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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Ras Kass| image =| image_size =| landscape = | alt =| caption =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = John Austin IV| native_name =| native_name_lang =| alias = The Waterproof Emcee, Pestilence, Conquest, Razzy Gannon, Waterproofus Emceeus, The Endangered Lyricist| birth_date = birth date and age|1973|09|25| birth_place = Watts, California|Watts , California , United States|USA | origin = Carson, California , United States|USA | death_date = | death_place =| genre = Hip hop music|Hip hop | occupation = Rapping|Rapper , Record producer|Producer | instrument =| years_active = 1994–present| label = Priority Records|Priority , Zoo Life| associated_acts = The HRSMN , Xzibit , Canibus , Saafir , 40 Glocc , Krondon , Phil Da Agony , Immortal Technique , Da Beatminerz , Dr. Dre , Mack 10 , Crooked I , Teedra Moses , NameBrand , Coolio , Jaz-O , M.O.P. , Wu-Tang Clan , Joell Ortiz , Bishop Lamont , Mobb Deep , Jayo Felony , Busta Rhymes , E-40 , Talib Kweli , Vakill , Chino XL , Pharoahe Monch , Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy , Kool G Rap , D12 , G-Unit , Chamillionaire | website = URL| http://www.raskass-central.com/| notable_instruments = John Austin IV , (born September 25, 1973) better known by his stage name Ras Kass , is an United States|American rapper . He is a former member of the hip hop Supergroup (music)|supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus , Killah Priest , and Kurupt . also a member of Golden State Warriors with Xzibit and Saafir .
Biography
Austin was born in Watts, California on September 26, 1976.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p194781/biography|pure_url=yes|title=Ras Kass > Biography|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=April 9, 2010
Early career
Ras Kass sent waves through the hip-hop world with his debut independent single release "Remain Anonymous," earning him a Hip-Hop Quotable in The Source Magazine . Before his signing with Priority/EMI Records, Ras Kass began making guest appearances on several records and freestyles on numerous radio shows, further solidified the emerging lyricist's notoriety. Recorded guest appearances include Sway & King Tech's "Come Widdit" (feat. Ras Kass, Ahamad & Saafir) ( Priority Records ) and their "Wake Up Show Anthem ’94" (feat. Ras Kass, Nas (rapper)|Nas , Lauryn Hill , Chino XL , Organized Konfusion & Saafir ), as well as Chino XL's "Riiot" American Records , and KeyKool & Rhettmatic 's "E=MC5" (feat. Ras Kass, LMNO, Meen Green & !) Up Above Records .
Soul on Ice & Rasassination
From a young age, Austin was influenced by hip hop music, inspired by a variety of emcees including Ice Cube , Rakim , Scarface (rapper)|Scarface , and KRS-One . His first album, Soul on Ice , was released in 1996. Taking its name from a book by Eldridge Cleaver , Ras addressed racial relations in the same manner, most notably with "Ordo Abchao" and " Nature of the Threat ." The album was released on Priority Records , as was the follow-up, Rasassination , which featured beats from Easy Mo Bee and guest appearances by RZA , Twista , Xzibit , Mack 10 and Dr. Dre . Lead single "Ghetto Fabulous" featured Dre and Mack 10 and was pushed by a lavish video shoot. The album received generally positive reviews,Allmusic|class=album|id=r376644|pure_url=yes and shortly afterward the MC announced his third album, Van Gogh .
Priority Issues, Van Gogh & Goldyn Chyld
During the recording of Ras's intended third album, Van Gogh , Priority Records merged with Capitol Records , which acquired the emcee’s contract and his material. http://www.craveonline.com/articles/music/04648886/ras_kass_and_capitol_records_finally_part_ways.html Ras Kass and Capitol Records finally part ways. | CraveOnline Initially near completion, the album was heavily bootlegged before any single or promotion could be prepared. In fact, the would be single "Van Gogh" was even played on an episode of Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood|The Sopranos . Ras went back to work overhauling the project, procuring tracks from DJ Premier , Hi-Tek , and Dr. Dre and retaining songs from Rockwilder and Battlecat . Tensions arose during the re-recording, from budget restrictions to lack of promotion: Despite the fact that "Van Gough" remained shelved the album's singles "Back It Up" and "Goldyn Chyd" received decent amount of spins on Los Angeles urban contemporary radio stations KKBT (The Beat) and KPWR (Power 106) during the course of 2001-02.
