P.O.S (rapper) explained

P.O.S
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Stefon Leron Alexander
Birth Date:18 August 1981
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Years Active:2001–current

Stefon Leron Alexander[1] (born August 18, 1981),[2] better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an American hip hop artist from Minneapolis. He has been a member of groups such as Doomtree, Building Better Bombs, Gayngs, Marijuana Deathsquads,[3] Cenospecies, Four Fists, and Shredders.[4]

Early life

P.O.S was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[5] He attended Hopkins High School, though he did not reside in Hopkins.[6]

Career

Early career

Before entering hip hop, P.O.S performed in punk-rock bands Degenerates and Om.[7]

In 2001, P.O.S, rapper Syst, and DJ Anomaly formed the short-lived hip hop group Cenospecies. The group released a studio album, Indefinition, in 2002. The group won the tongue-in-cheek award "Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months" in the year-end issue of City Pages.[8]

Doomtree

In 2001, P.O.S and MK Larada formed the hip hop collective Doomtree.[9] The group has released three studio albums: Doomtree (2008),[10] No Kings (2011),[11] and All Hands (2015).[12]

Solo

P.O.S released his debut solo studio album, Ipecac Neat, on Doomtree Records in 2004.[13] His second studio album, Audition, was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2006.[14]

In 2009, P.O.S released his third studio album, Never Better, on Rhymesayers Entertainment.[15] It peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200 chart.[16]

His fourth studio album, We Don't Even Live Here, was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2012.[17] It peaked at number 47 on the Billboard 200 chart.[18] A version of the album remixed by Marijuana Deathsquads, titled WDELH/MDS/RMX, was released a year later.[19]

In 2017, P.O.S released his fifth studio album, Chill, Dummy, on Doomtree Records.[20]

Side projects

P.O.S is a vocalist and guitarist in the punk band Building Better Bombs. The group released a studio album, Freak Out Squares, on Init Records in 2007.[21]

He is a member of Minneapolis indie supergroup Gayngs. The group's first studio album, Relayted, was released on Jagjaguwar in 2010.[22]

Marijuana Deathsquads was formed after Building Better Bombs went on hiatus.[23] Consisting of rotating members, the group released the first studio album, Crazy Master, in 2011.[24]

P.O.S is also a member of hardcore punk band Wharf Rats along with Chris 2, Chachi Darin, and Wade MacNeil.[25]

He is one half of Four Fists along with Astronautalis. The duo's first studio album, titled 6666, was released in 2018.[26]

He is a member of Shredders along with Sims, Lazerbeak, and Paper Tiger. The group has released two studio albums: Dangerous Jumps (2017) and Great Hits (2019).[27]

Style and influences

In a 2010 interview with Punknews.org, P.O.S listed Minor Threat, Operation Ivy, Black Flag, Rancid, Metallica, and Michael Jackson as some of the first musicians he loved. Hip hop-wise, he cited Mos Def, Company Flow, Atmosphere, and Aesop Rock as important influences.[28]

Personal life

In 2012, P.O.S had to cancel his national tour due to health concerns.[29] In a video posted to YouTube, P.O.S said failing kidneys were to blame for the cancelation, saying: "Everyone keeps telling me, including my doctors, that I have to take care of my health first."[30] In 2014, he received a kidney transplant.[31]

Sexual misconduct allegations

In June 2020, P.O.S released a statement regarding allegations of abuse by his touring DJ. In response to this, multiple women came forward accusing P.O.S himself of a history of manipulation and emotional abuse.[32] In July 2020, P.O.S responded to these allegations and announced that he was stepping away from music.[33]

Recognition

P.O.S has been honored with two stars on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the venue.[34] P.O.S has one star for his solo work, and the Doomtree collective also has one.[35]

