A.T.B.A.N Klann  | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | A Tribe Beyond a Nation Tribal Nation The A.T.B.A.N Klann  | 
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | 
| Genres | Alternative hip hop, jazz rap, experimental hip hop | 
| Years active | 1992–1995[1] | 
| Labels | Ruthless Records, Relativity Records | 
| Spinoffs | Black Eyed Peas | 
| Past members | Will 1X apl.de.ap Mookie Mook DJ Motiv8  | 
A.T.B.A.N Klann (A Tribe Beyond a Nation) was a hip hop group whose members were Will 1X, apl.de.ap, Mooky Mook, and DJ Motiv8. The Atban Klann were signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Will 1X (who later changed his stage name to will.i.am) and apl.de.ap were first signed by Eazy-E when they were in high school and would later become members of The Black Eyed Peas.[2]
History
The group was signed to Ruthless Records in 1992 and made their debut on Eazy-E's EP, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick on the track entitled "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas". Soon after, the group recorded their debut album, Grass Roots which was to be released on October 6, 1994; however, the album was shelved shortly before its release, and shortly after being jailed for 6 weeks in early 1995 on a domestic assault charge, Mookie Mook would leave after an argument. The duo would stay with Ruthless until they were dropped from the label after Eazy-E's death in 1995.[3] Will 1X would change his name to will.i.am and the Atban Klann would add Taboo and later Fergie and become the Grammy award winning band, The Black Eyed Peas.[3]
Discography
Singles
- 1994: Puddles Of H2O
 
Studio album
| Grass Roots | |
|---|---|
![]() Cover of the 2020 Back 2 Da Source release  | |
| Studio album by  Atban Klann  | |
| Released | 2020 | 
| Recorded | 1992-1994 | 
| Genre | Hip hop | 
| Label | Ruthless, Relativity, Back 2 Da Source | 
| Producer | DJ Motiv8, Will 1X | 
| Singles from Grass Roots | |
  | |
Grass Roots was originally planned for release at the end of 1993[4] for Ruthless Records, distributed by Relativity Records; however, the album was put on hold. In 1994, the group released the first single from the album, "Puddles of H2O", as a CD single and promotional twelve-inch, with the B-side single "Let Me Get Down".[4] However, with the band being dropped from Ruthless in 1995 it was not released at that time. The songs from the album later leaked and a cover was made using a photo of apl.de.ap and will.i.am from the Bridging the Gap photo-shoot in 2000. It was then remastered and released properly for the first time on vinyl in 2020 by Back 2 Da Source Records, which sold out.[5]
Track listing
- "Open Your Mind"
 - "Put On Your Adidas"
 - "Goin for a Ride"
 - "Mountain Top" (feat. Dante Santiago and Mr. Shaw)
 - "L.A. Borrio Woman Beater"
 - "Lord of the Flies" (feat. Huck Finn)
 - "No Sequel"
 - "Focus on You" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
 - "Quid Pro Quo"
 - "World's Gone Mad" (feat. Longevity)
 - "Strollin"
 - "This Is Dedicated" (feat. Dandilion and Mr. Shaw)
 - "Let Me Get Down" (feat. Mr. Shaw)
 - "Duet" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
 - "Puddles of H2O"
 - "Rain on Me"
 - "Eyougodah"
 
Personnel
- A.T.B.A.N. Klann
 
- Featured Artists
 
- Dante Santiago - vocals
 - Mr Shaw - vocals
 - Dandillion - vocals
 - Huck Finn - vocals
 - Longevity - vocals
 
References
- ↑ Andy Kellman. "The Black Eyed Peas". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
 - ↑  Feely, Peter (September 23, 2013). "Will.i.am – exclusive interview". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 18 October 2013. 
Eazy E signed us [me and apl.de.ap] back when I was in high school. We were in a group called Atban Klann and Eazy E signed us to his record label Ruthless Records. Eazy was an inspiration and an instrumental part of the beginning of my career.
 - 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "The Black Eyed Peas". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
 - 1 2 Lowers, Erin (November 25, 2018). "The Black Eyed Peas' Journey from Conscious to the Charts". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
 - ↑ "The A.T.B.A.N. Klann - Grass Roots (Album, 2xLP Gatefold Edition + Insert) SOLD OUT".
 
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