Natas (group)
| Natas | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1992—Current |
| Labels | Reel Life Productions |
| Associated acts | Dice |
| Website | AcidRap.com |
| Members | |
| Esham T-N-T Mastamind |
|
Natas (Nation Ahead of Time And Space) is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan.
Contents |
[edit] History
Esham met Mastamind as a student at Osborne High School, who gave him a three-song demo tape of his music, leading the two to form the group with Esham's longtime friend, T-N-T, deciding on the name Natas, an acronym for "Nation Ahead of Time And Space", and because it was "Satan" spelled backwards.[1] In 1992, Natas released its first album, Life After Death on Esham's Reel Life Productions.[2] Following the release of this album, Esham, Natas and Reel Life Productions were the subject of much controversy when a 17-year-old fan killed himself while smoking cannabis and playing Russian roulette while listening to Life After Death.[3]
In 2002, Natas released its only charting album to date, Godlike, which peaked at #35 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart, #45 on the Heatseekers chart and #56 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[4]
[edit] Style and influence
Natas refers to its performance style as "acid rap," comparing the lyrics to hallucinations induced by LSD.[5][6] Acid rap has been described as a fusion of hip hop beats and death metal lyrics.[6] Esham defined the genre as analogous to "modern day blues [or] heavy metal".[7] Allmusic writer Jason Birchmeier said that Mastamind's rapping "owes little to any conventional style".[8]
Natas is known for using live instrumentation,[9][10] as well as for highly sample-based instrumentation which Allmusic compared to that of The Bomb Squad and Dr. Dre.[2] Natas' lyrics focus on topics ranging from women and violence to spirituality,[2][9] expressing self-reliance and allegiance to God.[9] Rappers influenced by Natas include Insane Clown Posse,[1][11] Eminem[1] and Kid Rock.[1]
[edit] Discography
- Life After Death (1992)
- Blaz4me (1994)
- Doubelievengod (1995)
- Multikillionaire: The Devil's Contract (1997)
- WicketWorldWide.COM (1999)
- Godlike (2002)
- N of tha World (2006)
- The Vatican (2009)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Hess, Mickey (2009). "Esham". Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. ABC-CLIO. pp. 411–413. ISBN 0-313-34323-3.
- ^ a b c All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop. Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 309. ISBN 0-87930-759-5.
- ^ deathofanindielabel 1. Gothom Inc.. Event occurs at 11:39. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4O8STbLqnc&feature=youtu.be.
- ^ "Charts and awards for Godlike". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/album/natas/godlike/530266. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Biography of Natas". Allrovi. http://www.allrovi.com/name/natas-mn0000375162. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ a b McLeod, Rodd (March 2, 2000). "The Wicket World of Natas". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 8, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080708011214/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5923056/the_wicket_world_of_natas. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
- ^ Keyes, Cheryl Lynette (2002). "Blending and Shaping Styles: Rap and Other Musical Voices". Rap Music and Street Consciousness. University of Illinois Press. p. 108. ISBN 0-252-07201-4, 9780252072017.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Themindzi - Mastamind". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/album/themindzi-r503783/review. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ a b c About.com reviews N of Tha World
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Review of WWW.Com (Wicket World Wide)". Allrovi. http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/wwwcom-wicket-world-wide-mw0000671449. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (2003). "The Dark Carnival". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 174–185. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
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