Building Better Bombs

Stefon Leron Alexander (born August 18, 1981), better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an American hip hop artist from Minneapolis. He has been a member of groups such as Doomtree, Building Better Bombs, Gayngs, Marijuana Deathsquads, Cenospecies, Four Fists, and Shredders.

Early life

P.O.S was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended Hopkins High School, though he did not reside in Hopkins.

Career

Early career

Before entering hip hop, P.O.S was in the punk rock bands named Degenerates and Om.

In 2001, P.O.S, rapper Syst, and DJ Anomaly formed a short-lived hip hop group Cenospecies. The group released a studio album, ''Indefinition'', in 2002. The group won the award for "Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months" in the year-end issue of ''City Pages''.

Doomtree

In 2001, P.O.S and MK Larada formed a hip hop collective Doomtree. The group has released three studio albums: '' Doomtree'' (2008), '' No Kings'' (2011), and ''All Hands'' (2015).

Solo

P.O.S released his debut solo studio album, '' Ipecac Neat'', on Doomtree Records in 2004. His second studio album, '' Audition'', was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2006.

In 2009, P.O.S released his third studio album, '' Never Better'', on Rhymesayers Entertainment. It peaked at number 106 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart.

His fourth studio album, ''We Don't Even Live Here'', was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2012. It peaked at number 47 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. A version of the album remixed by Marijuana Deathsquads, titled ''WDELH/MDS/RMX'', was released a year later.

In 2017, P.O.S released his fifth studio album, ''Chill, Dummy'', on Doomtree Records.

Side projects

P.O.S is a vocalist and guitarist in the punk band Building Better Bombs. The group released a studio album, ''Freak Out Squares'', on Init Records in 2007.

He is a member of Minneapolis indie supergroup Gayngs. The group's first studio album, ''Relayted'', was released on Jagjaguwar in 2010.

Marijuana Deathsquads was formed after Building Better Bombs went on hiatus. Consisting of rotating members, the group released the first studio album, ''Crazy Master'', in 2011.

P.O.S is also a member of hardcore punk band Wharf Rats along with Chris 2, Chachi Darin, and Wade MacNeil.

He is one half of Four Fists along with Astronautalis. The duo's first studio album, titled ''6666'', was released in 2018.

He is a member of Shredders along with Sims, Lazerbeak, and Paper Tiger. The group has released two studio albums: ''Dangerous Jumps'' (2017) and ''Great Hits'' (2019).

Style and influences

In a 2010 interview with ''Punknews.org'', P.O.S listed Minor Threat, Operation Ivy, Black Flag, Rancid, Metallica, and Michael Jackson as some of the first musicians he loved. Hip hop-wise, he cited Mos Def, Company Flow, Atmosphere, and Aesop Rock as important influences.

Personal life

In 2012, P.O.S had to cancel his national tour due to health concerns. In a video posted to YouTube, P.O.S said failing kidneys are to blame for the cancellation, saying, "everyone keeps telling me, including my doctors, that I have to take care of my health first." In 2014, he received a kidney transplant.

Controversies

In June 2020 P.O.S released a statement regarding allegations of sexual assault and abuse by his touring DJ. In response to this, multiple women came forward accusing P.O.S himself of a history of manipulation and emotional abuse. In July 2020 P.O.S responded to these allegations and announced that he was stepping away from music.

Recognition

P.O.S has been honored with two stars on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the venue. P.O.S has one star for his solo work, and the Doomtree collective also has one.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Indefinition'' (2002)
* '' Ipecac Neat'' (2004)
* '' Audition'' (2006)
* ''Freak Out Squares'' (2007)
* '' Never Better'' (2009)
* ''We Don't Even Live Here'' (2012)
* ''Chill, Dummy'' (2017)

Remix albums

* ''WDELH/MDS/RMX'' (2013)

EPs

* ''Falsehopes'' (2002)
* ''False Hopes Mega!'' (2003)
* ''This Is a Gang. All We Need Is a Name'' (2006)
* ''Wharf Rats'' (2011)

Singles

* "Half Cocked Concepts" (2005)
* "Bleeding Hearts Club" (2006)
* "P.O.S Is Ruining My Life" (2006)
* "Goodbye" (2009)
* "Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)" (2009)
* "Optimist (We Are Not for Them)" (2009)
* "Purexed" (2009)
* "Crack a Window" (2011)
* "Bumper" (2012)
* "Fuck Your Stuff" (2012)
* "Sleepdrone/Superposition" (2016)
* "Wave" (2016)
* "Wearing a Bear" (2016)
* "Woof" (2016)
* "Lanes" (2016)

