Ras Kass

Ras Kass
Ras performing in Houston, 2006. Ras performing in Houston, 2006.

John Austin (born September 26 1973), better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper.

Biography

Early Career

Ras Kass released his debut album Soul on Ice in 1996. The album built up considerable hype through the release of several independent singles, including "Remain Anonymous" and "Won't Catch Me Runnin". Soul on Ice saw little commercial success but was adored by the hip hop underground, who appreciated both his sharp battle raps and his militant Afrocentricity. The latter also caused controversy due to the songs "Ordo Abchao" and "Nature of the Threat" which were tracks detailing the history of white-on-black racism (the latter lasting for well over seven minutes and likely his most well-known song). Some claimed that Ras was extreme to the point of racism against Caucasians.

Ras Kass made a big push to make sure his second album Rasassination was commercially successful. As well as securing guest appearances from Xzibit and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, he received considerable assistance from superstar West Coast producer Dr. Dre, who provided beats for the album and rapped on the lead single "Ghetto Fabulous." The video for "Fabulous" was supported by an extravagant video shot on a luxury yacht.

Although this single is popular, many people accused him of watering down his subject matter for commercial success. The album in fact contained some of his most intellectual material to date ("Interview With A Vampire", a theological and spiritual exploration that featured Ras rapping from the perspectives of God, himself and the Devil) and occasionally addressed very personal subject matter ("It Is What It Is", concerning his relationship with his mother). Despite the single, his album still didn't sell as expected.

Ras Kass' third album Van Gogh was originally intended for release in 2001. However, the nearly-finished album was leaked onto the internet months before the release date. It received excellent reviews, but the bootlegging caused his label Priority Records to push the release date back twice before the record was eventually shelved indefinitely.

This further worsened the relationship between the label and Ras Kass, which was already strained due to disputes over several things, including the level of promotion Ras was being given, and the supposed block of the Columbia release of his supergroup Golden State Warriors' debut album.

The bootleg Van Gogh album even featured the lyrics "Fuck Priority Records, like Prince I'm writing SLAVE on my cheek" (this was later fulfilled as Ras Kass appeared in popular hip hop magazine XXL with SLAVE written on his face).

The relationship between Ras and Priority reached breaking point when the label also shelved the intended Van Gogh replacement Goldyn Chyld, an album which featured tracks from Van Gogh as well as new material. The "indefinite postponement" was due to a dispute over the lead single: Ras wanted to release the DJ Premier-produced title track, while Priority wanted a Dr. Dre-produced track, against the wishes of both Ras and Dre. This prompted Ras to launch a "Free Ras Kass" campaign (supported by an on-line petition and T-shirts) to gain his release from the label.

Free Ras Kass

In 2002, Ras Kass went on the run from the authorities after a warrant was issued following an arrest for drunk driving. While a fugitive, he recovered the masters of his albums from Priority Records studios; he then gave himself up and was promptly jailed. While incarcerated, he organized the independent release of a mixtape titled Re-Up, which featured himself and other artists. Priority Records unsuccessfully attempted to block this release. In May 2004, Ras filed a lawsuit against Priority Records, Capitol Records and EMI in protest to his treatment by the label and claimed breach of contract in an attempt to have the mixtape nullified. Ras was denied his release from his recording contract with Capitol Records in January 2007. There is a petition circulating the internet to get his release [1], but after a few months he only has 1,308 signatures. In the song "Rise of the Machines" (which features Ras) Vinnie Paz, front man of the hip-hop group Jedi Mind Tricks says the words "Free Ras Kass".

The HRSMN

The Horsemen is a collaboration between 4 rappers; Canibus, Ras Kass, Kurupt and Killah Priest. Together they have released one album called "The Horsemen Project" in 2003 on Think Differently Music/Proverbs Records. Since that release, fans are waiting for another album. Although some members of the group kept calling it "The Four Horsemen", Canibus always had the idea to add more people and form some kind of rap supergroup. A lot of names have been mentioned in the past; Pharaohe Monch, Kool G Rap, Pacman, Young Zee, Chino XL, Royce Da 5'9", Journalist, Lyrisick, Common, Rakim, Pace Won, Keith Murray, Vinnie Paz, Lonnie B, Danja Mowf and Crooked I. Unfortunately, none of these rappers was made a member of the group (though some artists on this list are featured on tracks).

