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The
biograph.
As half of rap duo Artifacts (with brother El Da Sensei), they released their "graffiti-honoring debut" album Between a Rock and a Hard Place in 1994, and a follow-up album That's Them in 1997. Tame One has released two albums with the Artifacts, eight solo albums, six mixtapes, and five collaborations one with former labelmate Cage as Leak Bros (Waterworld), one with Del the Funky Homosapien (Parallel Uni-verses) and The Revolution album with Dro Pesci and Nick Jackelson.
He has worked with artists such as Aesop Rock, El-P, DJ Mr. Len, Breeze Brewin, Travis McCoy, Vast Aire, Yak Ballz, Hussein Fatal, Mos Def, Dro Pesci, etc. [1] He joined the underground supergroup the Weathermen which was formed in 2002 by Cage and El-P, and the same year he released his first solo album and EC debut named When Rappers Attack. Tame One's second solo album O.G. Bobby Johnson appeared in 2005. Next year he issued his next album called Slow Suicide Stimulus, a cooperative project with the Dusted Dons.[2]
In 2005 Tame completed voice-over work for Nickelodeon television for a commercial advertising the "Men In Black" cartoon series.
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Released in May of 2006, Tame dropped the intro song called "Dreamz" on the U.S. independent movie soundtrack " G " (an Andrew Lauren production). Also in 2006, Eastern Conference Records released Tame's next album "O .G. Bobby Johnson". During this year Tame shows off his versatility and finesse with whatever beat is thrown at him, Tame walked on water thru "Spazmatic", an LP by Ahead Recordings and produced by Xing 'N Fox.
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Check out "Da Muzik" a hip hop dance groove. Collaboration with Jersey hip hop heads "Dusted Dons" generated the album "Slow Suicide Stimulus" released in June of 2006, and the 12 inch single "Roll Up" featuring Grandmaster Caz (of the Cold Crush Brothers).
In the beginning of 2007, another indie film (this one out of Germany) detailing graffiti artists exercising their craft (Florian and Silke) was released by Goldkind Film Production. The film is called "Wholetrain" and Tame's song is "Graffic Traffic" at a crucial point in the film. Eastern Conference Records followed with "Leak Brothers". A New Jersey clothing line, Division East delved into Tame's artistic skills and had him design sneakers, sweatshirts and even skateboards for the general public.
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March 2008
magazine which features graffiti artists worldwide and showcases pictures of their murals, landed Tame on page 21.
In July 2009 Tame One released a music video for his single "Anxiety Attacks" directed by Derek Pike. Credited with making hip-hop's first song about "Molly" (MDMA, the active ingredient in Ecstasy) at this time, Tame met Staten Island rapper Dro Pesci.[3] Together they recorded the yet-to-be-released album
"The Revolution".
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Tame One then released an EP at slangcorp.com called Hell or High Water produced by DJ Junkwaffel. He also worked on an Artifacts reunion album No Expiration Date (2022) and promoted a Boom Skwad Recordings EP (CRAZEE, Doin Me and Boom Skwad on Attack).
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In 2024, production duo Parallel Thought posthumously produced Acid Tab Vocab, "'Old Jersey Bastard'", and with Xing and Fox Spazmatic. Also in 2024, Young Zee released "Burn Out" and Division East Records
re-released The Grudge LP.
​Keeping in mind the digital revolution hitting the music and movie industry, Tame's own label "Boom Skwad Recordings" has been researching an independent download distribution prospects, and are near signing a new deal with a company based out of Massachusetts.
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Tame has performed throughout the U.S., east and west coasts, and recently held the stage internationally in such locales as Portugal, Spain, Hawaii, Germany, Amsterdam, London and more. But - 2008 will prove to be even more eventful for him.
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Tame, has already been tapped to open live east coast shows for "Del the Funky Homosapien" (cousin of Ice Cube) this year during the months of May/June.
Tame One was the first cousin of rapper Redman. He belonged to graffiti crews FC CREW (Fame City / First Class Crew), originated Boom Skwad Crew (including DJ RhinoCMZ and AKool) as well as LTD (Local Transit Destroyers). He painted pieces, murals and subway trains alongside brother Maliq Griffin (DJ Porno).
