A.T.B.A.N Klann (A Tribe Beyond a Nation) was an American hip hop group composed of Will 1X, apl.de.ap, Mooky Mook, and DJ Motiv8. The Atban Klann were signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Will 1X (who later changed his stage name to will.i.am) and apl.de.ap were first signed by Eazy-E when they were in high school and would later become members of The Black Eyed Peas.[2]
A.T.B.A.N Klann | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | A Tribe Beyond a Nation Tribal Nation The A.T.B.A.N Klann |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative hip hop, jazz rap, experimental hip hop |
| Years active | 1992–1995[1] |
| Labels | Ruthless, Relativity |
| Spinoffs | Black Eyed Peas |
| Past members | Will 1X apl.de.ap Mookie Mook DJ Motiv8 |
History
editThe group was signed to Ruthless Records in 1992 and debuted on Eazy-E's EP, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick on the track entitled "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas". Soon after, the group recorded their debut album, Grass Roots, which was to be released on October 6, 1994; however, the album was shelved shortly before its release, and shortly after being jailed for 6 weeks in early 1995 on a domestic assault charge, Mookie Mook would leave after an argument. The duo would stay with Ruthless until they were dropped from the label after Eazy-E died in 1995.[3] Will 1X would change his name to will.i.am and the Atban Klann would add Taboo and later Fergie and become the Grammy award winning band, The Black Eyed Peas.[3]
Discography
editSingles
edit- 1994: Puddles of H2O
Studio album
edit| Grass Roots | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the 2020 Back 2 Da Source release | |
| Studio album by Atban Klann | |
| Released | 2020 |
| Recorded | 1992–1994 |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Label | Ruthless, Relativity, Back 2 Da Source |
| Producer | DJ Motiv8, Will 1X |
| Singles from Grass Roots | |
| |
Grass Roots was originally planned for release at the end of 1993[4] for Ruthless Records, distributed by Relativity Records; however, the album was put on hold. In 1994, the group released the first single from the album, "Puddles of H2O", as a CD single and promotional twelve-inch, with the B-side single "Let Me Get Down".[4] However, with the band being dropped from Ruthless in 1995 it was not released at that time. The songs from the album later leaked and a cover was made using a photo of apl.de.ap and will.i.am from the Bridging the Gap photo-shoot in 2000.[citation needed] It was then remastered and released properly for the first time on vinyl in 2020 by Back 2 Da Source Records, which sold out.[5]
Track listing
edit- "Open Your Mind"
- "Put On Your Adidas"
- "Goin for a Ride"
- "Mountain Top" (feat. Dante Santiago and Mr. Shaw)
- "L.A. Barrio Woman Beater"
- "Lord of the Flies" (feat. Huck Finn)
- "No Sequel"
- "Focus on You" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
- "Quid Pro Quo"
- "World's Gone Mad" (feat. Longevity)
- "Strollin"
- "This Is Dedicated" (feat. Dandilion and Mr. Shaw)
- "Let Me Get Down" (feat. Mr. Shaw)
- "Duet" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
- "Puddles of H2O"
- "Rain on Me"
- "Eyougodah"
Personnel
edit- A.T.B.A.N. Klann
- Featured artists
- Dante Santiago – vocals
- Mr Shaw – vocals
- Dandillion – vocals
- Huck Finn – vocals
- Longevity – vocals
References
edit- ^ Andy Kellman. "The Black Eyed Peas". AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ Feely, Peter (September 23, 2013). "Will.i.am – exclusive interview". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
Eazy E signed us [me and apl.de.ap] back when I was in high school. We were in a group called Atban Klann and Eazy E signed us to his record label Ruthless Records. Eazy was an inspiration and an instrumental part of the beginning of my career.
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "The Black Eyed Peas". Allmusic. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ a b Lowers, Erin (November 25, 2018). "The Black Eyed Peas' Journey from Conscious to the Charts". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "The A.T.B.A.N. Klann - Grass Roots (Album, 2xLP Gatefold Edition + Insert) SOLD OUT".