2004-Present

After his release from prison in December 2004, Ras was met with nationwide support. He appeared on several radio shows and returned to the studio, releasing a few songs to some acclaim. He then announced he would release a new album in 2005. To fire up his audience, Ras decided to drop the Guess Who's Back mixtape, which was mainly released through his official website at raskass-central.com. Though still not officially released because of the Priority Records situation, Ras did manage to independently release a mixtape/album entitled Institutionalized Vol. 1. Revenge of the Spit, a 27 track mixtape featuring commercial instrumentals and original beats, was released in February, 2006. Institutionalized Vol. 2 is slated for a drop date in the summer, but it might never see the light of day due to Ras losing his case against Capitol Records recently. Ras was going to release another album under a new label, but losing his battle with Capitol will make that difficult. The title of this disc will probably be "H.T.K.G", rumored to stand for "How to Kill God". Eat or die was release recently and some say it's the best mixtape of the year. Ras has a song on the new movie soundtrack "Paroled" with stars Cedric Thomas and Master P.

Recently Ras has announced that he and the newly revamped Capitol Records are working on rebuilding their relationship. In new interviews that can be seen on Youtube he has mentioned that he is working on a new album to be titled The Autobiography Of John Austin and released on Capitol Records. On October 29th 2007 Ras Kass was arrested in Palmdale for unknown reasons. Ras is currently incarcerated in the Pitchess Detention Center North Facility located in Castaic California.

Feuds

The Alchemist

Ras Kass' first industry "beef" was with The Alchemist, a popular producer for such artists as Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep and Nas. The situation came about when Ras allegedly bought a beat before Alchemist re-sold it to Jadakiss without notifying Ras or returning his money. (The beat eventually became Jada's We Gon' Make It from his first LP.) The Alchemist has blamed Priority, stating that he had had no communication with the label for months before he sold the track to Jadakiss, and thus assumed that Ras Kass had declined to use it.

This prompted Ras to diss Alchemist in freestyles and on a rap from Van Gogh. Eventually he dropped the beef to concentrate on his legal problems, but still cites a loss of respect for the producer. However, in 2006, The Alchemist was featured on a skit in the Revenge of the Spit mixtape. Furthermore, in an interview with www.hiphopgame.com, Ras admits that he was being stubborn, and refused to listen to what the Alchemist was trying to tell him. The two have squashed the beef and Alchemist produced the song "Past Feature & Present" and did the intro for the song that was placed on Revenge Of The Spit.

The Game

A confrontation between Ras Kass and fellow west coast rapper The Game took place on September 14 2006 at Club Element in Los Angeles. The Game approached Ras Kass about a song in which he and his son were allegedly disrespected. A scuffle ensued in which The Game punched Ras Kass in the face, Ras Kass was also rumoured to have been hit from behind with a Moet bottle, and punched by one of Game's entourage. No charges were filed. Three days later, Ras Kass dropped a diss record called "Hush Little Baby (Produced by Krohme)" which hinges on supposed, apparent 'details' from The Game's past. Ras Kass later went on to release the diss record "Gayme Over," which further attacks the Game's credibility. The cover to the diss track single featured a picture of the Game in his pose on the cover of The Documentary, this time holding a banana and wearing a pink wig.

Ras Kass also released a video clip about the incident confirming his black eye. It shows him in a dark room with a group of friends hurling threats and insults at The Game, while Ras Kass gives his version of the incident in which he claims he was actually attacked thirty men to two.

Necro

Ras Kass and Necro and Mr. Hyde have a small conflict that started during a Necro and Mr. Hyde freestyle in 2006. During the freestyle Mr. Hyde, who is closely affiliated with Necro, said "fuck racists in general and Ras Kass specifically" and "Fuck Ras Kass, he's a bitch, a little midget with a wart for a head and it's going to get popped". Ras Kass later dissed Necro (most likely because Mr. Hyde is not considered a worthy target and Necro did nothing to deny Mr. Hyde's claims) in his 2007 song Backpack Rap, saying "When I see you, I'ma kill Necro". Since then, nothing else arose from this conflict.

