Dungeon Family Explained

The Dungeon Family
Origin:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop, Southern hip hop, alternative hip hop, R&B
Years Active:1991–2024
Label:Arista
Past Members:Outkast
André 3000
Big Boi
TLC
Future
Big Rube
Goodie Mob (including CeeLo Green)
Cool Breeze
Janelle Monae
Tito Lopez
Peter Ivanek
Konkrete
Organized Noize (including Sleepy Brown)
Joi
Killer Mike
Witchdoctor
Backbone
Bubba Sparxxx

The Dungeon Family was a musical collective based in Atlanta that specialized in Southern hip hop with heavy funk and soul influences.[1] Members of this collective recorded music, and had their career emerge, from Rico Wade's basement recording studio in East Point, Georgia, which was known as the "Dungeon."[2]

History

The group derives its name from "The Dungeon", the name given to record producer Rico Wade's studio, located in the basement of his mother's house, where many of the early members of the collective did their first recordings. Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Sleepy Brown constitute the production/songwriting team Organized Noize, who have produced hits for the main popular Dungeon Family groups Outkast, TLC, and Goodie Mob. Numerous aspiring musicians and artists would in fact emerge from the "Dungeon," with Wade even considered to be an architect of Atlanta hip hop.[3] [4]

The collective released their only album together, titled Even in Darkness, under Arista Records on November 26, 2001.

On October 7, 2011, it was announced that Arista, along with Jive and J Records, would be shut down. All artists on those labels, including The Dungeon Family, were moved to RCA Records.[5] [6] Because of this, the collective decided to part ways with RCA's parent, Sony Music.

On April 13, 2024, Dungeon Family leader Rico Wade died.[7]

In visual media

On March 16, 2016, the documentary The Art of Organized Noize premiered on Netflix.

Members

1st generation

[8] 2nd generation

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Notes and References

  1. Dungeon Family and Outkast Reunite for Family Affair to Remember . Lee . Christina . 2016-09-11 . Rolling Stone . 2017-08-17.
  2. News: Headland Drive: The start of something good. Mike. Jordan. Atlanta. September 14, 2022. April 15, 2024.
  3. News: Rico Wade, an Architect of Atlanta Hip-Hop, Dies at 52. Jonathan. Abrams. New York Times. April 14, 2024. April 15, 2024.
  4. News: Atlanta rap legend, Dungeon Family member Rico Wade dies at 52. WSB-TV. April 15, 2024. April 15, 2024.
  5. Web site: Szalai . Georg . 8 August 2011 . Peter Edge Named CEO of Sony's RCA Music Group . 2021-10-02 . Hollywood Reporter.
  6. Halperin . Shirley . 12 July 2011 . L.A. Reid's First Week at Epic Has Some Staffers Feeling 'Energized' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715194815/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/l-a-reid-s-first-week-at-epic-has-some-staffers-1005272002.story . 15 July 2011 . 2021-09-28 . Billboard.
  7. Web site: Abrams . Jonathan . Rico Wade, an Architect of Atlanta Hip-Hop, Dies at 52 . . . August 2, 2024 . April 14, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240414151001/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/arts/music/rico-wade-dead.html . April 14, 2024 . live.
  8. Web site: The Legendary Dungeon Family . www.thesubversal.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427033718/http://www.thesubversal.com/can-any-hip-hop-collective-top-the-legendary-dungeon-family/ . 2017-04-27.
  9. Web site: Dungeon Family to Celebrate 15 Years of "Even in Darkness" with Special Edition Vinyl. 8 August 2016.