King Syze | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | David Albaladejo |
Also known as | Syze |
Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
Genres | Hip Hop |
Occupation(s) | MC, rapper |
Years active | 2001-present |
Labels | Babygrande |
David Albaladejo (better known by his stage name King Syze) is an underground rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Puerto Rican descent. He is a member of the underground hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs (AOTP), having featured on all their studio albums. He is known for his frequent collaboration with AOTP members; OuterSpace. Outside of rap, Albaladejo works as a member of a trade union which has inspired the names of many of his studio albums. [1]
Many have likened the witty aggressive flow and opposing mic presence of King Syze to that of Big Pun. King Syze has been featured on notable albums by Jedi Mind Tricks' Visions of Gandhi , Vinnie Paz's God of the Serengeti, 7L & Esoterics DC2: Bars of Death and OuterSpace's Blood and Ashes , Blood Brothers , God's Fury , and My Brother's Keeper as well as prominent features on the current smash full-length Army Of The Pharaohs' The Torture Papers . He released his first full-length album Syzemology in 2006 and features appearances from fellow Pharaohs Vinnie Paz, 7L & Esoteric, OuterSpace, Reef The Lost Cauze, Des Devious as well as verses from Sabac Red (of Non Phixion), Pumpkinhead and Block McCloud, as well as production from DJ 7L, Jon Doe, Block McCloud, Louis Logic, Crisis Center and Archrival. [2]
In 2008, King Syze released his second studio album The Labor Union . The album was known for "Syze lacing his relentless, rapid-fire flow over a slew of spine-tingling gutter tracks" It contained production from Team 707, DJ Waxwork, Skammadix, and MTK. The album was considered an underground cult classic. [3] On October 4, 2011, King Syze released his third studio album Collective Bargaining . It was entirely produced by Skammadix and featured Vinnie Paz, Ill Bill, Celph Titled, Esoteric, Planetary and Crypt the Warchild of OuterSpace, Baby Blak, Burke The Jurke, Doap Nixon, Kev Turner, Side Effect, Blacastan, V-Zilla, OuterSpace, Diabolic, Jus Allah, King Magnetic, Reef the Lost Cauze, Apathy, Chris Webby, Lawrence Arnell, Rockie Reyes, Poynt Blanc, M-Dot, and featured cuts by DJ Kwestion. [4]
King Syze grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he found his hip hop influences in his family, friends and school environment, all of which were ripe with young talent. Syze started rapping at 12 years old, heavily inspired by his older brother, Marcus Albaladejo (Crypt the Warchild) and now brother-in-law Mario Collazo (Planetary), who together make up the Philadelphia hip hop group OuterSpace.
His first 12" Single was released in 2002 containing: "Street Poetry" featuring Doap Nixon and OuterSpace, "Philly's Finest" featuring Doap Nixon, and "Last Standin'" featuring rap duo OuterSpace. It was produced by Tim the Toolman, executive produced by Vinnie Paz and put out by Superegular Recordings.
