- Pharoahe Monch
Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Pharoahe Monch
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Troy Donald Jamerson
Origin =Queens ,New York , U.S.
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active = 1991–present
Label =Hollywood Records ,Priority Records ,Rawkus Records ,Street Records Corporation Troy Donald Jamerson (born
October 31 ,1972 Fact|date=August 2008 inQueens ,New York ), better known as Pharoahe Monch, is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex delivery, internal and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes.Biography
Pharoahe Monch's name is derived from the monkey dolls,
Monchhichis . After receiving a bad haircut, which left Monch looking like a "chimpanzee", girls in Monch's class at theHigh School of Art and Design began calling him "Monchhichi", which was later shortened to "Monch". Monch adopted the "Pharoahe" prefix after meeting futureOrganized Konfusion partner Prince Po.Monch released three albums as part of the rap duo,
Organized Konfusion with partner Prince Poetry: The self-titled "Organized Konfusion", "" and "The Equinox". The duo handled a large amount of production on these albums themselves. All albums received positive critical reviews, but moderate sales. As a result, the duo split up after recording their final album "The Equinox" in 1997. Prince Poetry has since denied the possibility of an Organized Konfusion reunion.Pharoahe Monch then signed to
Rawkus Records , anindie label . After making several guest appearances on albums like the best-selling Rawkus compilationSoundbombing 2 , Monch's much-hyped debut, "Internal Affairs" was released in 1999. The first single of the album, Simon Says, was a major hit in 1999; he was later sued for the use of aGodzilla sample for the beat. He also had a 2001 hit with "Got You," though the single ultimately didn't sell well, and he also contributed the track "Fuck You" to theTraining Day soundtrack. In 2003, Pharoahe released his final single through Rawkus Records, "Agent Orange", a war inspired song which revisited the 1991 Organized Konfusion track "Releasing Hypnotical Gases".Pharoahe's song "Simon Says" was featured in the 2000 cinematic release Charlie's Angels. Viewers will recognize the song and backbeat in the scene where Sam Rockwell is lighting a cigarette in the castle, while holding Drew Barrymore hostage. Two of Monch's songs, "Right Here" and "Simon Says" were featured in the movie "Boiler Room".
Pharoahe is also affiliated with the rap group
The HRSMN . Although not a member of the group (there are only four real members), he is constantly linked to someday join the group when/if they ever expand.There were rumors his next album, "Innervisions", was to be released under
Denaun Porter 's newShady Records imprint Runyon Ave., but apparently the deal fell through; Monch has since announced a deal withStreet Records Corporation , home ofWu-Tang Clan ,David Banner andTerror Squad . In June 2007 Monch released his second solo album "Desire" to critical acclaim. Monch said about the album; "...it's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me." The album's lead single was the self-produced track "Push", with "Let's Go" as itsB-Side . The song's music video and single were released in late September 2006. Monch released a second music video entitled "When the Gun Draws" at a Brooklyn music festival in February, 2007.Monch also produced and ghost-wrote the track "The Future" and ghost-wrote the track "Hold Up" with
Mobb Deep member Havoc on rap mogul Diddy's latest album "Press Play ". Critics contest that Monch's writing is evident in both the content and the delivery of Diddy's rhymes.Pharoahe Monch sang the
Madden NFL 2002 theme for the game and six years later Desire was featured on the soundtrack ofMadden NFL 08 .Discography
Albums
Mixtapes
ingles
*1999: "Simon Says"
*2000: "The Light"
*2002: "The Life"
*2007: "Push"
*2007: "Let's Go"
*2007: "Body Baby"Appearances
* 1998: "Live from the DJ Stretch Armstrong Show with your host Bobbito The Barber" (from "
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One ")