cquote|I would always tell Priority executives, "You give me a road kill cow and pair of scissors but you expect a pair of Air Jordans. It's not fair." Ironically, I would still somehow manage to make a couple pairs.|30px|30px|Ras Kass Ras Kass was also involved in The HRSMN , sometimes called the 4 Hrsmn, consisting of himself, Kurupt (of Tha Dogg Pound), Killah Priest , and Canibus . The Horsemen Project , a white-label of rough tracks by the four, was released in 2003, but no other releases have been subsequently forthcoming. Finally, nearing the completion of his album, the MC and Priority disagreed over the lead single. Originally pushing "Goldyn Chyld," produced by DJ Premier, Priority executives decided to try to release the Dr. Dre-produced "The Whoop" instead, against the wishes of both Ras Kass and Dr. Dre. As he was finishing up Goldyn Chyld , Kass was pulled over in California and arrested for a D.U.I. , marking his third; though sentenced to jail time, he was given an extension. Two weeks before the start of his sentence, Priority informed him of their decision not to put out Goldyn Chyld after all. Becoming a fugitive, Ras attained the masters to his project, recorded some music, and finally turned himself in to police. http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/6/5905/1/ Ras Kass - HipHop-Elements.com During this time, he also had minor problems with producer The Alchemist (producer)|the Alchemist , who sold Ras a beat that he later re-sold to rapper Jadakiss , which ultimately formed the basis for the track "We Gon' Make It." http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/ras_kass/index.html
After serving only 19 months for his D.U.I. charge, Ras Kass recorded the album Institutionalized and began seeking release from his contract with Priority/Capitol Records. Though intended to be an album, it was released as a mixtape , http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3? page=raskass Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes generating a moderate buzz http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/101005/ Mixtape Monday: Mixtape Monday: Ras Kass Claims L.A. Crown; Ice-T Considers 'New Jack' Sequel http://cloutonline.com/files/ras_kass_clout_mag_2.jpg despite Capitol's alleged reluctance. He would go on to release two more mixtapes in 2006, Revenge of the Spit and Eat or Die , and got into a fight with former G-Unit rapper The Game (rapper)|The Game over an alleged reference to the rapper's son in a freestyle .cite web| url= http://www.xxlmag.com/online/? p=4766 |title=Ras Kass - Bet That |publisher=www.xxlmag.com | date=2006-09-19|accessdate=2009-09-21 In October 2007, Kass finally succeeded in being released from his record contract. However, after rumors of a deal with Def Jam or G-Unit Records , http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2007/10/18/18752313.aspx Ras Kass: The New Deal | AllHipHop.com he was again incarcerated, this time for violating his parole by flying to the 2007 BET Awards . During this time, he put out the album Institutionalized Vol. 2 on Babygrande Records . After nearly two years of incarceration, Ras Kass was released from jail at the end of May 2009. http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2009/04/27/21474450.aspx Ras Kass Secures May Release Date From Prison | AllHipHop.com
Ras Kass talks about his arrest and incarceration in the 2011 film Rhyme and Punishment which documents Rap artists who have spent time behind bars.
The Quarterly
Featured in HipHopDX's Underground Report, Ras Kass revealed that his next release would be a project called The Quarterly (album)|The Quarterly . Originally intended to be completed within the fourth quarter of 2009, it comprises a song a week released in the fashion of fellow west coast emcee Crooked I 's Hip-Hop Weekly and Freeway (rapper)|Freeway 's Month of Madness . Though released in this format, the collected songs was released as an album. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1417/title.underground-report-ras-kass/p.all Underground Report: Ras Kass | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop | HipHop DX "The Quarterly" was released on November 23, 2009 via www.raskass-central.com and includes nineteen tracks featuring collaborations by Killah Priest, Mistah F.A.B. and Krondon of Strong Arm Steady, with production from Pete Rock, Veterano, and others. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10137/title.ras-kass-announces-release-tracklisting-of-the-quarterly Ras Kass Announces Release & Tracklisting Of The Quarterly | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX
A.D.I.D.A.S. Kickstarter Project & Save The Ras Kass
In 2010 Ras Kass launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the manufacture of 1000 CDs and 500 vinyls for his A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Spittin) project and a viral marketing campaign called Save The Ras Kass, which included a series of satirical webisodes about the plight of the endangered emcee. In an interview with MTV UK writer Han O'Connor he explained his decision to use Kickstarter, stating "we started trying different angles at solving old problems. Kickstarter was the natural evolution of trying creative new business models. When we put out The Quarterly (album)|The Quarterly there were people that said, ‘well how come you didn’t create a CD for this? ’ and I’m like ‘well if I have to spend that $5000 and you want one, I appreciate it but there’s the small problem that I spent $5000.’"cite web|url= http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/198941-ras-kass-gets-wrapped-up/|title=Ras Kass MTV UK Interview (by Han O'Connor)|date=2010-03-12|work=MTV UK’s The Wrap Up|accessdate=2010-05-17 His webisodes document the downfall of an emcee, as he explained, "You just see this downward spiral; it’s just that fall from grace and I’m kind of making fun of that and using me as the vehicle for it."