Tame One died from kidney and heart failure on November 6, 2022, at the age of 52.[4][5] The medical examiner cited prescribed pharmaceuticals as the likely cause of the heart failure.[6][7] Rahem's mother Darlene Harris utilizes Instagram and Facebook accounts to continue Tame One's artistic legacy.
ashes.
The
"Maliq Griffin reminded me that Tame has a song titled "Mourn", and in it he says he wanted some of his ashes spread at Broad and Market (downtown Newark). Today, I did that, all four corners. Thank you Melski!" (November 23, 2022)
~ Darlene Harris
testimony.
SonSu (aka Buda Munk)
Peace & Blessings.
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My Name is SonSu aka Buda Munk from DESERT SET.. I am a Dj / Mc / Actor and Producer from Newark Nj. I first met Tame One in 1994 in New Community also Known as Cruddyville. My Homeboy, another Dope Mc named Fatiguesta had brought him to the hood because we would have hella Cyphers in the Desert Which is Hayes St across from the Library in New Community .
We had heard "Wrong Side Of the Tracks" a couple of days before on the Stretch and Bobbito Show so it was crazy that he was there with us on this particular Day. You have to understand the Desert Set Was 8 Deep so it was about 15 people all together out there, We began Freestyling and I have never heard anyone like him ever. I knew right away that I was in the presence of Dopeness.
I saw him a time or two at the Pipeline as Months went by. Fast Forward to the early 2000s , One Day I walked into NJpac to ask if they were hiring. I was ready to leave my boring security job at IDT and the supervisor who i Just Happened to be speaking to was Maliq Griffin \ Dj Porno. He interviewed me on the spot and a week later I got hired to work operations with him and Rick Ward\ Dj Rhino.
In my interview we talked about Hip Hop and we realized that we actually crossed paths at the Pipeline back in the 90z and I Knew Tame One.
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Around that same time I also was working for Lincoln Park Music Festival During the Summer Concerts doing production and Djing. After a few months of working with Maliq and Rick I began to ask questions about Tame and El, I was told that they didn't speak to each other for years.
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Over the years I did remember hearing about the Artifacts Drama between the two. I eventually got invited to the House to see Tame after all the years that had passed but first I had to get Permission from Ma D!! El da Sensei was already performing as a solo act On Rock Steady's Hip Hip Day for The LPMF, and I knew that the festival was coming up soon, this would be July 27 2008 The Rock Steady Hip Hop Day.
I flat out asked Porn and Gruff what it would take to get Tame and El to come together and their response was " IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN" lol , They had no idea what I was up to. I had a little juice with the Producers of the whole festival and I wasT trying to get backstage Passes Tame, Porn and Gruff. The Day of the festival I got the passes for Porn And Gruff and Tame was there but he didn't want to be backstage so he stayed in the audience with Boom Skawd Members Unity and Stone.
Later on El hits the stage to do his set and CouncilMan Dupre Kelly/ Du It All was hosting this particular part of the show and i went to him and said to him that Tame was in the crowd and i was going to get him,
cont. 3
...and Kelly's Response was "Yeah Roe go get him" at that point i think he knew what i was trying to do.
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I dashed to the audience to find Tame and I did, I said to Tame " can you come with me please ,Porn and Rhino want you ( I Lied) lol. Tame gave me a look like "what are you up to?" but I got him and we proceeded to the backstage area. I walked Tame straight to the Stairs of the Stage and the rest was History.. Please understand I did not put Da Artifacts back together, Some people would like to think that but at the end of the day it was Tame's decision to even move from the crowd to the stage.​
That was a Great Day For the Culture and a Moment in Time. I bust the Same move when Sean Price was Backstage the following year. I told P that Tame was in the audience and Sean asked me to get and bring him backstage and I did. Tame One and Sean Price on the same Stage, how Dope is That.. The Last Time I Saw Tame was at a Sounds of the City event in 2021, I didn't know that would be the Last time I would see him. ​
I was Djing an event in Irvington Nj ON Nov 6 2022 , One of my Childhood Friends Had A Grand Opening of The Inner City Cafe and her Husband Knew Tame too. I got a phone call from Lyle Omolayo and It was Like everyones Phone went off at the same time. We got the News of Tame's Passing... Thank you Tame for some Dope Memories and you will be Missed...
Rest Well King