Supreeme
Encyclopedia
Supreeme were an American rap group. Members include Shaka "Tom Cruz" Girvan aka Dope Pope, Negashi Armada, and Sam "King Self" Terrell. Girvan produces all of the music, and all three members contribute lyrical content and stylistic elements. They are best known for their release Supremacy (Record Collection
, 2006) but have since been up-streamed to Warner Bros. Records
. Supreeme can be found listed under List of current Warner Bros. Records artists. Their music is available through iTunes
and Amazon.com
. Numerous mixtapes and underground albums have been circulated through free internet downloads. Though Supreeme has enjoyed limited commercial success, they are an influential and critically acclaimed group. Perhaps most notably, Supreeme was the critics' pick for best hip hop act in Atlanta in Creative Loafing
's annual "Best of Atlanta" in 2007
, though they had already met each other when they were younger. In 2005, west coast rapper Murs signed a deal with Record Collection as an A&R/artist. He then signed Supreeme onto Record Collection
's roster. Supreeme won the attention of Murs and Record Collection
alike with the release of Church and State (2003). Church and State is considered a highly innovative underground album.
Supreeme appeared on Warped Tour
in the summer of 2005 with label mates Brother Reade
. Supreeme also went on a nationwide tour headlined by Murs in spring 2006. While on the road, their first nationally-distributed album, Supremacy, was released on April 25, 2006. The song "Supply and Demand", off of Supremacy featuring J Young, was a favorite amongst bloggers and fans, and the album got a string of favorable reviews. The album was underpromoted by the label, and sales were tepid, though they continue to enjoy a slow burn mostly via internet.
In 2007 the trio was up-streamed to parent label Warner Bros. Records
. Their new album Gold Medallion has already been recorded and is to be released on Warner Bros. Records
, though the release date has yet to be announced. In promotion of Gold Medallion and in commemoration of their five year anniversary as a group, they released Bronze Medallion: Best of Supreeme 2003-2008 in the spring of 2008. In August 2008, Supreeme released their music video for "I'm Crazy
" the single from their latest album Silver Medallion which came out on September 12, 2008. The music video was produced and directed by DJ Bernstein Bear.
The group disbanded at the end of 2009 with their final release God Bless The Child
. Their entire discography has been made available online as free downloads.
, which might explain some of the cultural references made in their songs as well as some of their sonic influences. Reggae
and specifically Dancehall
has a large presence in Tom Cruz's production who is a Jamerican. In a 2007 interview, when asked about the "internationality" in Supreeme's music, Girvan explains, "...growing up with my father, I grew up in reggae, there was always Reggae
playing in the house".
Record Collection
Record Collection is a Venice, CA based music entertainment and production company, owned by Jordan Tappis and David Sardy. Record Collection is home to a diverse catalog which includes music from artists such as former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante, The Walkmen, Murs, Blake...
, 2006) but have since been up-streamed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Supreeme can be found listed under List of current Warner Bros. Records artists. Their music is available through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. Numerous mixtapes and underground albums have been circulated through free internet downloads. Though Supreeme has enjoyed limited commercial success, they are an influential and critically acclaimed group. Perhaps most notably, Supreeme was the critics' pick for best hip hop act in Atlanta in Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing
CL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...
's annual "Best of Atlanta" in 2007
History
Supreeme was founded in the spring of 2003 in Atlanta, GA while the members skipped class together in high school. All three members attended Henry W. Grady High SchoolHenry W. Grady High School
Henry W. Grady High School is located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in Midtown. It serves as the Communication Magnet school for the Atlanta Public Schools...
, though they had already met each other when they were younger. In 2005, west coast rapper Murs signed a deal with Record Collection as an A&R/artist. He then signed Supreeme onto Record Collection
Record Collection
Record Collection is a Venice, CA based music entertainment and production company, owned by Jordan Tappis and David Sardy. Record Collection is home to a diverse catalog which includes music from artists such as former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante, The Walkmen, Murs, Blake...
's roster. Supreeme won the attention of Murs and Record Collection
Record Collection
Record Collection is a Venice, CA based music entertainment and production company, owned by Jordan Tappis and David Sardy. Record Collection is home to a diverse catalog which includes music from artists such as former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante, The Walkmen, Murs, Blake...
alike with the release of Church and State (2003). Church and State is considered a highly innovative underground album.
Supreeme appeared on Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in the summer of 2005 with label mates Brother Reade
Brother Reade
Brother Reade is an American hip-hop duo from Los Angeles. Its members are MC Jimmy Jamz and DJ Bobby Evans .-History:...
. Supreeme also went on a nationwide tour headlined by Murs in spring 2006. While on the road, their first nationally-distributed album, Supremacy, was released on April 25, 2006. The song "Supply and Demand", off of Supremacy featuring J Young, was a favorite amongst bloggers and fans, and the album got a string of favorable reviews. The album was underpromoted by the label, and sales were tepid, though they continue to enjoy a slow burn mostly via internet.
In 2007 the trio was up-streamed to parent label Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Their new album Gold Medallion has already been recorded and is to be released on Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, though the release date has yet to be announced. In promotion of Gold Medallion and in commemoration of their five year anniversary as a group, they released Bronze Medallion: Best of Supreeme 2003-2008 in the spring of 2008. In August 2008, Supreeme released their music video for "I'm Crazy
I'm Crazy
"I'm Crazy" is a short story written by J. D. Salinger in 1945 for Collier's magazine; it is told in first-person narrative mode by Holden Caulfield. Salinger later reworked this short story to incorporate it into his classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye.-Synopsis:Boarding school drop-out Holden...
" the single from their latest album Silver Medallion which came out on September 12, 2008. The music video was produced and directed by DJ Bernstein Bear.
The group disbanded at the end of 2009 with their final release God Bless The Child
God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child may refer to:In music:* God Bless the Child , an album by Guerilla Black* God Bless the Child, an album by Kenny Burrell* "God Bless the Child" , covered by many artists...
. Their entire discography has been made available online as free downloads.
Influences
Each member of the group has at least one parent from outside the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which might explain some of the cultural references made in their songs as well as some of their sonic influences. Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and specifically Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
has a large presence in Tom Cruz's production who is a Jamerican. In a 2007 interview, when asked about the "internationality" in Supreeme's music, Girvan explains, "...growing up with my father, I grew up in reggae, there was always Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
playing in the house".
Albums
- 2003 - The Syllabus
- 2003 - Church and State
- 2006 - Supremacy
- 2008 - Bronze Medallion (Best of Supreeme 2003 - 2008)
- 2008 - Silver Medallion
- 2009 - God Bless The Child- Supreeme's Last Testament