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: P.O.S.. Westword. Eryc. Eyl. November 16, 2006. February 16, 2020.
  2. Web site: P.O.S: Biography. AllMusic. Marisa. Brown. February 16, 2020.
  3. Web site: Vita.mn's 5 most influential 2006-2011: P.O.S.. Star Tribune. Tom. Horgen. October 19, 2012. February 17, 2020.
  4. Web site: Back to the City Video Podcast: P.O.S discusses Shredders and 2 other new projects. City Pages. Simon. Calder. September 15, 2017. February 17, 2020.
  5. Web site: POS. The Austin Chronicle. Chase. Hoffberger. March 20, 2009. February 18, 2020.
  6. Web site: Interview: P.O.S. of Doomtree. The A.V. Club. Christopher. Bahn. March 21, 2006. February 18, 2020.
  7. Web site: P.O.S. of Doomtree. Urban Bean Coffee. Josef. Harris. September 18, 2013. February 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926055020/http://urbanbeancoffee.com/iheartmpls/2013/9/18/pos-of-doomtree. September 26, 2015.
  8. News: Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months: Minneapolis 2002 - Cenospecies. City Pages. February 17, 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140325035759/http://www.citypages.com/bestof/2002/award/best-band-to-break-up-in-the-past-12-months-1144/. March 25, 2014.
  9. Web site: Artist of the Month: Doomtree. The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. Barb. Abney. December 5, 2014. February 17, 2020.
  10. Web site: Doomtree: Doomtree. Pitchfork. Ben. Westhoff. August 29, 2008. February 17, 2020.
  11. Web site: Doomtree: No Kings. Pitchfork. Nate. Patrin. November 28, 2011. February 17, 2020.
  12. Web site: Doomtree: All Hands. Pitchfork. Nate. Patrin. January 27, 2015. February 17, 2020.
  13. Web site: P.O.S.'s Ipecac Neat is 10 years old. City Pages. Jack. Spencer. March 18, 2014. February 17, 2020.
  14. Web site: P.O.S revisits 'Audition' track-by-track as the album turns 10. City Pages. Tim. Faklis. September 28, 2016. February 17, 2020.
  15. Web site: P.O.S: Never Better. Pitchfork. Nate. Patrin. February 4, 2009. February 16, 2020.
  16. Web site: Billboard 200: The week of February 21, 2009. Billboard. February 17, 2020.
  17. Web site: P.O.S. Ropes In Bon Iver, Boys Noize, Gayngs for 'We Don't Even Live Here'. Exclaim!. Gregory. Adams. August 15, 2012. February 16, 2020.
  18. Web site: Billboard 200: The week of November 10, 2012. Billboard. February 17, 2020.
  19. Web site: Stream: P.O.S.'s We Don't Even Live Here remixed by Marijuana Deathsquads. Consequence of Sound. Michelle. Geslani. October 23, 2013. February 16, 2020.
  20. Web site: P.O.S spills details about new solo album 'Chill, Dummy'. City Pages. Jay. Boller. December 13, 2016. February 16, 2020.
  21. Web site: Building Better Bombs Get Heavy. City Pages. Steve. McPherson. May 23, 2007. February 16, 2020.
  22. Web site: Gayngs (No 757). The Guardian. Paul. Lester. March 30, 2010. February 16, 2020.
  23. Web site: Marijuana Deathsquads raid the West Coast. City Pages. Tigger. Lunney. March 9, 2011. February 18, 2020.
  24. Web site: Marijuana Deathsquads release Crazy Master tonight at Nick and Eddie. City Pages. Jeff. Gage. November 4, 2011. February 18, 2020.
  25. Web site: The Crawl: Who will Rock the Garden?. Star Tribune. Chris. Riemenschneider. Tom. Horgen. August 17, 2012. February 16, 2020.
  26. Web site: As Four Fists, P.O.S and Astronautalis combine rap skill and punk spirit on '6666'. City Pages. Michael. Madden. October 10, 2018. February 16, 2020.
  27. Web site: Shredders Deliver "Great Hits" Project. HipHopDX. Kyle. Eustice. August 29, 2019. February 17, 2020.
  28. Web site: P.O.S.. Punknews.org. Richard. Verducci. August 26, 2010. February 18, 2020.
  29. Web site: P.O.S. cancels U.S. tour due to health concerns, is in need of kidney transplant. City Pages. Erik. Thompson. October 19, 2012. February 18, 2020.
  30. Web site: P.O.S. cancels tour to undergo treatment for kidney disease. The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. Andrea. Swensson. October 19, 2012. February 18, 2020.
  31. Web site: P.O.S. kidney transplant: Success!. The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. Jay. Gabler. March 11, 2014. February 18, 2020.
  32. Web site: Doomtree respond to allegations against P.O.S: "the stories you're reading... at least some of them are true". BrooklynVegan. Andrew. Sacher. June 27, 2020. January 29, 2021.
  33. Web site: From P.O.S. Doomtree.net. July 16, 2020. January 29, 2021.
  34. Web site: 10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show. Star Tribune. Jon. Bream. May 3, 2019. May 24, 2020.
  35. Web site: How many Minnesotans have First Avenue stars?. The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. Caleb. Brennan. May 11, 2020. May 24, 2020.