Ras Kass

John R. Austin II, professionally known as Ras Kass, was born on September 26, 1973, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Carson, California. His stage name is derived from the Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV, formerly Ras Kassa Mircha. Ras Kass emerged onto the hip-hop scene in 1991 with his debut appearance on the single “Trick or Treat” by Wild West Corral. His independent single “Remain Anonymous” gained significant attention, earning him a Hip-Hop Quotable in The Source Magazine, which solidified his reputation as a formidable lyricist.

His debut album, “Soul on Ice,” was released in 1996 through Priority Records. This album addressed social and racial themes, notably in tracks like “Ordo Abchao” and “Nature of the Threat.” The follow-up album, “Rasassination,” released in 1998 on Priority Records, featured collaborations with prominent artists and producers such as RZA, Twista, Xzibit, Mack 10, and Dr. Dre. The lead single “Ghetto Fabulous,” featuring Dr. Dre and Mack 10, was supported by a music video. Both albums garnered positive reviews.

Throughout his career, Ras Kass navigated challenges with record labels, including Priority Records and Capitol Records, particularly concerning his unreleased third album, “Van Gogh,” which was heavily bootlegged. He was also a member of the hip hop supergroup The HRSMN (also known as The 4 Horsemen) since 1999, alongside Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt, releasing the “Historic EP” in 2014 and their official debut LP “The Last Ride” in 2021. In 2010, he launched a successful Kickstarter campaign and a viral marketing campaign “Save The Ras Kass” to fund his album “A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Spittin).” His album “Barmageddon” was released in 2013, featuring artists like Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli. He continued his musical journey with “Soul on Ice 2” in 2019 and “I’m Not Clearing Shxt” in 2020.