Frank n Dank
Encyclopedia
Frank n Dank are an American
hip hop
group from Detroit, Michigan
. They also go by the names Frank Nitt previously known as Frank Nitty (a reference to the 1930s crime boss Frank Nitti
) and Dankery Harv. They are mainly known for their many collaborations with the late J Dilla
. Known for their party-driven, tongue-in-cheek raps, the duo first came to public attention as guests on producer
J Dilla
's album, Welcome 2 Detroit
in 2001. Prior to this, they had been performing in their hometown, Detroit, since the mid-1990s and had released the 12"s "Everybody Get Up!" and "Me and My Man" between "Love (A Thing of the Past)", both produced by J Dilla.
The group signed a recording deal with MCA Records
, but their 2003 album, 48 Hrs
, was at first rejected by the label, reworked with new production and resubmitted by the group, and finally shelved by the label altogether. Bootlegs of the reworked version eventually surfaced on the underground. The album was entirely produced by J Dilla, who uses very few samples throughout the album, instead choosing to concoct synth-driven beats for the MCs to rhyme over. It is believed that the original version of 48 Hours was more sample based, and that this may have been a factor in it being rejected by MCA, due to sample clearances.
Frank n Dank released their follow-up albums, Xtended Play in 2004, and Xtended Play Version 3.13
in 2006. The album Xtended Play Version 3.13 contained production by J Dilla (who died before its release), and other Detroit producers. The song "MCA" details their uphill climb in the music industry.
Que D featured on Frank n Dank's European Vacation CD and DVD released on July 24, 2007.
Frank N Dank teamed up with Ralph "Young RJ" Rice to form a group called The FDR Project under their new record label For da Record, both utilizing the first initial of each of their names; Frank, Dank and RJ. The first project slated for production on For Da Record is a DVD titled Frank n Dank & J Dilla's European Vacation, which will come packaged with a 8 tracks EP featuring work from the members of The F.D.R. Project. The DVD and EP will include the last performances from J Dilla and Frank n Dank. The highly anticipated Frank n Dank’s European Vacation was released in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. They also go by the names Frank Nitt previously known as Frank Nitty (a reference to the 1930s crime boss Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
) and Dankery Harv. They are mainly known for their many collaborations with the late J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
. Known for their party-driven, tongue-in-cheek raps, the duo first came to public attention as guests on producer
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
's album, Welcome 2 Detroit
Welcome 2 Detroit
Welcome 2 Detroit is the 2001 debut solo album from Slum Village producer J Dilla . The album followed the group's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series...
in 2001. Prior to this, they had been performing in their hometown, Detroit, since the mid-1990s and had released the 12"s "Everybody Get Up!" and "Me and My Man" between "Love (A Thing of the Past)", both produced by J Dilla.
The group signed a recording deal with MCA Records
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
, but their 2003 album, 48 Hrs
48 Hours (Frank-n-Dank album)
48 Hrs is the debut album by rap duo Frank-n-Dank. It was unofficially released on August 5, 2003. The whole album was produced by J Dilla.-Recording:...
, was at first rejected by the label, reworked with new production and resubmitted by the group, and finally shelved by the label altogether. Bootlegs of the reworked version eventually surfaced on the underground. The album was entirely produced by J Dilla, who uses very few samples throughout the album, instead choosing to concoct synth-driven beats for the MCs to rhyme over. It is believed that the original version of 48 Hours was more sample based, and that this may have been a factor in it being rejected by MCA, due to sample clearances.
Frank n Dank released their follow-up albums, Xtended Play in 2004, and Xtended Play Version 3.13
Xtended Play Version 3.13
Xtended Play Version 3.13 is Frank N Dank's first official release. It was on October 24, 2006. Guest appearances include Brick & Lace, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates Lindo P and more...
in 2006. The album Xtended Play Version 3.13 contained production by J Dilla (who died before its release), and other Detroit producers. The song "MCA" details their uphill climb in the music industry.
Que D featured on Frank n Dank's European Vacation CD and DVD released on July 24, 2007.
Frank N Dank teamed up with Ralph "Young RJ" Rice to form a group called The FDR Project under their new record label For da Record, both utilizing the first initial of each of their names; Frank, Dank and RJ. The first project slated for production on For Da Record is a DVD titled Frank n Dank & J Dilla's European Vacation, which will come packaged with a 8 tracks EP featuring work from the members of The F.D.R. Project. The DVD and EP will include the last performances from J Dilla and Frank n Dank. The highly anticipated Frank n Dank’s European Vacation was released in 2007.
Discography
- 2003: 48 Hrs48 Hours (Frank-n-Dank album)48 Hrs is the debut album by rap duo Frank-n-Dank. It was unofficially released on August 5, 2003. The whole album was produced by J Dilla.-Recording:...
- 2004: Xtended PlayXtended PlayXtended Play is Frank-N-Dank's first commercial release. Guest appearances include Brick & Lace, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates and Lindo P. The album contains productions from Oh No, The 2 Swift Household, Kardinal Offishall, DJ Kemo, Buddah Brothas, Tone Mason, Saukrates, P. Cauz and J Dilla.-...
- 2006: Xtended Play Version 3.13Xtended Play Version 3.13Xtended Play Version 3.13 is Frank N Dank's first official release. It was on October 24, 2006. Guest appearances include Brick & Lace, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates Lindo P and more...
- 2007: The EP