Tajai
Tajai in 2013
Tajai in 2013
Background information
Birth nameTajai Massey
Also known asTajai
Born (1975-04-21) April 21, 1975
OriginEast Oakland, U.S.
GenresAlternative hip hop
West coast hip hop
Years active1991–present
LabelsClear Label Records
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Jive/BMG Records

Tajai Massey, known by the stage name Tajai (/tɑːˈʒeɪ/ tah-ZHAY; born April 21, 1975), is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the four founding members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief and, with Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. He is also one half of the hip hop duo Rap Noir. He is a vegetarian.[1]

Biography

Born in Stanford, California, Massey moved with his family to Oakland, California when he was 2 years old. With a professor for his mother and sysop for a father, he was in a well-educated household where he started computer programming at an early age. He and fellow Souls of Mischief member A-Plus experimented with the Commodore 32, Commodore 64, Apple IIe, and Apple II, among others.[2]

He graduated from Stanford University in 1997 with a BA degree in anthropology.[3]

Massey graduated with an MA in architecture from the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design in 2014 and became an architectural designer for Sabi Design•Build starting in October 2014. In May 2017, he was part of a group that acquired the Hibiscus Garden Hotel in Lagartero/Santa Catalina, Panama.

Massey is a father of two.[2] He speaks English, Spanish, and Swahili.[4]

Musical career

Souls of Mischief

In elementary school, Tajai met fellow Souls of Mischief member A-Plus, and the duo began their nascent rap careers.[5] 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.

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.[3]

Tajai has contributed to all six Souls of Mischief albums, as well as the three Hieroglyphics 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, Projecto: 2501, 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.

Rap Noir/Trap Noir

Tajai is also a member of Rap Noir, a hip hop duo with producer Unjust from Chosen Few. In mid 2017 they released their first single "Let it Rain." They released their debut album "Rap Noir" in 2018. Tajai also collaborated with producer Harris the Know-it-all to release a remix album called "Trap Noir."

Discography

Albums

Solo

  • Power Movement (2005)
  • Power Movement Remixes (2005)

With Souls of Mischief

With Hieroglyphics

With SupremeEx

As Rap Noir

  • Rap Noir {w/ Unjust} (10-31-2018)
  • Trap Noir {w/ Harris the Knowitall} (10-31-2018)

Collaborations

Mixtapes

  • Sleeping Giant
  • Machine Language

References

  1. ↑ PETA2 kicks off “Sexiest Vegetarian” contest with Matt Skiba, Dan Yemin, Davey Havok, MacKaye
  2. 1 2 "Souls of Mischief". December 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 StinkE (July 18, 1996). "Phesto Interview". StinkE Productions. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
  4. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajai-massey-676891111
  5. ↑ "Tajai Interview". Gorilla Movement.com. 2005. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Hood Famous, by Supastars (Superstar Quamallah & Tajai)".
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