P.O.S.

Infobox Musical artist
Name = P.O.S.


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Stefon Alexander
Alias =
Born =
Origin =
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre =
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 2001-present
Label = Doomtree Records, Rhymesayers Entertainment
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/posisruiningmylife www.myspace.com/posisruiningmylife ]

P.O.S. (born Stefon Alexander), is a rapper signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and a founding member of Doomtree.

Biography

Naming

P.O.S. began as a punk rock musician. In high school, Alexander and his friends played punk shows in a band called "Om," in which he first came to be referred to as "Pissed Off Stef." The abbreviation has taken on various and indefinite meanings including, "Product Of Society," "Promise Of Stress,", "Promise Of Skill," and "Piece Of Shit."

Entering rap

At first hostile to hip-hop, Alexander soon realized that rap was an alternative, valid method of expression. He began creating music that was increasingly influenced by the genre, despite having very little respect for mainstream rap.

In 2001 P.O.S., alongside rapper Syst (short for system) and DJ Anomaly (Jason Heinrichs) existed as a short-lived hip-hop group called Cenospecies. They stayed together long enough to put out an album titled Indefinition (2002). The group won the award for "Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months" in the year-end issue of [http://www.citypages.com/bestof2002/sexdrugsrocknroll/bestof1787.asp The City Pages]

In the Minneapolis music scene, P.O.S. has become increasingly known through his connections with local hip-hop collective Rhymesayers Entertainment, and his CD is sold through their distribution network, including their local store, Fifth Element, and their webstore [http://www.fifthelementonline.com] . He is also distributed through the iTunes music store. P.O.S. is also a founding member of the up-and-coming Doomtree crew.

tyle

P.O.S. retains his punk rock influence in songs like "Kidney Thief", but his music cannot easily be labelled. He has described his music as "rap to skateboard to". Through raw drum beats, punk rock bass guitar riffs, and heated, verbose, sharp wordplay, Alexander has crafted a style that is largely his own. In such songs as "Kicking Knowledge in the Face", he rails against those "mainstream" rappers who utilise the art form to tout the virtues of the superficial (rims and jewelry).

hows

P.O.S. often plays local shows throughout Minnesota, and occasionally tours the country with some of the Rhymesayers. His latest album is the critically acclaimed Audition. In promotion of Audition, P.O.S. toured across the United States and Canada with DJ Turbo Nemesis, Mac Lethal, and Sims, he also regularly gives thanks to his Irish friend Patrick O'Sullivan, whom it is said was the inspiration behind the name. In 2007, P.O.S. accidentally opened for Gym Class Heroes on The Darryl Hall for President Tour. P.O.S is also been about of the 2006 and 2007 Warped Tours. In 2007, he is scheduled to play every date on the tour.

Other projects

Alexander is also a vocalist and guitarist in the punk band Building Better Bombs.

Discography

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/posisruiningmylife P.O.S Official MySpace]
* [http://www.doomtree.net The Doomtree crew]
* [http://www.rhymesayers.com Rhymesayers Ent.]
* [http://www.scheduletwo.com/video/index.php?vid=11 set of live videos] at [http://www.scheduletwo.com scheduletwo.com]
* [http://www.twincitieshiphop.com/artists/pos.html Twin Cities Hip Hop: P.O.S]