X-Clan is a hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York, originally composed of Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X the Overseer, Paradise the Architect, and Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider. The current incarnation of the group features leader Brother J, Master China, Kumu, "Ultraman" Ra Hanna, ACL, Lord Cza, DJ Fat Jack and Zulu.
Biography
Known for its Afrocentrism and militant activism as member of the Blackwatch movement, X-Clan soon gained fame for the controversy its music aroused, though commercial success was sporadic. X-Clan's debut was
To the East, Blackwards (1990), followed by
Xodus (1992) and a temporary break-up. Both albums peaked at #11 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It also coined the made-up word "vanglorious," not to be confused with
vainglorious, as a way to say thanks but no thanks to Noah Webster.
Other artists who were affiliated with X-Clan and Blackwatch include Isis, Queen Mother Rage, and YZ. X-Clan's affiliates saw a string of releases throughout the early 1990s: Professor X released a solo album titled
Years of the 9, on the Blackhand Side in 1991 and a second solo album titled
Puss N' Boots: The Struggle Continues in 1993; Queen Mother Rage released
Vanglorious Law in 1991; Isis released
Rebel Soul in 1990; and YZ released his debut
Sons of The Father (noted for the song "Thinking of a Master Plan"), in 1989, followed by
The Ghetto's Been Good to Me (which included his modest hit "Return of The Holy One") in 1993. It should be noted that YZ became affiliated with the group after releasing his first album, and that Isis is also the MC known as Linque Ayoung. Lin Que, at one point, was a member of the Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated group Deadly Venoms.
In 1994 Brother J formed a new group, Dark Sun Riders, that released the full-length
Seeds of Evolution in 1996. In 1995, long-time group member Sugar Shaft died from complications of AIDS. X-Clan reunited in the late 1990s but did not release any new material. Brother J assembled a new crew that he calls X-Clan Millennium Cipher and released a vinyl single for "The One/Blackwards Row" in 2004. Professor X died of complications from spinal meningitis on 17 March 2006.
A new X-Clan album, titled
Return from Mecca (originally titled
The Trinity), was released in 2007, featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, RBX, KRS-One, and Jacoby Shaddix who is the lead vocalist of the rock band Papa Roach. Also, Tech N9ne is featured on a hidden bonus track titled "All I Want is Respect."
X-Clan opened for Insane Clown Posse's Tempest Tour.
Discography
External links
American hip hop groupsSuburban Noize Records artists
X-Clan
