Pocket Dwellers Explained

Pocket Dwellers
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre:	Hip hop
Years Active:	- present
Label:	Blue Note
Current Members:	Dennis Passley Nigel Williams John Griffith Marco Raposo Gord Shields Christian McKibbin Sheldon Moore

The Pocket Dwellers are a Canadian seven-member experimental hip-hop group from the Toronto area.^[1] The band's main genre is hip-hop, but their music is influenced by jazz, funk, soul and breakbeat.

History

The Pocket Dwellers began forming together in 1996. That year the band performed at EdgeFest in Toronto.^[2] In 1999 the band performed in Hamilton as part of Showcase '99.^[3]

The Pocket Dwellers released their first full-length record in 2000 after they signed a recording deal with Song Corp, and a second album, Digitally Organic, later that year.^[4] Song Corp went bankrupt in early 2001, leaving the second album with no promotion.^[5]

The next release was the album recorded live during sold out performances at a club in Toronto called the Reverb. The recording was released under Urbnet records.

In 2005 they signed with Blue Note/EMI and released PD-Atrics. The recording was more hip hop based and involved less live instrumentation than had been employed in the past.^[6] In 2006 the band was nominated for a Juno award for best new group.^{[7] [8]}

Members

• Dennis Passley "Deknow" – tenor saxophone
• Nigel Williams "N.I.Gel" – vocals
• John Griffith "Quest" – saxophone, flute
• Marco Raposo "Red" – drums^[9]
• Gord Shields "Jupiter" – bass guitar
• Christian McKibbin "Holy C" – guitar
• Sheldon Moore "S-luv" – turntables

guest musicians:

• Brownman Ali – trumpet

Discography

Albums

1. Limited Edition - EP (1998)
2. Digitally Organic (August 29, 2002)^[10]
3. Lifecheck (August 19, 2003)
4. PD-Atrics (October 4, 2005)
5. Conception: The Mix Tape Volume 2 (2005)

References

• Pocket Dwellers at allmusic.com

Notes and References

1. Larry LeBlanc. Song Corp launches Foreplay. Billboard. 30 December 2000. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 91–. 0006-2510.
2. . Chart Attack, Aug 9, 2001.
3. . Chart Attack, Shawn Despres, August 22, 1999
4. . Chart Attack, October 31, 2000 By: Debbie Bento
5. Bankruptcy leaves industry reeling. Billboard. 26 May 2001. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 50–. 0006-2510.
6. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sum_of_pocket_dwellers_parts "The Sum of Pocket Dwellers' Parts"
7. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nickelback-leads-in-juno-nominations-1.595949 "Nickelback leads in Juno nominations"
8. "Pocket Dwellers come into their own". By MARK DANIELL -- For JAM! Music, February 28, 2006
9. http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2005-09-27/arts/pocket-dwellers-find-new-horizons/ "Pocket Dwellers find new horizons"
10. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/pocket_dwellers-digitally_organic "Pocket Dwellers Digitally Organic"