Discography
Studio albums
Year
Album
Peak chart positions
U.S.
U.S. R& B
1996
Soul on Ice
Released: October 1, 1996
Label: Priority Records|Priority
169
35
1998
Rasassination
Released: September 22, 1998
Label: Priority
63
11
2005
Institutionalized
Released: 2005
Label: none
—
—
2010
A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Spittin)
Released: 2010
Label: none
—
—
TBD: 2012
F.I.L.A. (Fuck It, Lose it All)
Released: TBD in 2012
Label: none
—
—
Street Albums
"Van Gogh" (2001) (unreleased)
"Goldyn Chyld" (2002) (unreleased)
"Re-Up The Compilation" (2003)
"Eat Or Die" (2006)
"Revenge Of The Spit" (2006) (mixtape)
"Chinese Graffiti" (2007)
"Institutionalized Vol. 2" (2008)
"Quarterly" (2009)
Singles
Year
Single
Chart positions
Album
U.S. R& B
U.S. Rap
1996
" Anything Goes (Ras Kass song)
85
20
Soul on Ice
" Soul on Ice (song)
82
22
1998
" Ghetto Fabulous (song)
56
–
Rasassination
Selected Guest Appearances
1994: Come Widdit (Ahmad, Ras Kass & Saafir) from Street Fighter (soundtrack)
1996: Plastic Surgery ( Xzibit featuring Ras Kass & Saafir) from At the Speed of Life
1996: Riiiot& #33; ( Chino XL featuring Ras Kass) from Here to Save You All
1997: The Ebonic Plague ( Cru (group)|Cru featuring Ras Kass) from Da Dirty 30
2007: Go Hard ( Bishop Lamont & Black Milk featuring Ras Kass & Royce Da 5'9" ) from Caltroit
2007: U Ain't Me ( Strong Arm Steady feat. Chamillionaire, Ras Kass, & Xzibit) (prod. by Da Riffs) from Deep Hearted
2007: 125 Part 3 (Connections) ( Joell Ortiz featuring Ras Kass, Stimuli, Grafh, Gab Gacha) The Brick: Bodega Chronicles
2008: The Corner ( Termanology featuring Ras Kass, Doo Wop & Alias Khryst) from Da Cameo King
2008: Payback ( Immortal Technique featuring Diabolic & Ras Kass) from The 3rd World
2008: Be Cool ( Bishop Lamont featuring Xzibit , Ras Kass, Glasses Malone & Mykestro) from The Confessional (album)|The Confessional
2010: 2010 Wake Up Show Anthem ( Sway & King Tech featuring B-Real , Crooked I , DJ Jazzy Jeff , DJ Qbert , DJ Revolution, Kam Moye , Locksmith (rapper)|Locksmith , Ras Kass, RZA , Tajai & Tech N9ne )
2010: Smoke Sumthin ( Cypress Hill featuring Ras Kass, Kurupt & Young De ) from Smoke Out Compilation
2010: I Wanna Rock (West Coast Remix) ( Snoop Dogg featuring Daz Dillinger , Kurupt , Crooked I , Ras Kass & Nipsey Hussle )
2011: The Golden Cypher ( Canibus featuring Ras Kass & K-Solo ) from Lyrical Law
2012: The Book ( The KnowMads featuring La & Ras Kass)
Filmography
1997 Rhyme & Reason (film)|Rhyme & Reason
1998 I Got the Hook Up
2000 Brothahood
2007 BEEF IV
2011 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311713/ Rhyme and Punishment
References
Reflist
External links
Official| http://www.raskass-central.com/
http://s3.zetaboards.com/Ras_Kass_Forums/index/ Ras Kass Central
twitter|RasKass
MySpace|raskass
imdb name|0440794
Persondata | NAME = Ras Kass | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = West Coast hip hop musician | DATE OF BIRTH = September 25, 1972 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Watts, California, USA | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Ras Kass Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Los Angeles, California Category:Priority Records artists Category:African American rappers Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:1972 births Category:Underground rappers Category:West Coast hip hop musicians