On 23 September 2003, King Syze released another 12" Vinyl with the tracks; Machine Gun Rap, Blitz Inc. which featured fellow rappers Esoteric and Vinnie Paz and Sibling Rivalry which featured OuterSpace. [5] His Track Machine Gun Rap was featured on 7L And Beyonders compilation album; Vinyl Thug Music. [6] It was in 2003 that Vinnie Paz gave Syze the proposition to join hip hop supergroup; Army of the Pharaohs. Syze agreed and saw his first feature with them on their compilation album Rare Shit, Collabos And Freestyles on a freestyle track and the track Syzemology. [7] He then went on to feature with Planetary and Crypt the Warchilds rap duo; OuterSpace where he was seen on the track Gods And General alongside Des Devious [8] and on their self-titled compilation album Outerspace on the tracks Qrown Royal and Front To Back [9] Syze also collaborated with 7L & Esoteric on the trackThis Is War on the album DC2: Bars of Death [10]
In 2005, Syze recorded the tracks Spittin' Heavy and Band of Brothers which featured Crypt the Warchild, it was released as a 12" vinyl in early 2006. [11] He was then featured on Jedi Mind Tricks fifth studio album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell on the track Blitz, inc.' alongside 7L & Esoteric. [12] OuterSpace hollered Syze again for another feature on their third studio album Blood Brothers on the track "Hustle and Flow". [13]
Army of the Pharaohs released their debut studio album The Torture Papers the roster at this point contained Apathy, King Syze, Crypt the Warchild, Des Devious, Esoteric, Celph Titled, Chief Kamachi, Planetary, Vinnie Paz, Reef the Lost Cauze and Faez One. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums. [14]
In 2005, King Syze announced that he was working on his debut album titled Syzemology. It was officially released 13 June 2006 and contained guest appearances from Block McCloud, Pumpkinhead, Des Devious, OuterSpace, Reef the Lost Cauze, Vinnie Paz and more. [15]
In 2007, the second album by hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs was released titled Ritual of Battle on September 21, 2007. The album features group members Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah, OuterSpace, Chief Kamachi, Reef the Lost Cauze, Esoteric, Celph Titled, King Syze, Des Devious, Doap Nixon, Demoz, and King Magnetic. Although he was prominently featured on the group's debut album The Torture Papers, Apathy does not appear on Ritual of Battle. [16] Later in 2007, German production group Snowgoons enlisted King Syzes track Blitz Inc. on their mixtape The Joining Forces. [17]
In 2008, King Syze released his second studio album The Labor Union . The album was known for "Syze lacing his relentless, rapid-fire flow over a slew of spine-tingling gutter tracks" It contained production from Team 707, DJ Waxwork, Skammadix, and DJ Cru Cut and more. The album was considered an underground cult classic. [3] The album saw appearances from fellow Pharaoh soldiers Vinnie Paz, Reef the Lost Cauze, Apathy, Des Devious, and Doap Nixon as well as OuterSpace and Ill Bill of Non Phixion. [18]
OuterSpace released the track Gods and Generals 2 which saw appearances from King Syze and Des Devious again just like the original Gods and Generals song and was released on the album God's Fury . [8] In 2009, Jedi Mind Tricks put King Syzes track Blitz, inc. on their compilation album Greatest Features. [19]
March 19, 2010 marked the release date of Army of the Pharaohs third studio album; The Unholy Terror. Apathy returned to the group and new additions were added to the roster including; Block McCloud and Journalist. Chief Kamachi, however, got into a feud with Vinnie Paz and Apathy and therefore decided to leave AOTP. [20]
Tracks of OuterSpace featuring Des Devious and King Syze; ‘Gods and Generals’ and ‘Gods and Generals 2’ were listed in the second compilation album by Army of the Pharaohs; The Pharaoh Philes which was presented by Babygrande Records. [21]
On 4 October 2011, King Syze released his third studio album Collective Bargaining . It featured Celph Titled, Esoteric, Planetary, Baby Blak, Burke The Jurke, Doap Nixon, Kev Turner Side Effect, Blacastan, V-Zilla, OuterSpace, Diabolic, M-Dot, Jus Allah, King Magnetic, Reef the Lost Cauze, Apathy, Chris Webby, Lawrence Arnell, Rockie Eyes, Poynt Blanc, Crypt the Warchild, Ill Bill, and Vinnie Paz and is fully produced by Skammadix. [22] An Extended Play version of the album was released on iTunes on 13 August 2013. [4] Collective Bargaining was not released on a label. [23] An Extended Play version was released on to iTunes on 13 August 2013. [24]
In 2012, King Syze was featured on Vinnie Paz' mixtape The Priest of Bloodshed on the track Golden Casket which also featured La Coka Nostra frontman Ill Bill. [25] Syze was also featured on Apathys third compilation album It's The Bootleg, Muthafuckas! Volume 3: Fire Walk With Me on the tracks; And Now alongside Vinnie Paz and Water to Wine alongside Chris Webby. [26] In 2013, King Syze was also featured on Jedi Mind Tricks' 12" Vinyl for the Animal Rap Release Party which took place Live at Silk City (Philadelphia, PA) on 4 March 2003 other guests featuring include Chief Kamachi, King Syze and OuterSpace. [27]
