The Goats

Last updated
The Goats
The Goats (hip-hop trio).jpg
Background information
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Hip hop, rap rock
Years active1991–1994
Labels Ruffhouse/Columbia
Past membersMadd
OaTie Kato
Swayzack [1]
Website http://jimmyluxury.com/thegoats.htm

The Goats were an American alternative hip hop trio from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [2]

Contents

History

The group (whose name, according to Swayzack, was chosen to join the word "scapegoats" and the saying "Don't get my goat," concluding that they felt the government had definitely gotten their goat at the time of formation) [3] began in 1991 [4] with founding vocalists rappers OaTie Kato (James D'Angelo), and Swayzack (Patrick Shupe), with the Earlier lineup formation during the 1991 era featured the sisters Love and Rucyl Mills [5] and Oatie's brother Vinnie Angel. They released one self-titled cassette tape with this lineup shortly after being introduced to Madd (a.k.a. "the M-A-the-double-D", Maxx Stoyanoff Williams) via the dance musician King Britt. [6]

Unusually for a rap group, the Goats had a full musical band as well, which included drummer Chuck Treece and multi-instrumentalists Pierce Ternay and bassist E.J. Simpson. Mark Boyce ( Boss Hogg, Delta 72, and G. Love and Special Sauce) contributed keyboards and voiced many of the characters on "Tricks of the Shade" A Ruff House promotion photo shows an eight-piece lineup. [7]

The group recorded on Columbia Records / Ruffhouse Records, [2] and their first album, Tricks of the Shade (1992), has been called one of the best Philadelphia albums of all time. [8]

They released two studio albums. Tricks of the Shade (1992) was produced by OaTie Kato and producer Joe "the Butcher" Nicolo) and released by Ruffhouse Records. It peaked at No. 58 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1994. [9] Their follow-up album was No Goats, No Glory (1994), released by Columbia Records. [2]

The Goats toured with Urge Overkill, Dog Eat Dog, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys and Luscious Jackson.

In 1994, OaTie Kato departed The Goats, reportedly because he missed a plane flight to a tour date. He was replaced by vocalist and drummer Derek "D'Recka" Pierce. [10] Later projects have included working alongside his brother directing and writing the 2007 film, The Orange Thief , which won a number of festival circuit awards, and founding the group Jimmy Luxury in 2009 which was signed to Sony Records. He has since left the music business and now holds seminars on the use of Bitcoin and various other topics such as climate change. [11] Swayzack would cease all musical activity after the band broke up. Remaining member Madd continues to perform and produce music, first with the Goats spin-off group Incognegro [12] and later with Black Landlord [13] and SPK. [14]

In 2019, a live album by the Goats, Live at Khyber Pass — July 4th, 1993, was released and featured on the iTunes UK landing page for a week. In the introduction to the 2019 book about Ruffhouse Records, by Chris Schwartz, The Roots lead man QuestLove writes that the Goats requested his band to warm up for them, resulting in their first live show. [15]

Discography

Albums

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References

  1. Powers, Ann (March 4, 1993). "Review/Pop; First Things First in 90's Style Protests". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 175. ISBN   0-7535-0427-8.
  3. critic, Greg Kot, Rock music. "HIP-HOP HOORAY". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Huey, Steve. "Goats | Biography & History". AllMusic.com.
  5. Valley, LEN RIGHI, The Morning Call Patrick Shupe (Swayzack) grew up in the Lehigh (29 January 1993). "RAPPER RECALLS ROCKY L.V. YOUTH". mcall.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Vinnie Angel » • Goats". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 22 June 2021. Alt URL
  7. N., N. "The Goats". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  8. "100 Best Philly Albums of all Time". Philadelphia Weekly . 2004-09-09.
  9. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 229. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  10. Puma, Tony (2002). "The Goats : 'Tricks of the Shade'". Both Sides of the Surface. Retrieved 2010-01-10 via angelfire.com.
  11. Jacobs, Suzanne (2015). "Could we fight climate change with bitcoin? This guys thinks so". Climate & Energy. Retrieved 2015-05-02 via Grist.org.
  12. "My return to glory'" . Retrieved 2020-04-18 via Mycitypaper.com.
  13. "Black Landlord- Best local band". January 2009. Retrieved 2020-04-18 via Phillymag.com.
  14. https://www.philebrity.com/blog/spk-what-does-it-mean-it-means-the-return-of-maxx-stoyanoff-williams
  15. Schwartz, Chris (2019-10-09). Ruffhouse: From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the '90s Hip-Hop Charts. Diversion Publishing Corporation. ISBN   978-1635765991.