* 1999: '"Mayor"' & "WWIII" (from "Soundbombing 2 ")
* 1999: '"Lyrical Fluctuation (feat. Jigmastas, Mr. Complex,Talib Kweli &Shabaam Sahdeeq )" (from theDJ Spinna album "The Beyond Real Experience ")
* 1999: '"Dirty Decibels"' (from the High & Mighty album "Home Field Advantage")
* 1999: '"Take Me Home"' (from thePolyrhythm Addicts album "Rhyme Related ")
* 1999: '"The Anthem (featuringEminem ,RZA , Tech N9NE,Xzibit ,Kool G Rap ,Chino XL &KRS-One )" (from theSway & King Tech album "This Or That")
* 1999: '"Turnablist Anthem"' (from theRob Swift album "The Ablist ")
* 1999: '"Innovations Remix" (from theSaukrates album "The Underground Tapes ")
* 1999: "Livin' It Up" (from the "Next Friday Soundtrack")
* 2000: '"Why Don't Cha"', "Big Fronter" & "Divine Intervention" (from theMr. Complex album "The Complex Catalog ")
* 2000: '"Ill Collabo (feat. Prince Po)" (from theCella Dwellas album "The Last Shall Be First ")
* 2000: '"Kenny Rogers - Pharoahe Monch Dub Plate (feat.Kenny Rogers )" (from theWyclef Jean album "")
* 2000: '"What Am I? (feat.L.I.F.E. Long )" (from theAntipop Consortium album "Tragic Epilogue ")
* 2000: '"Ghost Weed Skit 1" (from theDe La Soul album "")
* 2000: '"One Four Love Pt.1 (feat. Common,Kool G Rap ,Mos Def ,Posdnuos ,Rah Digga ,Shabaam Sahdeeq ,Sporty Thievz &Talib Kweli )" (from "Hip Hop For Respect EP ")
* 2000: '"Horsemen" (from theCanibus album "2000 B.C. (Before Can-I-Bus)")
* 2000: '"Connect (featuringXzibit &Gipp )" (from theDJ Hurricane album "Don't Sleep ")
* 2000: '"Oh No (feat. Mos Def & Nate Dogg)" (from "Lyricist Lounge 2 ")
*"Fuck You" (Training Day Soundtrack, 2001)
*"I Pledge Allegiance" (from theNate Dogg album Music and Me, 2001)
*"Last Dayz" (from theAdam F album , 2001)
*"Madden 2002 Theme" (from the video gameMadden NFL 2002 , 2002)
*"Guerilla Monsoon Rap (feat.Black Thought )" (from theTalib Kweli album Quality, 2002)
*"The Life (featuringStyles P )" & "Round & Round (Remix)", (fromSoundbombing 3 , 2002)
*"The X (Y'all Know The Name) (featuringXzibit ,Inspectah Deck &Skillz )" (from theX-Ecutioners albumBuilt From Scratch , 2002)
*"H! Vltg3 (featuring Evidence)" (from theLinkin Park albumReanimation , 2002)
*"Frontline (featuringPrince Po ,Mike Zoot &F.T. )" (from the El Da Sensei albumRelax Relate Release , 2002)
*"Murda 1 Case (featuring KK)" (from theDJ Quik albumUnder Tha Influence , 2002)
*"See What I See" (from theRas Kass album Goldyn Chyld, 2002)
*"Talking to You (feat. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Rah Digga & A-Butta)" (Rawkus Single, 2002)
*"What is the Law" (OZ Soundtrack, 2003)
*"Just Do It" (from thePete Rock album "Soul Survivor II ", 2004)
*"It Ain't The Money" (from theMacy Gray album "The Very Best of Macy Gray ", 2005)
*"Evaridae" (from theO.C. album "Starchild", 2005)
*"New World Symphony" (from theMiri Ben-Ari album "The Hip-Hop Violinist ", 2005)
*"Fish Filet" (from theSa-Ra double-single "The Second Time Around ", 2006)
*"Book Of Judges" ( Soundtrack, 2006)
*"Loose Ends (feat.Justin Timberlake &will.i.am )" (from theSérgio Mendes album "Timeless", 2006)
*"Love" (from theJ Dilla album "The Shining", 2006)
*"Rehab (Remix)" (feat. Jay-Z) (fromAmy Winehouse album "Back to Black ", 2007)
*"Reachin'" (from thePolyrhythm Addicts album "Break Glass ", 2007)External links
* [http://www.pharoahe-monch.com Official Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3IWTdyt2sE Video of Pharoahe with Hip Hop Journalist Peter Rosenberg]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ6-FYAngvc Video of song "Guns Draw"]
* [http://www.djbooth.net/index/interviews/entry/pharoahe-monch-interview/ The DJBooth: Pharoahe Monch Interview] (Apr '07)
* [http://www.soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in070116_pmonch soundslam.com: Pharoahe Monch Interview]
* [http://artofrhyme.com/Interviews/AORInterviews.php?id=41 ArtOfRhyme.com: Pharoahe Monch Interview]
* [http://artofrhyme.com/AORTV.php?id=115 Pharoahe Monch performing live at Flava Fest in Philly]
* [http://www.scion.com/broadband/index.html?ch=0&sh=1&ep=3 Video Interview on Scion Broadband]
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