KMD
Encyclopedia
KMD was an American
hip hop
trio in the early 1990s, best known for launching the career of acclaimed rapper
and producer
MF DOOM
, who at the time was known as Zev Love X. Other members of the group were Rodan and DJ Subroc
–Zev Love X's younger brother. When Rodan chose to finish high school instead of continue working with the group Zev Love X and DJ Subroc brought in Onyx the Birthstone Kid to fill in the vacant rhyming position.
' song "The Gas Face," the trio released its acclaimed and overlooked full-length debut, Mr. Hood
. Its political outlook was similar to the group Brand Nubian
, which made a guest appearance on the album; however, the style was more comical and included a great deal of clips from old children's recordings, mostly notably a sample of the Sesame Street
character Bert on the single "Humrush."
The group, minus Onyx, later recorded a controversial album titled Black Bastards
in 1993. The album was shelved for years because of its controversial cover, which depicts a Sambo
caricature
being hanged in a game of hangman
. After Subroc's unexpected death from being hit by a car during the production of Black Bastards
, Zev vanished from the music scene until 1997.
see: MF DOOM: Early years with KMD
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...
trio in the early 1990s, best known for launching the career of acclaimed rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and 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...
MF DOOM
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
, who at the time was known as Zev Love X. Other members of the group were Rodan and DJ Subroc
DJ Subroc
DJ Subroc was a hip hop artist and a member of KMD, Constipated Monkey and Monsta Island Czars. His first group, KMD was formed by him along with his brother Zev Love X and Jade 1 who would later be known as Rodan, but later replaced by Onyx the Birthstone Kid. His first release was the LP, Mr....
–Zev Love X's younger brother. When Rodan chose to finish high school instead of continue working with the group Zev Love X and DJ Subroc brought in Onyx the Birthstone Kid to fill in the vacant rhyming position.
History
After guest-starring on 3rd Bass3rd Bass
3rd Bass was an American hip-hop group that rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was notable for being one of the first successful interracial hip-hop groups.-Career:...
' song "The Gas Face," the trio released its acclaimed and overlooked full-length debut, Mr. Hood
Mr. Hood
Mr. Hood is the first album by KMD, Daniel Dumile's first group. It was a precursor to Black Bastards . The album featured samples from language-learning tapes, cut together to create the character of Mr. Hood...
. Its political outlook was similar to the group Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
, which made a guest appearance on the album; however, the style was more comical and included a great deal of clips from old children's recordings, mostly notably a sample of the Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
character Bert on the single "Humrush."
The group, minus Onyx, later recorded a controversial album titled Black Bastards
Black Bastards
Black Bastards is an album by KMD , released in 2001 through Sub Verse Records...
in 1993. The album was shelved for years because of its controversial cover, which depicts a Sambo
Sambo (ethnic slur)
Sambo is a racial term for a person with African heritage and, in some countries, also mixed with Native American heritage .-History:...
caricature
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
being hanged in a game of hangman
Hangman (game)
Hangman is a paper and pencil guessing game for two or more players. One player thinks of a word and the other tries to guess it by suggesting letters.-Overview:...
. After Subroc's unexpected death from being hit by a car during the production of Black Bastards
Black Bastards
Black Bastards is an album by KMD , released in 2001 through Sub Verse Records...
, Zev vanished from the music scene until 1997.
see: MF DOOM: Early years with KMD
Albums
- Mr. HoodMr. HoodMr. Hood is the first album by KMD, Daniel Dumile's first group. It was a precursor to Black Bastards . The album featured samples from language-learning tapes, cut together to create the character of Mr. Hood...
(1991, Elektra RecordsElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
) - Black BastardsBlack BastardsBlack Bastards is an album by KMD , released in 2001 through Sub Verse Records...
(2001, Sub VerseSub Verse MusicSub Verse Music was a record label specializing in hip hop. It existed from 1998 to 2003 and released recordings by MF Doom, Blackalicious and KMD, among others.-History:...
)- Recorded intended for release on ElektraElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1993.
- Recorded intended for release on Elektra
EPs
- Black Bastards Ruffs + RaresBlack Bastards Ruffs + RaresBlack Bastards Ruffs + Rares is an EP containing rare and demo tracks by KMD from the album Black Bastards. It was released in 1998 on Fondle 'Em Records, available on 12" vinyl only.-Side B:# "Get You Now" # "Popcorn"...
(1998, Fondle 'EmFondle 'Em RecordsFondle ‘Em Records was a record label based in New York City, New York. It was founded and owned by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia from 1995 to 2001. Bobbito formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” a program Bobbito...
)- Released only on 12" vinylGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
- Released only on 12" vinyl
Compilations
- Best of KMDBest of KMDBest of KMD is a compilation album by KMD, featuring tracks from the albums Mr. Hood and Black Bastards.-Track listing:# "Mr. Hood Meets Onyx/Subroc's Mission"# "Who Me?"# "Trial & Error"# "Hard Wit No Hoe"# "Mr...
(2003, Nature SoundsNature SoundsNature Sounds is a record label based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in hip hop and reggae music.-Discography:*Ayatollah - Fingertips *Ayatollah - Live From The MPC 60 *Ayatollah - Cocoon...
)- A compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
featuring tracks from the albums Mr. HoodMr. HoodMr. Hood is the first album by KMD, Daniel Dumile's first group. It was a precursor to Black Bastards . The album featured samples from language-learning tapes, cut together to create the character of Mr. Hood...
and Black BastardsBlack BastardsBlack Bastards is an album by KMD , released in 2001 through Sub Verse Records...
.
- A compilation album
Singles
- "Peachfuzz / Gasface Refill" (1990) from Mr. Hood.
- "Nitty Gritty / Plumskinzz" featuring Brand NubianBrand NubianBrand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
(1991) from Mr. Hood. - "Who Me? / Humrush" (1991) from Mr. Hood.
- "What a Niggy Know?" (1993) from Black Bastards.
- "It Sounded Like a Roc / Stop Smokin' That Shit" (1999) from Black Bastards.