M.E.D. (rapper)
Nick Rodriguez, better known by his stage name M.E.D.[1] (sometimes stylized as MED),[2] is an American rapper from Oxnard, California.[3] He was formerly known as Medaphoar.[4] He has been signed to Stones Throw Records.[5]
M.E.D. | |
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Birth name | Nick Rodriguez |
Also known as |
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Born | Oxnard, California, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
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Life and career
Nick Rodriguez grew up in a musical family in Oxnard, California.[6] After being featured on Lootpack's 1999 album Soundpieces: Da Antidote, he was asked by Peanut Butter Wolf to join Stones Throw Records.[6] He was also featured on Quasimoto's The Unseen and Madlib's Shades of Blue.[7]
In 2005, M.E.D. released his debut album, Push Comes to Shove, on Stones Throw Records.[8] It was produced by Madlib, Oh No, J Dilla, and Just Blaze.[9] In 2011, he released his second album, Classic, on Stones Throw Records.[10] It featured contributions from Madlib, Aloe Blacc, Hodgy Beats, Talib Kweli, and Karriem Riggins.[11] In 2014, he released Theme Music, a collaborative album with producer J. Rocc, under the group moniker Axel F.[12] In 2015, he released a collaborative album with Blu and Madlib, titled Bad Neighbor, on Bang Ya Head.[13] It was a follow-up to their 2013 EP, The Burgundy.[14] The trio also released an EP, The Turn Up, in 2017.[15]
Discography
Studio albums
- Push Comes to Shove (2005)
- Classic (2011)
- Theme Music (2014) (with J. Rocc, as Axel F.)
- Bad Neighbor (2015) (with Blu and Madlib)
- Child of the Jungle (2019) (with Guilty Simpson)
- Flying High (2022) (with Madlib, LMNO, and Declaime as LMD)
Mixtapes
- Bang Ya Head (2005)
- Bang Ya Head II (2009)
- Bang Ya Head 3 (2010)
- Bang Ya Head 4 (2016)
EPs
- The Burgundy (2013) (with Blu and Madlib)
- Psychedelic Weather (2015) (with Otakhee)
- The Turn Up (2017) (with Blu and Madlib)
- Loyalty (2018) (with Guilty Simpson)
Singles
Guest appearances
- Lootpack - "Level Zero", "Wanna Test", and "Episodes" from Soundpieces: Da Antidote (1999)
- Quasimoto - "24-7" from The Unseen (2000)
- Madlib - "Please Set Me at Ease" from Shades of Blue (2003)
- Wildchild - "Knicknack 2002" and "Feel It" from Secondary Protocol (2003)
- Madvillain - "Raid" from Madvillainy (2004)
- Oh No - "The Ride" from The Disrupt (2004)
- Quasimoto - "The Exclusive" from The Further Adventures of Lord Quas (2005)
- Oh No - "Keep It Lit" from Exodus into Unheard Rhythms (2006)
- J Dilla - "Jungle Love" from The Shining (2006)
- Guilty Simpson - "The Future" from Ode to the Ghetto (2008)
- Gangrene - "Breathing Down Yo Neck" from Gutter Water (2010)
- Quakers - "Fitta Happier" from Quakers (2012)
- Oh No - "Jones's" from Disrupted Ads (2013)
- Blu - "Brown Sugar" from Good to Be Home (2014)
- Lucio Bukowski & Declaime - "Personal History" from Aucun Potentiel Commercial (2017)
- Blu & Oh No - "Boogie to Flex" and "Made the Call" from A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night (2019)
References
- Reeves, Mosi (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D., 'Classic' (Stones Throw)". Spin. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Fallon, Patric (July 1, 2010). "MED "Classic (feat. Talib Kweli)"". XLR8R. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
- Martins, Chris (August 23, 2010). "Watch: Oxnard Rapper MED Celebrates His Medical Marijuana Card in New Video for Stones Throw". LA Weekly. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Rabin, Nathan (July 1, 2005). "MED: Push Comes To Shove". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Murph, John (January 18, 2012). "M.E.D.: As Universal As Heartache". NPR. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
- Brown, Marisa. "MED - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Weiss, Jeff (October 26, 2011). "MED dips into his private sonic stash on new Stones Throw record". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
- Bush, John. "MED - Push Come to Shove". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Dombal, Ryan (June 15, 2005). "M.E.D.: Push Comes to Shove". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Patrin, Nate (November 29, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Matthews, Aaron (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Jonex, Kevin (November 25, 2014). "Axel F.: Theme Music". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Gu, Marshall (November 3, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib: Bad Neighbor". PopMatters. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Hughes, Josiah (September 22, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib Team Up on 'Bad Neighbor,' Share MF Doom Collaboration". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- Kim, Michelle (November 17, 2017). "Madlib, M.E.D., and Blu Reunite for New The Turn Up EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 4, 2018.