On November 30, 2013, Vinnie Paz revealed that two new Army Of The Pharaohs albums would be released in 2014. In Death Reborn is slated for a release on 22 April and the second LP is expected to drop in November. [28] King Syze is confirmed to be on the upcoming albums. New members including Blacastan of The Demigodz and Zilla from Houston, Texas, are said to be joining the group. [29]
On 28 January 2014, Syze announced he was working on his fourth studio album titled Union Terminology . The project is produced entirely by Skammadix (who also produced the whole Collective Bargaining album) and will be of the usual genre of hardcore rap that Syze raps with and will incorporate a diverse array of topics such as daily struggles, and working as a union member. [30] The album is said to be available for free download. On 28 February 2014, Syze released the first single off the album titled; "Due Process". [31] A music video was released the same day. [32] The album is confirmed to be released on 25 March 2014. [33] The album was titled Heavy Lies the Crown. He released his debut EP, Vested in 2015.
Bloodaz, Syze's fifth studio album was released on December 17, 2017. [34] Syze released his second EP titled Addicted to the Rhythm on May 31, 2019. [35]
7L & Esoteric (7LES) are an American underground hip hop duo from Boston, Massachusetts, known for battle rhymes and boom bap production. 7L is the duo's DJ/producer and Esoteric is the MC. 7L & Esoteric are both prominent members of underground hip-hop collectives Army of the Pharaohs and Demigodz, as well as being 2/3 of Czarface along with Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck.
Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) are an American underground hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1996 by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. In 1999, rapper Jus Allah joined the group to record their second studio album, Violent by Design. Jus left the group shortly after, but returned in late 2006 and began working on the sixth studio album, A History of Violence. In 2011 Stoupe left the group because "his heart wasn't in making JMT records anymore". In 2013, Jus split from the group indefinitely, and Stoupe returned in 2015.
Army of the Pharaohs is an American underground hip hop collective originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks founder Vinnie Paz in 1998. The collective has strong links to other underground east coast groups such as Outerspace, Snowgoons, La Coka Nostra, Demigodz, 7L & Esoteric, and JuJu Mob. AOTP's affiliations and member roster has changed several times since its formation.
OuterSpace is an underground hip hop duo from North Philadelphia. Originally a trio consisting of three Puerto Rican friends that then took the artist names Planetary, Jedeye and Crypt the Warchild. The founding member Mario Collazo (Planetary) was then attending 10th grade, while the other two, Richard Cruz (Jedeye) and Marcus Albaladejo, were in 8th grade.
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell is the fifth studio album by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released September 19, 2006 through Babygrande Records. The first single, "Heavy Metal Kings", featuring Ill Bill of La Coka Nostra, was released in early August through iTunes and a limited edition vinyl pressing. Additional guest appearances on the album are provided by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Sean Price, R.A. the Rugged Man, Block McCloud and Army of the Pharaohs members Chief Kamachi and Reef the Lost Cauze.
Vincenzo Luviner, better known as Vinnie Paz, is an Italian-born American rapper and producer behind the Philadelphia underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. He is also the frontman of the hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs.
The Torture Papers is the debut album by underground hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs, released March 21, 2006 on Babygrande Records. The crew was established in 1998 by Jedi Mind Tricks frontman Vinnie Paz, and originally featured Jedi Mind Tricks, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Virtuoso and Bahamadia. Virtuoso and Bahamadia later split from the group, which now consists of Paz, Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Apathy, OuterSpace, King Syze, Reef the Lost Cauze, Des Devious, Celph Titled and Faez One. An Army of the Pharaohs collaboration album was rumored to be in the works for years, but was often delayed due to separate projects and internal problems, however a mixtape titled After Torture There's Pain was released in 2007.
