands and is currently serving as guitarist and vocalist for Building Better Bombs, as well as vocalist and keyboardist for Marijuana Deathsquads.

Career

Entering rap

In 2001, P.O.S, rapper Syst (short for System) and DJ Anomaly formed a short-lived hip-hop group Cenospecies. They released one album Indefinition in 2002 shortly before breaking up. The group won the award for "Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months" in the year-end issue of City Pages.[1]

Doomtree

P.O.S is a founding member of Doomtree, a seven member collective of emcees, producers and DJs. His debut EP Falsehopes with Cecil Otter and first solo album Ipecac Neat were originally released exclusively through Doomtree. The album caught the attention of Rhymesayers Entertainment who, in 2004, signed him and re-released Ipecac Neat. Since that point, his albums have been jointly released by both Doomtree and Rhymesayers.

In January 2006, P.O.S's second album, Audition, was released, raising his profile nationally. Since then, he has mainly focused on Doomtree projects. In 2007, the whole collective released a collaborative album False Hopes. In 2008, they released the first official album Doomtree. P.O.S' live shows throughout Minneapolis and the country are usually supported by other members of the collective.

In February 2009, P.O.S released his third album, Never Better. The album came with a unique form of artwork. The liner notes, which include six transparent slides, can be rearranged to put the listener's own personal touch on the cover and backing art. The first single "Drumroll" was received well among college and alternative radio alike.

The fourth album, We Don't Even Live Here, was released in October 2012. "Get Down" features a guest appearance from Mike Mictlan of Doomtree and "Fuck Your Stuff" was produced by Lazerbeak of the collective.[2]

Side projects

P.O.S is a vocalist and guitarist in the punk band Building Better Bombs. They released an album Freak Out Squares on Init Records in 2007.

He is currently a member of Minneapolis indie supergroup Gayngs. The band also features members of Bon Iver, The Rosebuds and Solid Gold. Their first album Relayted was released on Jagjaguwar in 2010.

Members of Marijuana Deathsquads played as P.O.S' backing band at Coachella in 2010, and he frequently joins them for live shows in Minneapolis. Marijuana Deathsquads consists of musicians from Gayngs, as well as Building Better Bombs. Their first album Crazy Master was released in 2011.

P.O.S is also a member of hardcore punk band Wharf Rats. Other members include Chris 2 of Anti-Flag on bass and Wade MacNeil of Gallows on guitar.

Another side project, The Four Fists, with frequent collaborator Astronautalis has also been long in the works.[3] Originally announced as planning to make a record in 2010 the project only slowly came together.[4] On October 8, 2013 The Four Fists 7" vinyl single was released, featuring the songs "MMMMMHMMMMM" and "Please Go." The band name refers to a short story they both appreciate by F. Scott Fitzgerald, from his first collection Flappers and Philosophers and both songs from the single are inspired by Fitzgerald.[5]

As of March 30, 2013, P.O.S hosts a weekly program on Minnesota's KCMP: 89.3 The Current. P.O.S. is Ruining The Current airs every Saturday night at 11:00PM. The program features an hour of P.O.S.'s influences and favorite music.[6]

Personal life

On October 19, 2012, P.O.S had to cancel his first national tour due to health concerns.[7] In a video posted to YouTube, P.O.S said failing kidneys are to blame for the cancellation: "Both of my kidneys are garbage. They've been going bad since I was a teenager. It's a really inopportune timing, but, now's the time. I need a new kidney." said Alexander. "I had some kind of unidentified trauma when I was 13 or 14, something that triggered scarring in my kidneys. It could've been a bad fall, skateboarding or whatever."[8] On August 30, 2013, DJ Barb Abney announced on air on the Current that a kidney donor had been found for P.O.S.

Discography

Albums

Release date Title Label Chart positions
March 16, 2004 Ipecac Neat Rhymesayers Entertainment -
January 29, 2006 Audition Rhymesayers Entertainment -
February 3, 2009 Never Better Rhymesayers Entertainment #106 US[9]
October 22, 2012 We Don't Even Live Here Rhymesayers Entertainment #47
October 22, 2013 WDELH/MDS/RMX Rhymesayers Entertainment -

Singles

Split

Doomtree

Building Better Bombs

Marijuana Deathsquads

Four Fists

Guest appearances

References

  1. ↑ "BEST BAND TO BREAK UP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS - 2002". City Pages.
  2. ↑ Koski, Genevieve (October 23, 2012). "P.O.S.: We Don’t Even Live Here". The A.V. Club.
  3. ↑ "P.O.S. To Record". Sputnikmusic. December 9, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Interview: The Four Fists (P.O.S. + Astronautalis)/ “It Demands Doing”: P.O.S. and Astronautalis On Their Nameless Collaboration".
  5. ↑ "Exclusive Premiere: P.O.S. and Astronautalis Are Four Fists - "MMMMMHMMMMM"". September 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Welcome 4 great new shows to The Current!". Minnesota Public Radio. March 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ Leslie Plesser, Special to the Star Tribune (19 October 2012). "P.O.S. cancels tour, needs new kidney". StarTribune.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  8. ↑ "P.O.S. Health Situation and Tour Cancellation". YouTube. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "P.O.S. - Awards". Allmusic.

External links