Pharoahe Monch

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Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Jamerson) is an American hip hop artist from Queens, NY. He is known for his complex delivery and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes.

Career

Monch released three albums as part of the rap duo, Organized Konfusion with partner Prince Poetry: The self-titled Organized Konfusion, [[Stress: The Extinction Agenda]] and The Equinox. All albums received critical reviews, but moderate sales. As a result, the duo split up after recording their final album The Equinox in 1997. Prince Poetry has since denied the possibility of an Organized Konfusion reunion.

Pharoahe Monch then signed to Rawkus Records, an indie label. After making several guest appearances on albums like the best-selling Rawkus compilation Soundbombing 2, Monch's much-hyped debut, Internal Affairs was released in 1999. The first single of the album, Simon Says, was a major hit in 1999; he was later sued for the use of a Godzilla sample for the beat and forced to remove the song from the album as a result. He also had a 2001 hit with "Got You," though the single ultimately didn't sell well.

There were rumors his next album, Innervisions, was to be released under Denaun Porter's new Shady Records imprint Runyon Ave., but apparently the deal fell through; Monch has since announced a deal with Street Records Corporation, home of David Banner and Terror Squad. The album was scheduled to be released in late 2005 but has been pushed back to sometime in 2006. The new album is now going to be called Desire. Monch says about the album; "...it's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me."

Pharoahe's song "Simon Says" was featured in the 2000 cinematic release [Charlie's Angels]. Viewers will recognize the song and backbeat in the scene where Crispin Glover is lighting a cigarette in the castle, while holding Bosley hostage. Two of Monch's songs, "Right Here" and "Simon Says" were featured in the movie Boiler Room.

In 2002 he appeared on Linkin Park's Reanimation project, rapping on the track H! Vltge, the remix to High Voltage, with Mike Shinoda. He was briefly rumored to have joined The HRSMN, but never did.

In 2003, he appeared on the Oz soundtrack with "What is the law", a well regarded song on the soundtrack where he told life as an Italian American prison guard at New York'sRikers Island.

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