Tajai
Encyclopedia
Tajai Massey, known by the stage name
, Tajai (born: April 21, 1975), 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 Hieroglyphics
. He is a vegetarian.
, Tajai moved with his family across the San Francisco Bay
to Oakland, California
when he was 2 years old. In elementary school
, Tajai met fellow Souls of Mischief
member A-Plus
, and the duo began their nascent rap
careers. Tajai eventually introduced A-Plus to future Souls of Mischief members Phesto
and Opio
, and the group formed in high school
before releasing their debut album, 93 'til Infinity
on Jive Records
in 1993
. He graduated from Stanford University
in 1997 with a degree in anthropology.
, at the urging of Del tha Funkee Homosapien
.
Tajai 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.
, Tajai and the Hieroglyphics' then-webmaster
, StinkE, formed the concept
ual group SupremeEx, which released an enhanced CD
, Projecto: 2501
, and in 2005
, released the album Nuntype
.
, a new project featuring Mike Patton
and Dan the Automator
, who made their live debut in 2008.
, Projecto: 2501
with SupremeEx
(Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
/ Clear Label Records)
2005
, Power Movement, (Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
)
2005
, Nuntype
with SupremeEx
(Rumble Pack Records)
• Souls of Mischief - 93 ‘til Infinity (Jive, 1993) Ranked in The Source magazine’s top 100 Hip Hop Albums of all time (Jan. 1998) and top 150 Singles of all time (Sept. 2003).
• Souls of Mischief – No Man’s Land (Jive, 1995).
• Souls of Mischief – Focus (Hiero Imperium, 1997).
• Hieroglyphics – Third Eye Vision (Hiero Imperium, 1998) - Featured on tracks 2, 10, 12, 15, 21 and 22.
• SupremeEx and Tajai as The Entity – Projecto:2501 (EP, Clear Label, 2000).
• Souls of Mischief – Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution (Hiero Imperium, 2000)
• Various Artists – One Big Trip (Hiero Imperium, 2002) - Featured on tracks 3, 5, and 8. The music video for track 3, “Soweto” was voted “Viewer’s Choice” on MTV2 USA.
• Hieroglyphics – Full Circle (Hiero Imperium, 2003) - Featured on tracks 3, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 16.
• Tajai and DJ Apollo – Sleeping Giant (Mixtape, Clear Label, 2003).
• Tajai – Power Movement (Hiero Imperium, 2004)
• Quality of Life (film) – Played “Dino”
• Tajai – Power Movement – The Remixes (Hiero Imperium/Clear Label, 2005)
• Hieroglyphics – Full Circle Live (Hiero Imperium, 2005) – Featured on tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13.
• SupremeEx and Tajai – Nuntype (Rumble Pack, 2006)
• Tajai and Superstar Quamallah as Supastars – Hood Famous (Clear Label, 2007)
• Souls of Mischief – Montezuma's Revenge (Clear Label, 2009)
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:...
, Tajai (born: April 21, 1975), 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 four founding members of 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...
. He is a vegetarian.
Souls of Mischief
Born in Stanford, CaliforniaStanford, California
Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census....
, Tajai moved with his family across the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
to 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...
when he was 2 years old. In elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, Tajai met fellow Souls of Mischief
Souls of Mischief
-Studio albums:-Singles:-External links:* [ Allmusic Biography]* *...
member 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 the duo began their nascent rap
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”...
careers. Tajai eventually introduced A-Plus to future Souls of Mischief members Phesto
Phesto
Damani Thompson, known by the stage names, Phesto and Phesto Dee , 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...
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....
. He graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1997 with a degree in anthropology.
Hieroglyphics
After Tajai and the Souls of Mischief were dropped by Jive, the group was incorporated into the Hieroglyphics in 19951995 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
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:...
.
Tajai 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.
