Monsta Island Czars
Monsta Island Czars is a hip-hop collective based in New York City, New York, United States most notable for members MF Grimm and MF Doom.
Monsta Island Czars | |
---|---|
Origin | Monsta Island, New York, United States |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Emcees Record Producers |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | Brick9000 Records (2001) Metal Face (2003) Day By Day Entertainment (2003-present) |
Members | Jet Jaguar (MF Grimm) Kong (Kongcrete) Gappa (First alias) Biolante (Kurious) Grimlock (Infinit EVOL) Monsta X (Ntrospekt) Gabarah (Jun Classic) Spiega / Spiga (Spice) Lord Smog (Lord Scotch / Keo) Baragon (Young Equality) Moguera (DJ Ez) |
Past members | Megalon (Tommy Gunn) (1997 - 2008) King Caesar (X-Ray) (1998 - 2004) Kamackeris (Kwite Def) (1998 - 2004) Gigan (Zymeer) (2001 - 2004) Rodan (1998 - 2004) Wayne-O Yves St. Larock (deceased) SpaceGodZilla (DJ Subroc) (deceased, 1993) Bashton (2004 - 2009) MeccaGodZilla (RAVAGE/RYU BLACK) (2003-2008) Destroyah (MF Mez / Mezmerizer) (2004-2006) King Geedorah (MF DOOM)(1997-2005) Majesty / Gamma Ra(2004 - 2016 Deceased) |
History
The members of the group take their names from movie monsters from Toho's Godzilla movies. Their first full-length album, Escape from Monsta Island! was released in 2003 by Metal Face Records. Most M.I.C. (Monsta Island Czars) tracks are produced by King Caesar (aka X-Ray) or King Geedorah (aka MF Doom). Throughout the years it seems many group members have become inactive, including MF Doom.
There was a rumor that the remaining members of M.I.C. were set to release a new album titled 'Return To Monsta Island' sometime in 2007, but this rumor was dispelled in an interview[1] with X-Ray. There has been no known M.I.C. activity since 2009, and it appears the group is defunct.
Rumored breakup
Around the time the rumor of "Return to Monsta Island" was dispelled, fans became unsure whether the group is on hiatus or have split up. Clues included the collective's MySpace webpage being deleted, and their official site (monstaisland.com) going down. Some of the older M.I.C. members have scattered to other record labels such as Mindbenda Recordings & Classified Recordings. In 2007 rumors continued that W.I.C. was still active and working on new tracks, but nothing seemed to come out of it.[2]
Since the release of "Escape from Monsta Island!" and the supposed split of the M.I.C., MF Grimm (Jet Jaguar) and Bed Stuy rapper Poison Pen have collaborated on a track for "Stronghold: the Mixtape, Vol. 2" under the moniker Strong Monstas (a collaborative of Stronghold and M.I.C. members). In the intro to the song, Grimm names himself, Poison Pen (Stronghold), Breez Evahflowin (Stronghold) and Rodan (M.I.C.) as the members of Strong Monstas.
Due to no new information related to Monsta Island Czars surfacing since, it appears the group is now defunct.
Discography
Albums
- The Next 1,000 Years (Unreleased, 2001)
- Escape from Monsta Island! (2003)
- Back to tha Island!! (TBR)
Singles
- Run the Sphere 12"
- Escape / MIC Line 12"
Appearances
- Operation: Doomsday (MF Doom album) (1999)
- Monster Mixes, Vol. 1 (X-Ray album) (2002)
- The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera (MF Grimm album) (2002)
- Take Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album) (2003)
- Monsta Mixes, Vol. 2 (X-Ray album) (2003)
- Theophany: the Book of Elevations (Rodan album) (2004)
- A Penny for Your Thoughts (Megalon album) (2004)
- Scars and Memories (MF Grimm album) (2222005)
- Soundclash #1: MeccaGodZilla vs. 007 (RAVAGE the MeccaGodZilla album) (2005)
- American Hunger (MF Grimm album) (2006)
- The Manhattanites (MF MEZ & Self Suffice (King Orga) album) (2007)
- Tha Floods (Bashton album) (2007)
- 2 Much Aint Enuff (Junclassic / Gabarah album) (2007)
- Artz & Craftz (Kwite Def / Kamackeris album) (2007)
- They Robot III: Robots of Dawn (DJ Chong Wizard concept mixtape that features a song called "M.I.C. Check" with most M.I.C. members) (2007)
- American Monsta (RAVAGE the MeccaGodZilla remix of Jay-Z's American Gangster) (2008)
- Shackles Off (Kong album) (2008)
- Tha Nickel Bag (Tommy Gunn/Megalon & Raylong album) (2008)
- Overqualified (Junclassic / Gabarah album) (2008)
- Erroars (RAVAGE the MeccaGodZilla album) (2008)
- Late Nites & Early Mournings EP (Junclassic / Gabarah album) (2009)
References
- "X-Ray Interview, August 2007". Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- Rumor group is active on Wu-Tang Corp Forum