Vast Aire
Encyclopedia
Vast Aire is a rapper
from New York City
. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox
, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega
. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family
. He was born in Mount Vernon
, New York
, then lived in Jamaica
, Queens
before moving to Harlem
, and became acquainted with the underground rap scene, performing in many clubs while still a teenager. He was once a part of the underground hip hop group The Weathermen
.
Vast Aire's fame increased significantly as part of Cannibal Ox with Vordul Mega. Together with producer
El-P, it recorded its debut album, The Cold Vein
, and released it in 2001. The album was a critical success. Since then, Vast Aire has pursued solo interests. His first solo album Look, Mom...No Hands was released in April 2004. This was followed by The Best Damn Rap Show, a collaborative effort with DJ Mighty Mi from the High and Mighty
in 2005. These solo projects did not break Vast Aire from his obligations at Definitive Jux
with Cannibal Ox
. Vast has since gone on to work with members from the Megahertz crew, and was a member of The Weathermen alongside Copywrite
, Yak Ballz
, Cage
, Aesop Rock
, the late Camu Tao
, and Tame One
. However, he was kicked out of the Weathermen by Camu Tao after allegedly stealing from both Yak Ballz and Tame One. He has recently denounced the Weathermen group as a whole after the rapper and Weathermen founder Cage wrote the song "Nothing Left to Say" about Vast Aire trying to profit from Camu Tao's death, and then called him out on his Myspace page. He is also a part of a group called LXG, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
When asked about the meaning of his name, Vast Aire explained: "I guess it means mad styles. I think it means a lot of attitude. Vast Aire. I have a very wordy type of style. Vast was given to me by a friend of mine I went to school with and the Aire pretty much came from me being a junior. My name is Theodore Arrington II. I used to spell it proper. H-E-I-R. But, in the past couple of years, I switched it to A-I-R-E."
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”...
from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega
Vordul Mega
Rapper Vordul Mega is one-half of underground hip hop duo Cannibal Ox and a member of the hip hop group Atoms Family. Vordul's debut solo album, Revolution Of Yung Havoks, was released in 2004...
. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family
Atoms Family
Atoms Family is a hip hop group based out of the New York City tri-state area. The group was founded in 1995. At its largest, the Atoms Family consisted of 30 members. It currently consists of 8 members. Atoms Family is on Centrifugal Phorce Records. Due to the lack of releases, Hangar 18's...
. He was born in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, then lived in Jamaica
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
, Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
before moving to Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, and became acquainted with the underground rap scene, performing in many clubs while still a teenager. He was once a part of the underground hip hop group The Weathermen
The Weathermen (hip hop group)
The Weathermen, is a New York City-based, underground hip-hop supergroup consisting of Aesop Rock, Tame One, Cage, Yak Ballz, El-P, and Breeze Brewin. The group took its name from the revolutionary organization Weatherman, and sometimes refers to itself as the "New Left"...
.
Vast Aire's fame increased significantly as part of Cannibal Ox with Vordul Mega. Together with 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...
El-P, it recorded its debut album, The Cold Vein
The Cold Vein
The Cold Vein is the debut album by American hip hop duo Cannibal Ox. It was produced by El-P and released on his Definitive Jux label on May 15, 2001 .-Release:...
, and released it in 2001. The album was a critical success. Since then, Vast Aire has pursued solo interests. His first solo album Look, Mom...No Hands was released in April 2004. This was followed by The Best Damn Rap Show, a collaborative effort with DJ Mighty Mi from the High and Mighty
High and Mighty (band)
The High & Mighty are an underground hip hop duo from Philadelphia consisting of rapper Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi...
in 2005. These solo projects did not break Vast Aire from his obligations at Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux is an independent record label based in New York City, United States. It was co-founded in 1999 by Jaime Meline and Amaechi Uzoigwe. The label was initially known simply as Def Jux, but in 2001, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the name similarity...
with Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox
Cannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
. Vast has since gone on to work with members from the Megahertz crew, and was a member of The Weathermen alongside Copywrite
Copywrite
Copywrite may refer to:* Copywriting, the process of writing the words that promote a person, business, opinion, or idea* Copywrite , an underground hip-hop artist from Columbus, Ohio...
, Yak Ballz
Yak Ballz
Yak Ballz, born Yashar Zadeh is an American independent hip hop artist, who was brought up in Flushing, Queens, New York. He is one of the original members of The Weathermen. He is also a member of Cardboard City.-Early life:...
