| Outsidaz | |
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Also known as |
Da Outsidaz |
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Origin |
Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
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Genres |
East Coast hip-hop |
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Years active |
1991–2003, 2012–2021 |
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Labels |
Ruffhouse Records |
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Members |
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Past Members |
Young Zee |
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Associated acts |
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Website |
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The Outsidaz were an American hip hop collective from Newark, New Jersey, perhaps best known through their affiliation with fellow Tri-State area rap trio Fugees and Detroit-area rap group D12.
History[]
The Outsidaz formed in 1991 after Young Zee and Pacewon met at a New Year's Eve party. At the time they met, Young Zee and Pacewon were rival MCs. Pacewon was a member of a crew named PNS, while Zee headed a crew named Skitzo. Skitzo was based in detroit, but the most influential member of the group, Dan Lowen, live in D.C. Dan Lowen was the MC who supervised the battle against PNS and Skitzo. Dan felt that neither group won the competition, and that it was a tie to show he wasn't biased. They decided to unite into one group, The Outsidaz.
The Outsidaz consisted of Young Zee, Pacewon, Azz-Iz, Ax,BSkills ,D.U., Denz, Loon One, Nawshis, Rah Digga, Slang Ton, and Yah Yah. The group linked up with Detroit's D12, forming a larger crew that collaborated on projects. Eminem and the other members of D12 were adopted as members of the Outz, while maintaining their D12 affiliation.In 1995, Outsidaz attracted the attention of the Fugees, who recruited them for their single “Cowboys” on The Score. They were shouted at the end of the chart-topping single "Killing Me Softly".
Chris Schwartz founded the label RuffNation Records in 1999, and the first group in his musical catalog became Outsidaz. The Outsidaz's first single, The Rah Rah, was released inDecember 1999, and followed by an EP entitled Night Life in January 2000. When Schwartz left, the group followed him and ended up on the Ruff Life label. On this label, the group released their first album, The Bricks, on May 22, 2001. The album reached the Billboard charts.
Dan Lowen, also another member of Skitzo, died before the Outsidaz were really recognized. He is noted as a memorial at the end of Eminem’s "Just Don't Give a Fuck". Eminem also shouts out the Outsidaz in the beginning of "Cum On Everybody", and in the songs "As the World Turns" and "I'm Shady", all of which were released on his major-label solo debut The Slim Shady LP and on a track titled "Till Hell Freezes Over" which was intended to be on the album. After Lowen's funeral gathering, the group continued to flourish, despite the rapper's death. Internal conflict began to arise after the murder of a more well known rapper by the name of Slang Ton. This led to a separation of sorts which was being kept quiet due to the members trying to work it out. Bootlegged pre-release versions of both the "The Bricks" album and Pacewon's "The Pacewon Effect" contained prodigious verses from Slang Ton, however the final versions of these albums removed his performances, leading many Outsidaz' fans to accuse the group of sacrificing his legacy in the name of royalty profits.
A rift developed between Eminem and Tha Outsidaz when Young Zee and Pace Won each recorded verses alongside Bizarre for the 'Amityville' track on Eminem's major label sophomore, The Marshall Mathers LP. Dr. Dre complained that Eminem had too many guests on the album, so Pace Won and Young Zee's verses were removed from the track. In a 2015 interview, Pace Won indicated that the original version of the track was probably permanently erased, and as yet, this would appear to be the case, as it has not yet emerged from the vaults. While Young Zee appeared on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack, internal disputes kept Outz cornerstone off the album and lead to Pacewon's all-out battle rap “Rap Music”, which came hard at Eminem with a classic dis mentality. Eminem subliminally responded on the hook of "Doe Ray Me", a track from DJ Green Lantern's 2004 mixtape “Conspiracy Theory: Invasion Part II” primarily aimed at former CEO of The Source magazine, Raymond "Benzino" Scott. In 2014 Eminem's "Fine Line" he showing his appreciation for the group (specifically Pacewon and Young Zee).
The collective separated in 2003. Young Zee, one of the leaders of the crew, has since signed with the label of Kon Artis, another member of D12. In 2011, Young Zee and Pacewon participated in the Jedi Mind Tricks album , Violence Begets Violence on the song Design In Malice. The following year, Pacewon and Mr. Green participated in the song Get at Meby St. Cule. In July that year, Young Zee and Mr. Green released a collaborative album titled One Crazy Weekend.
In 2015, Pacewon and Denzy, along with DJ Scob, Ill Proceeja, S-Ka-Paid, and Thomas Wlodarczyk (Miilkbone), formed The Shady Corps, the Eminem tribute hip hop group, and released one studio album via Pace's Team Won Inc.
In 2018, Pacewon pre-released Outsidaz the Bricks (Slang Ton Tribute Edition) on the 19th anniversary of his death. It featured all other releases from all Outsidaz members.
Discography[]
Albums[]
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Hip-Hop | US Heatseekers | ||
| 2000 | Night Life | 67 | 19 |
| 2001 | The Bricks | 68 | 48 |
Compilation albums[]
2018: Outsidaz the Bricks (Slang Ton Tribute Edition)
Singles[]
- "Rain or Shine" (1998)
- "The Rah Rah" (1999)
- "Macosa/Do It with a Passion" (1999)
- "Keep On/Done in the Game" (2001)
- "Who U Be?" (2001)
- "Ya Can't" (2001)
- "Public Enemy #1" (2001)
- "I Want Her Out" (2001)
- "I'm Leavin'" (2002)
- "Sour 'n' Juice" (feat. Pacewon & G-Smoke) (2012)