M.E.D. (rapper)

M.E.D.
Birth nameNick Rodriguez
Also known as
  • MED
  • Medaphoar
BornOxnard, California, U.S.
GenresWest Coast hip hop
OccupationRapper
Years active1999–present
Labels

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]

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

  • "In Rhymes We Trust" (2001)
  • "Place Your Bet" (2002)
  • "Overdue" (2002)
  • "What U in It For?" (2003)
  • "Push" (2005)
  • "Get Back" (2005)
  • "Don't Sleep" (2005)
  • "100 Dolla Bills" (2009)
  • "Where I'm From" / "Classic" (2010)
  • "The Buzz" / "Peroxide" (2013) (with Blu and Madlib)
  • "Classic (Dexter Remix)" (2014)

Guest appearances

References

  1. ^ Reeves, Mosi (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D., 'Classic' (Stones Throw)". Spin. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  2. ^ Fallon, Patric (July 1, 2010). "MED "Classic (feat. Talib Kweli)"". XLR8R. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Rabin, Nathan (July 1, 2005). "MED: Push Comes To Shove". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Murph, John (January 18, 2012). "M.E.D.: As Universal As Heartache". NPR. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Marisa. "MED - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. ^ Weiss, Jeff (October 26, 2011). "MED dips into his private sonic stash on new Stones Throw record". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  8. ^ Bush, John. "MED - Push Come to Shove". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. ^ Dombal, Ryan (June 15, 2005). "M.E.D.: Push Comes to Shove". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  10. ^ Patrin, Nate (November 29, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. ^ Matthews, Aaron (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. ^ Jonex, Kevin (November 25, 2014). "Axel F.: Theme Music". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  13. ^ Gu, Marshall (November 3, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib: Bad Neighbor". PopMatters. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  14. ^ Hughes, Josiah (September 22, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib Team Up on 'Bad Neighbor,' Share MF Doom Collaboration". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  15. ^ Kim, Michelle (November 17, 2017). "Madlib, M.E.D., and Blu Reunite for New The Turn Up EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 4, 2018.