Tajai

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tajai


Img_capt =
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Tajai Massey
Alias = Tajai
Born = birth date and age|1975|4|21
Died =
Origin = Stanford, California, U.S.
Instrument = Microphone
Genre = Alternative hip hop
West coast hip hop
Occupation =
Years_active = 1993–Present
Label = Clear Label Records
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Jive Records
Associated_acts = Souls of Mischief Hieroglyphics
SupremeEx
URL = http://www.hieroglyphics.com
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Tajai Massey, known by the stage name, Tajai (born: April 21, 1975), is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the four founding members of Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief, and, with the Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics. Is a vegetarian. [ [http://www.peta2.com/outthere/o-sexyveg08_winners.asp The 2008 World's Sexiest Vegetarians Are… // Out There // peta2 ] ]

Biography

Souls of Mischief

Born in Stanford, California, Tajai moved with his family across the San Francisco Bay to Oakland, California when he was 2 years old. In elementary school, Tajai met fellow Souls of Mischief member A-Plus, and the duo began their nascent rap careers.cite web | url = http://www.gorillamovement.com/Tajai.html | accessdate = 2007-02-03 | author = | title = Tajai Interview | publisher = "Gorilla Movement.com" | date = 2005] Tajai eventually introduced A-Plus to future Souls of Mischief members Phesto and Opio, and the group formed in high school before releasing their debut album, "93 'til Infinity" on Jive Records in 1993. He graduated from Stanford University in 1997 with a degree in anthropology. cite web | url = http://ensim.hieroglyphics.com/artists/souls/phesto-interview.html | accessdate = 2007-02-03 | author = StinkE | title = Phesto Interview | publisher = "StinkE Productions" | date = 1996-07-18]

Hieroglyphics

After Tajai and the Souls of Mischief were dropped by Jive, the group was incorporated into the Hieroglyphics in 1995, at the urging of Del tha Funkee Homosapien.

Tajai has contributed to all four Souls of Mischief albums, as well as the two Hieroglyphic studio albums. He has also produced or performed on solo projects of various Hieroglyphics' members.

SupremeEx

In 1999, Tajai and the Hieroglyphics' then-webmaster, StinkE, formed the conceptual group SupremeEx, which released an enhanced CD, "", and in 2005, released the album "Nuntype".

Crudo

Tajai is also a member of Crudo, a new project featuring Mike Patton and Dan the Automator, who made their live debut in 2008.

Discography

Albums

1999, "" with SupremeEx (Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings / Clear Label Records)

2005, "Power Movement", (Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings)

2005, "Nuntype" with SupremeEx (Rumble Pack Records)

Mixtapes

Sleeping Giant

References

External links

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Tajai Discogs Profile - Tajai]
* [http://www.hieroglyphics.com Hieroglyphics - Official Site]