Foreign Legion (hip hop crew)
Encyclopedia
The story of Foreign Legion began in the bay area in the late nineties where rappers Prozack Turner and Marc Stretch were both pursuing their careers as emcees separately. The universe brought the two together one fateful afternoon in a run down strip club in a filthy part of town where Stretch was working as the daytime dj, and Turner working for the company that supplied the strip club with everything from the plastic cups for the “bottomless soda” fountain, to the blue cleaning agent the strippers used to spray down the brass pole between sets. Sharing a love for hip hop music, the two quickly became friends and soon after, band mates. Releasing their first single “Full Time B Boy” on ABB records in 1999 with Dj Design, the group quickly became popular in the bay area,Los Angeles, New York and overseas due to their on stage presence and high powered live shows, complete with costume changes, theatrics and a cynical brand of humor, not normally found in hip hop circles. Releasing their first full length “Kidnapper Van” on Insiduous Urban in 2000, led to more critical acclaim, a U.S., European and two Australian tours, and being courted by the Beastie Boys Mike D. and his then label, Grand Royal.
In 2002, Prozack Turner signed with Dreamworks Records for a solo deal and went on to record “Death,Taxes and Prozack” featuring production by Pete Rock, Jay Dilla, Mad Lib and Organized Noize. The album was never officially released due to the label closing it’s doors, but Foreign Legion returned with their second LP,” Playtight” on Look records, and continued to stay on the road, building a strong fan base from Oakland to Berlin.
In 2005, fed up with the deal breaking, ball dropping habits of the record industry, Turner started his own label, Hungerstrike Records and released, “Bangathon”, his second solo album, recorded in Ireland with production by Oh No(Stones Throw Records) Jake One(G unit) and featuring Brother Ali(Rhymesayers). The album was an instant success and sent Turner back on the road for the next two years, touring the album three times in Europe,three music videos,(one award winning)and traveling everywhere from Dublin, Berlin, and Stockholm, to Romania!
Dropping another 6 song ep, "The Secret Knock" in 2008, Marc stretch and Prozack Turner enlisted G Koop(Parliament,George Clinton,Nas,Ice Cube,Jake One) Nelly, and Introbeats as part of the production crew. The went back to Europe again and pillaged the fans with their music. Upon returning the two embarked o their next project, "Night Moves" a full length album and independent film project. They recorded the album, shot and edited the film(written and directed by Turner) and released both in April of 2011. The film was only shown at lives shows on the road during their US tour in March 2012, and then once in Oakland, and once in San Francisco.
In 2002, Prozack Turner signed with Dreamworks Records for a solo deal and went on to record “Death,Taxes and Prozack” featuring production by Pete Rock, Jay Dilla, Mad Lib and Organized Noize. The album was never officially released due to the label closing it’s doors, but Foreign Legion returned with their second LP,” Playtight” on Look records, and continued to stay on the road, building a strong fan base from Oakland to Berlin.
In 2005, fed up with the deal breaking, ball dropping habits of the record industry, Turner started his own label, Hungerstrike Records and released, “Bangathon”, his second solo album, recorded in Ireland with production by Oh No(Stones Throw Records) Jake One(G unit) and featuring Brother Ali(Rhymesayers). The album was an instant success and sent Turner back on the road for the next two years, touring the album three times in Europe,three music videos,(one award winning)and traveling everywhere from Dublin, Berlin, and Stockholm, to Romania!
Dropping another 6 song ep, "The Secret Knock" in 2008, Marc stretch and Prozack Turner enlisted G Koop(Parliament,George Clinton,Nas,Ice Cube,Jake One) Nelly, and Introbeats as part of the production crew. The went back to Europe again and pillaged the fans with their music. Upon returning the two embarked o their next project, "Night Moves" a full length album and independent film project. They recorded the album, shot and edited the film(written and directed by Turner) and released both in April of 2011. The film was only shown at lives shows on the road during their US tour in March 2012, and then once in Oakland, and once in San Francisco.
Albums
- Overnight Success/Full Time B-Boy/Underground EP (1999)
- Kidnapper Van: Beats To Rock While Bike-Stealin (2000)
- Playtight (2002)
- The Secret Knock EP (2008)
- Night Moves LP (2011)
Singles
- Nowhere To Hide b/w Meanwhile/Nowhere To Hide (Madib remix) Abb Records (1999)
- Let Me Tell You Something b/w Intangible M.C'.s/Let Me Tell You Something (Paul Nice remix) Insidious Urban Records (2001)
- Happy Drunk b/w Feel The Music Look Records (2002)
- Voodoo Star b/w Bring It Look Records (2002)
- Roommate Joint b/w How Do It Feel/Champagne Beamin Look Records (2003)
- Overnight Success b/w Full Time B Boy/Underground
Videos
- Travel Lite (Foreign Legion)
- Son Of A Gun (Foreign Legion)
- Rhyming Over Breakbeats (Prozack Turner)
- I wanna Go Home (Prozack Turner)
- Hungry (Prozack Turner)
External links
www.hungerstrikerecords.com- http://www.lookrecords.com Look Records