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Handsome Boy Modeling School

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Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School performing in New York City in 2005.
Handsome Boy Modeling School performing in New York City in 2005.
Background information
GenresHip hop, trip hop, electronica
Years active1999–2006
LabelsTommy Boy, Elektra
MembersDan the Automator
Prince Paul
WebsiteOfficial site

Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon, Deltron 3030) and Prince Paul (Stetsasonic, De La Soul, Gravediggaz, A Prince Among Thieves). The collaboration lasted between 1999 and 2006 and resulted in two albums, featuring a vast cast of guest rappers, singers, comedians and DJs.

History

Handsome Boy Modeling School was a conceptual hip hop duo that parodied and acted as a commentary on vain, consumerist, materialistic, and self-absorbed members of upper class society, such as supermodels and people from old money. The pair often satirized upper class snobbery and perceived beauty.

In 1999, they released the concept album So... How's Your Girl?, which was loosely based on an episode of the Chris Elliott sitcom Get a Life entitled "The Prettiest Week of My Life". The episode also contains the origin of the name Handsome Boy Modeling School, where Chris Elliott's character enrolls to become a male model. In the album, Dan and Paul assume the characters of Nathaniel Merriweather and Chest Rockwell, respectively. The Rockwell name in reference to a pseudonym used by a porn star in 1997 film Boogie Nights; the Merriweather name is likely an homage to the character "Nathanial Mayweather" also played by Chris Elliott in the 1994 cult comedy Cabin Boy. A number of guest musicians appear, including Róisín Murphy (one half of the duo Moloko at the time of the album's release), Del the Funky Homosapien, J-Live, Sean Lennon, Miho Hatori (of Cibo Matto), Mike D (of the Beastie Boys) and Don Novello (as comic character Father Guido Sarducci).

Their 1999 single "The Projects" in collaboration with Dave of De La Soul and Del the Funky Homosapien was featured in the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven.

Their second album, White People was released in November 2004. Some collaborators from the first album returned, and new collaborators included RZA, Cat Power, Casual, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Jack Johnson, Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta, Mike Patton, El-P, Pharrell, John Oates, Chino Moreno, Lord Finesse, Black Sheep, and comedy actor Tim Meadows.

In 2006, Prince Paul announced his retirement from Handsome Boy Modeling School due to business conflicts with Dan the Automator.[1]

Discography

Singles

Albums

Remixes

References

  1. ^ Pitchfork:News - January 10, 2006, 2006-01-10, archived from the original on 2008-03-07, retrieved 2009-05-10
  2. ^ Zywietz, Tobias, "H & Claire — Hysterix", Chart Log UK, archived from the original on 10 July 2010, retrieved 30 October 2015
  3. ^ Zywietz, Tobias, "H & Claire — Hysterix", Chart Log UK, archived from the original on 10 July 2010, retrieved 30 October 2015
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