, Cage
Cage Kennylz
Chris Palko, better known by his stage name Cage, is an American rapper from New York City. He has released three studio albums and two extended plays. Cage is also the founder of the underground hip-hop supergroup called the Weathermen.-Early life:...
, Aesop Rock
Aesop Rock
Ian Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
, the late Camu Tao
Camu Tao
Camu Tao was an American rapper and producer who was signed to the Definitive Jux label. He was a member of several groups: S.A...
, and Tame One
Tame One
Rahem Brown, better known by his stage name, Tame One, is an underground rapper from New Jersey currently signed to the label Amalgam Digital. He was part of Artifacts, a popular rap duo with El Da Sensei. Which is rumored to be getting back together. He is also known for his collaboration with...
. However, he was kicked out of the Weathermen by Camu Tao after allegedly stealing from both Yak Ballz and Tame One. He has recently denounced the Weathermen group as a whole after the rapper and Weathermen founder Cage wrote the song "Nothing Left to Say" about Vast Aire trying to profit from Camu Tao's death, and then called him out on his Myspace page. He is also a part of a group called LXG, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
When asked about the meaning of his name, Vast Aire explained: "I guess it means mad styles. I think it means a lot of attitude. Vast Aire. I have a very wordy type of style. Vast was given to me by a friend of mine I went to school with and the Aire pretty much came from me being a junior. My name is Theodore Arrington II. I used to spell it proper. H-E-I-R. But, in the past couple of years, I switched it to A-I-R-E."
Albums
- The Cold VeinThe Cold VeinThe Cold Vein is the debut album by American hip hop duo Cannibal Ox. It was produced by El-P and released on his Definitive Jux label on May 15, 2001 .-Release:...
(with Cannibal OxCannibal OxCannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
) - The Prequel (with Atoms FamilyAtoms FamilyAtoms Family is a hip hop group based out of the New York City tri-state area. The group was founded in 1995. At its largest, the Atoms Family consisted of 30 members. It currently consists of 8 members. Atoms Family is on Centrifugal Phorce Records. Due to the lack of releases, Hangar 18's...
) - The Conspiracy (With the WeathermenThe Weathermen (hip hop group)The Weathermen, is a New York City-based, underground hip-hop supergroup consisting of Aesop Rock, Tame One, Cage, Yak Ballz, El-P, and Breeze Brewin. The group took its name from the revolutionary organization Weatherman, and sometimes refers to itself as the "New Left"...
) (Eastern Conference, 2003) - Look, Mom...No Hands (Chocolate Industries, 2004)
- The Best Damn Rap Show (With DJ Mighty MiHigh and Mighty (band)The High & Mighty are an underground hip hop duo from Philadelphia consisting of rapper Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi...
) (Eastern Conference, 2005) - Empire State by Mighty Joseph, a collaboration between Vast Aire & Karniege (Urchin Studios, 2007)
- Dueces Wild (One Records, 2008)
- OX 2010: A Street Odyssey (Man Bites Dog Records, 2011)
Singles
- "Look Mom...No Hands" b/w "Why'sdaskyblue?" (Chocolate Industries, 2003)
- "Elixir" b/w "Candid Cam" (Chocolate Industries, 2004)
- "Pegasus" b/w "Red Pill" (Chocolate Industries, 2004)
Appearances
- 2000: "Attention Span" (from the Aesop RockAesop RockIan Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
album Float) - 2001: "We Can Build You" (from the Techno Animal album The Brotherhood of the Bomb)
- 2002: "Nickel Plated Pockets" (from the Aesop RockAesop RockIan Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
album DaylightDaylight (Aesop Rock album)Daylight is an EP by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock, released on 5 February 2002 on Definitive Jux. It is also the title of a single from his second major album, Labor Days...
) - 2002: "Dr. Hell No and the Praying Mantis" (from the El-P album Fantastic DamageFantastic DamageFantastic Damage is the first proper full-length solo album by New York rapper and producer El-P, released on his own Definitive Jux label on May 14, 2002. The tracks "Fantastic Damage", "Deep Space 9mm", and "The Nang, the Front, the Bush and the Shit" were featured in the El-P-scored graffiti...
) - 2003: "N.Y. Electric" (from the Aesop RockAesop RockIan Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
album Bazooka ToothBazooka ToothBazooka Tooth is the fourth full-length album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock , released on September 23, 2003 on Definitive Jux ....
