EarthGang

EarthGang, composed of Olu (Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot), professionally launched in 2008, quickly establishing a distinctive sound that blends Southern hip hop, funk, and soul. Their early output included the EP ‘The Better Party’ in 2010, followed by the mixtapes ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Good News’ in 2011. This prolific period culminated in their critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Shallow Graves For Toys,’ released in 2013 and re-released in 2014. Their growing presence was recognized with a peak position of #11 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart in 2012, highlighting their unique style characterized by playful delivery and lyrical depth.

They continued their independent streak with the EP ‘Torba’ and their second album, ‘Strays with Rabies,’ both released in 2015. A significant turning point in EarthGang’s career came in 2017 when they signed with J. Cole’s Dreamville Records. This partnership led to a celebrated trilogy of EPs: ‘Rags’ and ‘Robots’ in 2017, followed by ‘Royalty’ in 2018, which collectively built anticipation for their major label debut.

The duo received an ARIA Music Award for Best Soul/R&B Release in 2023 and earned a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song for ‘Collide’ in 2020. They are also two-time Grammy Award nominees, with individual nominations for Best Rap Performance for ‘Down Bad’ in 2020 and Best R&B Song for ‘Collide’ in 2021, alongside a BET Hip Hop Awards nomination for Best Duo/Group in 2020.