Discography

Albums and official mixtapes

• Soul on Ice
  • Released: October 1 1996
  • Chart positions: 169 U.S.
  • Singles: "Anything Goes"/"On Earth As It Is...", "Soul on Ice"/"Marinatin'"

• Rasassination
  • Released: September 22 1998
  • Chart positions: 63 U.S.
  • Singles: "Ghetto Fabulous", "H20Proof"

• Van Gogh
  • Released: Unreleased (planned for 2001)
  • Chart positions: -
  • Singles: "Back it Up"

• Goldyn Chyld
  • Released: Unreleased (planned for 2002)
  • Chart positions: -
  • Singles: "Goldyn Chyld (Primo remix)"

• Institutionalized Vol. 1
  • Released: 2005
  • Chart positions: -
  • Singles: -

• Revenge of the Spit
  • Released: February 21 2006
  • Chart positions: -
  • Singles: "Bars Up"

• Eat or Die
  • Released: September 19 2006
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "King Of The West", "Capital "P" (remix)"

• Chinese Graffiti
  • Released: September 25 2007
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "Reggaetone (Happy New Year)", "Gayme Over", "Go Hard"

• The Autobiography of John Austin
  • Released: TBD
  • Chart positions: -
  • Singles:

Unofficial mixtapes and albums

• 1994 Soul on Ice Demo
• 2003 The HRSMN album entitled The Horsemen Project
• 2003 Run Away Slave
• 2003 Ras Kass Presents... Re-Up (The Compilation)
• 2004 Verbal Murder
• 2005 Guess Who's Back: 2005 Mixtape Songs & Freestyles
• 2005 "Volume 1: Razzy"- presented by DJ Exclusive
• 2005 "Volume 2: Kazzy"- presented by DJ Exclusive

Singles and EPs

• 1995 "High IQ"
• 1995 "Won't Catch Me"
• 1996 "Miami Life"
• 1996 "Soul on Ice"
• 1998 "Ghetto Fabulous"

Appears on

• 1994 "Come Widdit" (from the Street Fighter soundtrack)
• 1995 "E=MC5" (from the Key-Kool & Rhettmatic (of Visionaries) album Kozmonautz)
• 1996 "Plastic Surgery" (from the Xzibit album At the Speed of Life)
• 1996 "Riiiot!" (from the Chino XL album Here To Save You All)
• 1997 "Uni-4-Orm" (from the Rhyme & Reason Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]])
• 1998 "Abide By" (with other HRSMN members Canibus, Killah Priest, & Kurupt from a 12" single called White Label)
• 1998 "3 Card Molly" (from the Xzibit album 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz)
• 1998 "Handwriting on the Wall" (from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo)
• 1999 "Sophisticated Thugs" (from the Bootleg album Death Before Dishonesty)
• 2000 "Horsementality" (from the Canibus album 2000 B.C.)
• 2000 "Heart of the Assassin" (from the DJ Muggs compilation Muggs Presents The Soul Assassins II)
• 2001 "Whut Part of the Game" (from the Killah Priest album View From Masada)
• 2001 "Bentlys & Bitches" (from Da Beatminerz album Brace 4 Impak)
• 2002 "My Bloc" (from Caz album (with Kurupt & Rosco) "Goin Head Up")
• 2003 "Horsemen Enforcements" (from Canibus album (with Kurupt) The Brainstream)
• 2003 "Harder" (from the Xzibit album Man vs. Machine)
• 2003 "Vengeance" (from the Killah Priest album "Black August -Revisited-")
• 2003 "Rise of the Machines" (from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Visions of Gandhi)
• 2004 "Can I See You What I See" (from Pharoahe Monch & Hi-Tek 12" single "Can You See What I Can See")
• 2004 "Ain't No Way" ((from the HRSMN) off the unreleased album "Catch Me If You Can")
• 2005 "Lyrical Swords & "Verses" (from the compilation Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture)
• 2005 "Horsemen" (by Pak-Man and the HRSMN off the Pak-Man album "Chow Time")
• 2005 "Destruction of A Guard (DJ Khalil remix)" (from the Soul Assassins mixtape Take Aim...)
• 2005 "Horsemen Talk" (from the Canibus album MicClub Master Vol. 1)
• 2006 "Introducin" (from the Vakill album Worst Fears Confirmed)
• 2007 "The Business" (from the Westside Bugg album (with 40 Glocc) "The Roach Motel")
• 2007 "Next Dose" (from the Domingo album (with Rugged Intellect) "The Most Underrated")
• 2007 "125 Pt. 2" (from the Joell Ortiz album (with Stimuli, Grafh, Gab Gotcha) "The Brick: Bodega Chronicles")
• 2007 "Inner G" (from the Killah Priest album The Offering (with the HRSMN)
• 2007 "Musical murdah" (from the Hell Razah album Renaissance child)

Filmography

• 1997 Rhyme & Reason (film)|Rhyme & Reason (as himself)
• 1998 I Got the Hook Up
• 2002 The Brotherhood

External links

• Official Website
• HRSMN Official Website
• Discography
• Ras Kass at IMDb
• Petition to Save Ras Kass