Pharoahe Monch is an American rapper from Queens, New York. He first comes to prominence as one half of the duo Organized Konfusion with Prince Po, releasing three albums together: the self-titled Organized Konfusion, Stress: The Extinction Agenda and The Equinox. The group handles much of its own production, and although the records receive strong critical response, sales remain modest. After recording The Equinox in 1997, the duo splits, and Prince Poetry later rejects the idea of an Organized Konfusion reunion.

Solo career

Monch signs to Rawkus Records and builds attention through guest appearances, including work on the compilation Soundbombing 2. His debut solo album, Internal Affairs, arrives in 1999. Its first single, “Simon Says,” becomes a major hit, later attracting a lawsuit over the use of a Godzilla sample in the beat. He also scores a 2001 hit with “Got You,” contributes “Fuck You” to the Training Day soundtrack, and releases “Agent Orange” as his final single for Rawkus in 2003. That song is war-themed and revisits Organized Konfusion’s 1991 track “Releasing Hypnotical Gases.”

“Simon Says” also appears in Charlie’s Angels, and both “Right Here” and “Simon Says” feature in Boiler Room. Monch sings the theme for Madden NFL 2002, and Desire later appears on the soundtrack to Madden NFL 08.

Collaborations and other work

Monch is affiliated with the rap group The HRSMN, though he is not one of its four actual members and is only linked to possible future expansion of the group. He also works with Mobb Deep member Havoc on Diddy’s album Press Play, producing and ghost-writing “The Future” and ghost-writing “Hold Up”.

Later releases

His second solo album, Desire, is released in 2007 and receives critical acclaim. Monch describes it as having a soulful, gospel-influenced sound. The lead single is the self-produced “Push,” with “Let’s Go” as its B-side, and the video for “When the Gun Draws” is shown at a Brooklyn music festival in February 2007. He is also linked to a planned album, Innervisions, on Denaun Porter’s Runyon Ave. imprint, though that deal falls through, and he later announces a deal with Street Records Corporation. A third solo album, W.A.R. (Let My People Go), is planned for 2009 and is described by Monch as a return to mid-1990s hip-hop; production is listed from Black Milk, Mr. Porter, Lee Stone and M-Phazes. A ten-year reissue of Internal Affairs is also planned with a documentary on the album’s making.

Style and genre

Monch is associated with east coast hip hop and hip hop, with an underground rap profile rooted in Queens.