Phesto
Encyclopedia
Damani Thompson, known by the stage name
s, Phesto and Phesto Dee (born: April 29, 1974), is an American
rapper
and producer
. He is one of the founding four members of the Oakland, California
-based underground hip hop
group Souls of Mischief
, and, with the Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective
, the Hieroglyphics
.
, Phesto met fellow Souls of Mischief member Tajai
, as well as Hieroglyphics' founder, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
, in junior high school. Tajai introduced Phesto to future Souls of Mischief members A-Plus
and Opio
, and the group formed in high school
before releasing their debut album, 93 'til Infinity
on Jive Records
in 1993
.
After Phesto and the Souls of Mischief were dropped by Jive, the group was incorporated into the Hieroglyphics in 1995
, at the urging of Del tha Funkee Homosapien.
As a rapper, Phesto is "renown[ed] for his crazy, and up-tempo flows. Rhyming about anything from 'quantum cryptograhy' to secret Jedi mind tricks
, Phesto's skills are undoubtedly a vital piece of the Hieroglyphics foundation.".
Phesto has contributed to all four Souls of Mischief albums, as well as the two Hieroglyphic studio albums. He has also produced or performed on solo projects of various Hieroglyphics' members.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
s, Phesto and Phesto Dee (born: April 29, 1974), is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is one of the founding four members of the Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
-based underground hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
group Souls of Mischief
Souls of Mischief
-Studio albums:-Singles:-External links:* [ Allmusic Biography]* *...
, and, with the Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
, the Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics (band)
Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien...
.
Biography
Born and raised in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Phesto met fellow Souls of Mischief member Tajai
Tajai
Tajai Massey, known by the stage name, Tajai , is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the four founding members of Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief, and, with the Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective, the...
, as well as Hieroglyphics' founder, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
, in junior high school. Tajai introduced Phesto to future Souls of Mischief members A-Plus
A-Plus (rapper)
Adam Carter, known by the stage name, A-Plus, is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the founding four members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief, and, with Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective, the...
and Opio
Opio
Opio Lindsey, known by his stage name, Opio, , is a member of the four-member, Oakland-based underground hip hop group, Souls of Mischief, and the eight-member, underground hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics....
, and the group formed in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
before releasing their debut album, 93 'til Infinity
93 'til Infinity
93 'til Infinity is the debut album by Souls of Mischief. The group consists of four members and is a subgroup of the hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics.-Album information:...
on Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
in 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
.
After Phesto and the Souls of Mischief were dropped by Jive, the group was incorporated into the Hieroglyphics in 1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
, at the urging of Del tha Funkee Homosapien.
As a rapper, Phesto is "renown[ed] for his crazy, and up-tempo flows. Rhyming about anything from 'quantum cryptograhy' to secret Jedi mind tricks
Jedi
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...
, Phesto's skills are undoubtedly a vital piece of the Hieroglyphics foundation.".
Phesto has contributed to all four Souls of Mischief albums, as well as the two Hieroglyphic studio albums. He has also produced or performed on solo projects of various Hieroglyphics' members.