Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Doomtree is a hip-hop collective based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Style
Members of Doomtree bring various bases of knowledge and musical backgrounds together to create alternative-influenced rap and hip-hop music. Nearly as prominent as the influence of hip-hop in their music is that of punk, and their lyrics are frequently introspective. They often do shows with fellow Minnesota hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Emcees perform solo or with one another, each contributing a different approach to their music.
History
Members of Doomtree have described the group's formation as a gradual process. The initial lineup saw P.O.S and MK Larada, friends from high school, making songs with other local artists such as Cecil Otter and Beautiful Bobby Gorgeous. Soon enough Sims and Lazerbeak, fellow Hopkins High School alumni, followed. Mike Mictlan, having also attended high school with P.O.S, became an official member when he moved back to Minneapolis from Los Angeles. Dessa joined after having a chance encounter with P.O.S, who was living down the street from her at the time along with Sims, Turbo Nemesis and MK Larada.
Doomtree's first official album Doomtree was released on July 29, 2008.
Their second official album No Kings was released on November 22, 2011.
Group Members
Emcees
P.O.S (Stefon Alexander) has released three albums under the record label Rhymesayers Entertainment in conjunction with Doomtree Records. His first album Ipecac Neat was originally released in 2003, and made its Rhymesayers debut in 2004, winning Minneapolis Star Tribune's "Best local album of the year". In 2006, he repeated this feat with his critically acclaimed Audition. He also performs with the punk rock group Building Better Bombs. His third album Never Better was released on February 3, 2009. In the past, P.O.S has used the pseudonym Emily Bloodmobile for production work. For the time being, P.O.S has retired that nickname. He is currently working on his next solo album.Dessa (Maggie Wander) released one of Doomtree's False Hopes albums in 2005. She often performs live with violinist Jessy Greene, who is featured on P.O.S' Audition. She is an accomplished spoken word poet. In 2009, she released a book of creative fiction Spiral Bound, which is Doomtree's first print offering. Her first album A Badly Broken Code was released on January 19, 2010.Sims (Andrew Sims) released his first album Lights Out Paris in July 2005. It received 4.5 out of 5 stars in URB Magazine (2005) and 4 out of 5 stars at okayplayer.com (2005). He has appeared on the P.O.S is Ruining My Life tour in 2006, the Vans Warped Tour in 2007, as well as at SXSW in 2008. He released False Hopes XIV in 2009; the track ‘Like You Mean It’ is featured in the Derder Paintball 2010 video production 'Dementia'. His second album Bad Time Zoo was released on February 15, 2011. In the same year, he also released Wildlife.Mike Mictlan (Mike Marquez) has released Doomtree's False Hopes albums Deity for hire and Deity for Re-hire. He released an album Hand Over Fist with Lazerbeak on September 23, 2008. He is currently working on his next solo album which does not yet have a title.Cecil Otter (Kyle Smith) released Hung Over-seas, one of Doomtree's False Hopes albums in 2003. He was also a finalist in a national spoken word competition inspired by the 2004 presidential election. He released Cecil Otter's False Hopes in 2005. In late 2006, Cecil Otter released a limited edition version of his first album Rebel Yellow at the second Doomtree Blowout. A remixed and expanded version of Rebel Yellow was released via Sage Francis' record label Strange Famous Records on August 26, 2008. The track ‘Sufficiently Breathless’ is featured in the Derder Paintball 2010 video production 'Dementia'. He is currently working on his second album Porcelain Revolver. He is also working on a collaborative album The Eupheus Pitch with Lazerbeak, on which Cecil Otter will rap on Lazerbeak's beats and Lazerbeak will sing on Cecil's beats.Producers/DJs
Paper Tiger (John Samels) has produced for Doomtree emcees and quite often spins records for Doomtree performances. He also provides graphic design for various flyers and other Doomtree visuals. His False Hopes album was released at the third Doomtree Blowout in 2007. Paper Tiger released his first solo album Made Like Us on July 27, 2010.Lazerbeak (Aaron Mader) has produced many tracks for Doomtree emcees as well as several other Minneapolis hip-hop artists, including Toki Wright and F.Stokes. He is also the guitarist of Minnesota indie band The Plastic Constellations. He produced "Calm Down Baby" on Mac Lethal's album 11:11 in 2007. He released an album Hand Over Fist with Mike Mictlan in 2008. Lazerbeak's first solo album Legend Recognize Legend was released on September 28, 2010. He produced Sims' Bad Time Zoo and Wildlife in 2011. Lazerbeak's instrumental album Lava Bangers was released on January 24, 2012. He is working on a collaborative album The Eupheus Pitch with Cecil Otter, on which Cecil Otter will rap on Lazerbeak's beats and Lazerbeak will sing on Cecil's beats.Affiliated artists
Producer MK Larada was a member of Doomtree and has produced many tracks for Doomtree emcees.DJ Turbo Nemesis was a member of Doomtree.Tom Servo has produced tracks for Dessa and Sims.Violinist Jessy Greene often contributes to Doomtree projects.DJ Plain Ole Bill has been behind the turntables for P.O.S on the majority of his tour dates throughout 2009, including the Never Better Tour, Pac Tour and Warped Tour.Rapper Astronautalis is featured on P.O.S' Never Better.Concert Photographer and Screenprinter Extraordinaire Ben LaFondPerformances
Doomtree artists are highly active in the Twin Cities hip-hop community, with at least one emcee performing a show somewhere in the metro area at least every 3–4 weeks. In addition, every December, the entire crew takes the stage at First Avenue for their annual Doomtree Blowout since 2005.
2010 saw the first Doomtree Snowout, an additional Doomtree Blowout show at First Avenue due to the bad weather.
In 2011, the 7th Doomtree Blowout was extended to One Whole F***ing Week, with each rapper curating his or her own show at the 7th Street Entry starting December 4, all culminating in two shows at First Avenue on December 9 and 10.
In 2012, Doomtree began their No Kings tour, a multitude of shows at various locations across the US promoting the album.