SupremeEx
In 19991999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
, Tajai and the Hieroglyphics' then-webmaster
Webmaster
A webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
, StinkE, formed the concept
Concept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
ual group SupremeEx, which released an enhanced CD
Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
, Projecto: 2501
Projecto: 2501
Projecto: 2501 is a joint concept EP by Souls of Mischief and Hieroglyphics MC Tajai and SupremeEx. The album draws upon ideas from Serial Experiments Lain and Ghost in the Shell, as well as the artists' own ideas about technology and its influence on life...
, and in 2005
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, released the album Nuntype
Nuntype
Nuntype is the first full-length album by Souls of Mischief/Hieroglyphics MC Tajai and SupremeEx following their EP, Projecto: 2501. The album features R&B and soul singer Goapele...
.
Crudo
Tajai is also a member of CrudoCrudo
In Italian cuisine, crudo is a raw fish dish dressed with olive oil, sea salt, and citrus juice such as lemon juice and sometimes vinegar. The word literally means "raw" in Italian.-External links:*...
, a new project featuring Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
and Dan the Automator
Dan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
, who made their live debut in 2008.
Albums
19991999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
, Projecto: 2501
Projecto: 2501
Projecto: 2501 is a joint concept EP by Souls of Mischief and Hieroglyphics MC Tajai and SupremeEx. The album draws upon ideas from Serial Experiments Lain and Ghost in the Shell, as well as the artists' own ideas about technology and its influence on life...
with SupremeEx
SupremeEx
Yameen is a hiphop producer from Philadelphia, PA. His most recent work, "Never Knows Encore" was released on February 10, 2010 on Rumble Pack Records.-SupremeEx:...
(Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings is an Oakland, California-based, independent, primarily alternative hip hop record label founded and owned by underground hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics...
/ Clear Label Records)
2005
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, Power Movement, (Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings is an Oakland, California-based, independent, primarily alternative hip hop record label founded and owned by underground hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics...
)
2005
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, Nuntype
Nuntype
Nuntype is the first full-length album by Souls of Mischief/Hieroglyphics MC Tajai and SupremeEx following their EP, Projecto: 2501. The album features R&B and soul singer Goapele...
with SupremeEx
SupremeEx
Yameen is a hiphop producer from Philadelphia, PA. His most recent work, "Never Knows Encore" was released on February 10, 2010 on Rumble Pack Records.-SupremeEx:...
(Rumble Pack Records)
• Souls of Mischief - 93 ‘til Infinity (Jive, 1993) Ranked in The Source magazine’s top 100 Hip Hop Albums of all time (Jan. 1998) and top 150 Singles of all time (Sept. 2003).
• Souls of Mischief – No Man’s Land (Jive, 1995).
• Souls of Mischief – Focus (Hiero Imperium, 1997).
• Hieroglyphics – Third Eye Vision (Hiero Imperium, 1998) - Featured on tracks 2, 10, 12, 15, 21 and 22.
• SupremeEx and Tajai as The Entity – Projecto:2501 (EP, Clear Label, 2000).
• Souls of Mischief – Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution (Hiero Imperium, 2000)
• Various Artists – One Big Trip (Hiero Imperium, 2002) - Featured on tracks 3, 5, and 8. The music video for track 3, “Soweto” was voted “Viewer’s Choice” on MTV2 USA.
• Hieroglyphics – Full Circle (Hiero Imperium, 2003) - Featured on tracks 3, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 16.
• Tajai and DJ Apollo – Sleeping Giant (Mixtape, Clear Label, 2003).
• Tajai – Power Movement (Hiero Imperium, 2004)
• Quality of Life (film) – Played “Dino”
• Tajai – Power Movement – The Remixes (Hiero Imperium/Clear Label, 2005)
• Hieroglyphics – Full Circle Live (Hiero Imperium, 2005) – Featured on tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13.
• SupremeEx and Tajai – Nuntype (Rumble Pack, 2006)
• Tajai and Superstar Quamallah as Supastars – Hood Famous (Clear Label, 2007)
• Souls of Mischief – Montezuma's Revenge (Clear Label, 2009)