Marcus Albaladejo, better known by his stage name Crypt the Warchild, is an underground rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Albaladejo is one half of the rap duo OuterSpace and is a member of Army of the Pharaohs. Crypt the Warchild is the older brother of rapper King Syze, who is also a member of Army of the Pharaohs.
Mario Collazo, better known by his stage name Planetary, is an American underground rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is one half of the rap duo OuterSpace and a member of Army of the Pharaohs.
Rafiek George, better known by his stage name Journalist, is an American rapper. He gives much of the credit for his success to his mother, who worked hard to raise five other family members. After graduating he went out to get a recording contract. Supporting himself as a public speaker, youth counselor, and taking parts in talent shows, Journalist eventually earned himself his first paycheck after triumphing in a talent search held at New Jersey's Stardust ballroom two years after graduating.
Ritual of Battle is the second studio album by underground hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs. Released on September 25, 2007 under Babygrande Records, the album features group members Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah, OuterSpace, Chief Kamachi, Reef the Lost Cauze, Esoteric, Celph Titled, King Syze, Des Devious, Doap Nixon, Demoz, and King Magnetic. Although he was prominently featured on the group's debut album The Torture Papers, Apathy does not appear on Ritual of Battle. While still a member of the group, he explains on a MySpace blog that he was recording with Styles of Beyond in Los Angeles during the Army's album recording sessions. The rapper recorded for one song, titled "A.O.T.P.", produced by Snowgoons, but it was not included on the album. This song was included on the Apathy compilation Hell's Lost & Found: It's The Bootleg, Muthafu@kas! Volume 2.
Kenneth Greene, better known by his stage name Doap Nixon, is an American hip hop artist and rapper who is a former member of supergroup Army of the Pharaohs. He has collaborated with a variety of underground hip hop artists and released his debut full solo album, Sour Diesel in 2008.
God's Fury is the third studio album from the hip hop duo OuterSpace, released on September 30, 2008, by Babygrande Records. The album features collaborations by Jedi Mind Tricks member Vinnie Paz, Sick Jacken & Cynic of Psycho Realm, and fellow A.O.T.P. members Doap Nixon, Reef The Lost Cauze, Des Devious, King Syze, Celph Titled, and Chief Kamachi.
In Death Reborn is the fourth studio album by the underground hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs. The album was released on April 22, 2014, via Vinnie Paz's independent record label, Enemy Soil. The album features members Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Blacastan, Block McCloud, Celph Titled, Crypt The Warchild, Demoz, Des Devious, Doap Nixon, Esoteric, King Magnetic, King Syze, Planetary, Reef the Lost Cauze and Zilla, with a guest appearance by Lawrence Arnell. The only member who did not appear on the album was Jus Allah, also affiliated with Jedi Mind Tricks; it was later confirmed that Allah had left both groups.
Syzemology is the debut album by underground rapper and Army of the Pharaohs member King Syze. It was released on May 30, 2006.
Collective Bargaining is the third studio album by underground rapper and Army of the Pharaohs member King Syze. It was entirely produced by Skammadix. An Extended Play version was released on to iTunes on 13 August 2013.
Lawrence Arnell Macmillan is an American rapper and producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first collaborated with hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks on Violent by Design under the name Diamondback in 2000. In 2014, Arnell joined Army of the Pharaohs and appeared on their studio albums In Death Reborn and Heavy Lies the Crown.
Sour Diesel is the debut album by underground rapper and Army of the Pharaohs member Doap Nixon. It was officially released 18 July 2008.
Doap Traffiking: The Rise and Fall of Darth Nixon is the third studio album by underground rapper and Army of the Pharaohs member Doap Nixon. It was released a few months after Doaps second album; Gray Poupon.