Pharoahe Monch

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Pharoahe Monch

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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 in Queens, 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 the High School of Art and Design began calling him "Monchhichi", which was later shortened to "Monch". Monch adopted the "Pharoahe" prefix after meeting future Organized 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, an indie label. After making several guest appearances on albums like the best-selling Rawkus compilation Soundbombing 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 a Godzilla 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 the Training 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 new Shady Records imprint Runyon Ave., but apparently the deal fell through; Monch has since announced a deal with Street Records Corporation, home of Wu-Tang Clan, David Banner and Terror 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 its B-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 of Madden 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 the DJ Spinna album "The Beyond Real Experience")
* 1999: '"Dirty Decibels"' (from the High & Mighty album "Home Field Advantage")
* 1999: '"Take Me Home"' (from the Polyrhythm Addicts album "Rhyme Related")
* 1999: '"The Anthem (featuring Eminem, RZA, Tech N9NE, Xzibit, Kool G Rap, Chino XL & KRS-One)" (from the Sway & King Tech album "This Or That")
* 1999: '"Turnablist Anthem"' (from the Rob Swift album "The Ablist")
* 1999: '"Innovations Remix" (from the Saukrates album "The Underground Tapes")
* 1999: "Livin' It Up" (from the "Next Friday Soundtrack")
* 2000: '"Why Don't Cha"', "Big Fronter" & "Divine Intervention" (from the Mr. Complex album "The Complex Catalog")
* 2000: '"Ill Collabo (feat. Prince Po)" (from the Cella Dwellas album "The Last Shall Be First")
* 2000: '"Kenny Rogers - Pharoahe Monch Dub Plate (feat. Kenny Rogers)" (from the Wyclef Jean album "")
* 2000: '"What Am I? (feat. L.I.F.E. Long)" (from the Antipop Consortium album "Tragic Epilogue")
* 2000: '"Ghost Weed Skit 1" (from the De 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 the Canibus album "2000 B.C. (Before Can-I-Bus)")
* 2000: '"Connect (featuring Xzibit & Gipp)" (from the DJ 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 the Nate Dogg album Music and Me, 2001)
*"Last Dayz" (from the Adam F album , 2001)
*"Madden 2002 Theme" (from the video game Madden NFL 2002, 2002)
*"Guerilla Monsoon Rap (feat. Black Thought)" (from the Talib Kweli album Quality, 2002)
*"The Life (featuring Styles P)" & "Round & Round (Remix)", (from Soundbombing 3, 2002)
*"The X (Y'all Know The Name) (featuring Xzibit, Inspectah Deck & Skillz)" (from the X-Ecutioners album Built From Scratch, 2002)
*"H! Vltg3 (featuring Evidence)" (from the Linkin Park album Reanimation, 2002)
*"Frontline (featuring Prince Po, Mike Zoot & F.T.)" (from the El Da Sensei album Relax Relate Release, 2002)
*"Murda 1 Case (featuring KK)" (from the DJ Quik album Under Tha Influence, 2002)
*"See What I See" (from the Ras 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 the Pete Rock album "Soul Survivor II", 2004)
*"It Ain't The Money" (from the Macy Gray album "The Very Best of Macy Gray", 2005)
*"Evaridae" (from the O.C. album "Starchild", 2005)
*"New World Symphony" (from the Miri Ben-Ari album "The Hip-Hop Violinist", 2005)
*"Fish Filet" (from the Sa-Ra double-single "The Second Time Around", 2006)
*"Book Of Judges" ( Soundtrack, 2006)
*"Loose Ends (feat. Justin Timberlake & will.i.am)" (from the Sérgio Mendes album "Timeless", 2006)
*"Love" (from the J Dilla album "The Shining", 2006)
*"Rehab (Remix)" (feat. Jay-Z) (from Amy Winehouse album "Back to Black", 2007)
*"Reachin'" (from the Polyrhythm 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]