) - 2003: "Big Game" (from the DiverseDiverseDiverse is an American rapper. An underground hip-hop artist, he has received critical acclaim "from knowledgeable heads worldwide".-Career:...
album One A.M.One A.M. (album)One A.M. is the first studio album by rapper Diverse, which features production by Prefuse73, RJD2, Madlib, and Jeff Parker from TortoiseGuest Appearances include Jean Grae, Vast Aire and Lyrics Born-Tracklisting:# "Certified"# "Uprock"...
) - 2003: "Swing Blades" (from the Jean GraeJean GraeJean Grae , born November 26, 1976 is an American hip hop artist who hails from South Africa. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.- Early life :...
album The Bootleg of the Bootleg EPThe Bootleg of the Bootleg EPThe Bootleg of the Bootleg EP was released as Jean Grae's second album in 2003. After this album was released, The Roots as well as others realized Jean Grae's talent and gave her guest appearances on their albums...
) - 2004: "Time Capsule" (from the IllogicIllogicJawhar Glass , better known as Illogic, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Columbus, Ohio. He has releases on both Weightless Recordings and Dove Ink Records...
album Celestial ClockworkCelestial ClockworkCelestial Clockwork is the third album by rapper Illogic. It was released in 2004 by Weightless Recordings.-Track list:# "Intro"# "The Only Constant" # "Birthright"# "1,000 Whispers"...
) - 2005: "Slow Blues" (from the Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang ClanThe Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
album Wu-Tang Meets the Indie CultureWu-Tang Meets The Indie CultureWu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture is an album released October 18, 2005. This album was put together by Bronze Nazareth, who has produced Wu-Tang and others. It includes collaborated tracks by Wu-Tang Clan members, Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, and various other underground hip-hop artists such as...
) - 2006: "That's Whats Up" (from the DabryeDabryeDabrye is an alias of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based musician Tadd Mullinix , whose Winking Makes A Face was the first album released by Ann Arbor’s Ghostly International...
album Two/ThreeTwo/ThreeTwo/Three is Michigan musician Tadd Mullinix's second studio album under the Dabrye name. It was released by the Ghostly International label on June 13, 2006, around five years after its predecessor One/Three....
) - 2006: "No Aire" (from the Oh NoOh No (rapper)Oh No is an underground hip hop artist from Oxnard, California who has released several albums on Stones Throw Records.-Biography:...
album Exodus Into Unheard RhythmsExodus Into Unheard RhythmsExodus Into Unheard Rhythms is an album by Oh No, an American hip hop rapper and producer signed to Stones Throw Records. Oh No produced this album using only samples from Galt MacDermot. This album also boasts far greater lyrical performances from Oh No as well as the guests...
) - 2006: "Iconclasts" (from the WisemenWisemen (rap group)The Wisemen is a hip hop group formed by Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Bronze Nazareth and his brother, the lyricist and producer Kevlaar 7....
album Wisemen ApproachingWisemen ApproachingWisemen Approaching is the first album by the Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated American rap group Wisemen, released in 2007 on Babygrande Records.-Track listing:#"Introducing " – 3:54#*Produced by Bronze Nazareth#"New Year Banga" – 3:33...
) - 2007: "Jugar Duro" (from ToteKing's album Un Tipo Cualquiera)
- 2007: "Super Friendz" feat. MF DOOMDaniel DumileDaniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
(EdanEdanEdan aka Edan Portnoy is an American alternative hip hop artist. He is an emcee, DJ and record producer.Edan is known for his unique/unlikely take on hip hop culture, where traditional rap songs are often skewed by 60's rock samples, tape echoes, and foreign language choruses, not to mention the...
remix) (from Chocolate Swim) - 2008: "Clipped Wings" (From the Mind over MatterMind Over Matter (Band)Mind Over Matter are an Australian hip hop outfit from Sydney, Australia consisting of MCs Willow and Smiles Again. The group have played alongside and toured in support of some of Australia's biggest musical exports, including Jebediah, Bliss n Eso, Drapht, The Herd and Pez.-Biography:The duo;...
album Keepin' It Breezy) - 2008: "Writes Of Passage" (From the Sadistik album The Balancing Act)
- 2008: "Vast Hope" (From the DJ Bootsie album Holidays in the Shade)