The Weathermen (hip hop group)

Infobox musical artist |
Name = The Weathermen
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = New York City, New York, United States
Genre = Underground hip hop
Years_active = 1999-????
Label = Eastern Conference Records
Associated_acts =
Current_members = Aesop Rock
Breeze Brewin
Cage Kennylz
El-P
Tame One
Yak Ballz
Former_members = Camu Tao(deceased)
Jakki da Mottamouth
Copywrite
Vast Aire

The Weathermen, is a New York City based, underground hip-hop supergroup consisting of Aesop Rock, Tame One, Cage Kennylz, Yak Ballz, El-P, and Breeze Brewin. The group took its name from the revolutionary organization Weatherman, and sometimes refers to itself as the "New Left". Former members include Jakki da Mottamouth, Copywrite, Vast Aire and the late Camu Tao.

They released a mixtape in 2003 titled The Conspiracy, on Eastern Conference Records. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kxfrxqealdde allmusic ((( The Conspiracy > Overview ))) ] ] They plan to release their first full length record on Definitive Jux in 2008.

Originally formed by Cage, the group consisted of nine members from the Eastern Conference and Definitive Jux labels. By 2006, Jakki da Mottamouth, Copywrite, and Vast Aire had left and were replaced by Aesop Rock. They then became associated with Cardboard City.

A message posted on their Myspace page reads:

"Seven members is where our beloved brotherhood stands. The heads of these snakes have been severed and ejected from our garden. The New Left album is under way. We have waited until the seventh year of this new millennium to create the first and only WM album. It will be released on Definitive Jux records in 2008."

Most members of the Weathermen reference the group in their solo efforts. They also often make guest appearances on each other's solo releases, and the Weathermen logo can be found on most of the CD cases. Some of these references can be found below:

Aesop Rock references the group at the start of the hidden track on his album None Shall Pass. Another reference on his new album is on track 4, Bring Back Pluto, where Aesop says, "Yup yup, you'd think Charlie Brown was Weatherman how I zig zag around these yellow backs for peanuts. And the baggy stomach lining attached to the bums in hiding seeks the moral every outing to slide to refine his grinding, when the freakishly disfigured have gathered to surround you, you will live inside the actual second they let the hounds loose." Hence Charlie's yellow shirt with the zig zag pattern on it. There are other slight references as well.

Cage references the group in "Left It To Us", on this second full length, Hell's Winter. The song features most of the current members of the Weathermen, including Cage himself, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz, El-P, and Tame One. The song is produced by member Camu Tao and can be found on the Weathermen's official myspace page.

Member Camu Tao died on May 25, 2008 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. The official status of the Weathermen is unknown.

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/weathermenunderground Weathermen Myspace Page]