Guest appearances

* Heiruspecs – "Commonwealth" from ''Small Steps'' (2002)
* Negative One – "Pressure" from ''Less Is More'' (2004)
* Mel Gibson and the Pants – "Shark Sandwich" from ''A Mannequin American'' (2004)
* Ernie Rhodes – "Solid" from ''The Orbital Effect'' (2005)
* Sims – "No Homeowners" from ''Lights Out Paris'' (2005)
* Mel Gibson and the Pants – "Collars Popped and Loaded" from ''W/ Guitar'' (2005)
* Word for Word – "Elevata Music" from ''Twin Cites or Bust'' (2006)
* The Awesome Snakes – "P.O.S. vs. Awesome Snakes" from ''Venom'' (2006)
* Minus the Bear – "Drilling (P.O.S Redo)" from ''Interpretaciones del Oso'' (2007)
* Astronautalis – "The Story of My Life" from '' Pomegranate'' (2008)
* The Gigantics – "Mr. Anaya" from ''Die Already'' (2008)
* Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak – "Shux" from ''Hand Over Fist'' (2008)
* Cecil Otter – "Traveling Dunktank" from ''Rebel Yellow'' (2008)
* BK-One with Benzilla – "A Day's Work" from ''Radio Do Canibal'' (2009)
* The Returners – "I Promise" from ''Break Up Your Make Up'' (2009)
* Prof & St. Paul Slim – "Broadcasting" from ''Recession Music'' (2009)
* Approach – "Leads (Hard to Find)" from ''SweetKnuckleJunction (Season 1)'' (2010)
* The Let Go – "Nightfall" from ''Morning Comes'' (2010)
* Grieves – "War for the Crippled" from ''The Confessions of Mr. Modest'' (2010)
* Kristoff Krane – "Don't Mean a Thing" from ''Picking Flowers Next to Roadkill'' (2010)
* B. Dolan – "Fall of T.R.O.Y." from ''Fallen House, Sunken City'' (2010)
* Dark Time Sunshine – "Primor" from ''Vessel'' (2010)
* Dez & Nobs – "Underbelly" from ''Rocky Dennis'' (2010)
* Gayngs – "No Sweat" from ''Relayted'' (2010)
* Muja Messiah – "Dear God" from ''M-16's'' (2010)
* Mod Sun – "Keep It Movin'" from ''The Hippy Hop EP'' (2010)
* Sims – "Too Much" from ''Bad Time Zoo'' (2011)
* Open Mike Eagle – "Why Pianos Break" from ''Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes'' (2011)
* Astronautalis – "This Is Our Science" from ''This Is Our Science'' (2011)
* K. – "No Goons" from ''Raphood & Authenticity (Blackened Reissue)'' (2011)
* Scroobius Pip – "Let 'Em Come" from ''Distraction Pieces'' (2011)
* Spyder Baybie Rawdog and 2% Muck – "Knockin' at Your Door" and "Let Me Know" from ''Now That's What I Call Raw Vol. 2: Poornigraphy'' (2011)
* Dark Time Sunshine – "Overlordian" from ''Anx'' (2012)
* Mike Mictlan – "Syke!" and "Let Me Know" from ''Snaxxx'' (2012)
* Showyousuck – "Hotline Miami" from ''Dude Bro'' (2013)
* Busdriver – "Go Hard or Go Homogenous" from '' Perfect Hair'' deluxe edition (2014)
* Toki Wright & Big Cats! – "Heal" from ''Pangaea'' (2014)
* Koo Koo Kanga Roo – "Shake It Well" from ''Whoopty Whoop'' (2014)
* Play Date – "Ninja Pajamas" from ''We All Shine'' (2015)
* Sean Anonymous + Dimitry Killstorm – "Big Bang" from ''Better Days'' (2015)
* Cavanaugh – "Typecast" from '' Time and Materials'' (2015)
* Greg Grease – "On a Limb" from ''Born to Lurk, Forced to Work'' (2015)
* Onry Ozzborn – "Turmoil" from ''Duo'' (2016)
* Red Pill – "Fuck Your Ambition" from ''Instinctive Drowning'' (2016)
* Sadistik – "Molecules" from '' Altars'' (2017)
* YYY – "Here Today" from ''A Tribute to the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds'' (2017)
* Joey Van Phillips – "Broken Arrow" from ''Punch Bowl'' (2017)
* Cas One vs. Figure – "Never Stop Running" from ''So Our Egos Don't Kill Us'' (2017)
* Ultra Suede – "What It Is" from ''Ultra Suede'' (2018)
* Transit22 – "Against the Wind" from ''Dark Day // Good Morning'' (2019)
* Infidelix – "Six Days Six Nights" from ''#ripme'' (2019)
* Dwynell Roland – "Motions" from ''Weird Captions'' (2019)
* Ceschi – "Incesticide" from ''Sans Soleil'' (2019)

See also

* Underground hip hop
* Twin Cities hip hop

References

External links

P.O.S
at Doomtree

P.O.S
at Rhymesayers Entertainment
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:P.O.S
1981 births
Living people
African-American male rappers
Midwest hip hop musicians
Rappers from Minneapolis
Doomtree members
Rhymesayers Entertainment artists
Kidney transplant recipients
21st-century American rappers
Hopkins High School alumni
Gayngs members