EarthGang | |
|---|---|
 EarthGang performs at The Mod Club in Toronto | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
EarthGang (stylizedEARTHGANG) is an Americanhip-hop duo fromAtlanta, Georgia, composed of Olu (aka Johnny Venus; born Olu Onyemachi Dakarai Fann) and WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot; born Eian Parker).[1][2] They are co-founders of the musical collectiveSpillage Village, withJID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant,6lack,Mereba, and Benji.[3][4]
Formed in 2008, EarthGang released their first EP,The Better Party, in 2010. This was followed by several singles and two mixtapes,Mad Men andGood News in 2011. In 2013, the duo released their debut albumShallow Graves For Toys and was largely well-received, withNoisey calling it "one of the most well thought-out releases of the year" and praising the album's "playful delivery and biting lyricism."[5] Their second album,Strays with Rabies, was released to positive reviews in 2015. After signing toJ. Cole'sDreamville Records, EarthGang released a trilogy of EPs:Rags,Robots (2017), andRoyalty (2018), leading up to their major label debut album,Mirrorland (2019).[6]
The rap duo EarthGang was first formed in 2008 by Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot, then both high school students in Atlanta, Georgia.[7] According to Johnny Venus, they had first met on a field trip in 9th grade atBenjamin Elijah Mays High School, with Venus later approaching Doctur Dot to ask about forming a music group.[8] Avid fans ofrap andhip-hop, both members had grown up listening to artists as diverse as theOhio Players,Dizzy Gillespie,Madonna, andRichard Pryor.[7] About their name EarthGang, Venus explained in 2011 that "The name came to me abruptly one day. It represents what we're made of and why we do what we do. It's for the people by the people. Our music is influenced by the conscious and subconscious, and we create it to influence the like."[8]
On January 26, 2010, the group released its first EP, the mixtape titledThe Better Party. Their first full-length recording project, they recorded in a multitude of studio spaces, which, according to Venus, included "dorm rooms atHampton University, closets in Atlanta, a house studio owned by 'Mr. Fish' (a fellow underground Atlanta musician), and finally in Hampton University's Music Recording Technology Jazz studio." The EP was mixed and mastered by EarthGang, with help from Jack Swain.[8] Also in 2010, they began touring in the United States, performing at festivals such as theA3C Festival in Atlanta.[8] They released periodic singles as well, and in November 2010 they debuted the song "Miss the Show."[8] In early 2011 they taped and released a music video for "Kick'n It", a track first included onThe Better Party.[8] Soon afterwards they released the single "Opium",[8] which they would later film a music video for. The group self-released two albums in 2011:Mad Men in April, andGood News in December.
They released their track "The F Bomb" on June 4, 2012. The song would later be included on a 2014 album and was made into a music video. "Machete", a single produced by808 Mafia, was self-released by EarthGang on February 10, 2013, shortly before the release of their music video for their 2012 single "Fire Kicking Tree Limbs". In March 2013 the group released "UFOs",[9] a slow single over nine minutes long.[9] According to a review inPigeons and Planes, "Sexual, contemplative, sprawling, and slow, EarthGang's 'UFOs' veers far left from the duo's last music expedition 'Machete' and hews a bit closer to the earthy soul that typified so much mid-'90sDungeon Family output."[9] They again performed at the A3C Festival in early 2013,[7] also opening for Black Fest atStanford University.[7]
On July 8, 2013, EarthGang released their albumShallow Graves for Toys on the imprintSpillage Village. The album includes several singles released earlier, such as "The F Bomb", "UFOs", and "Machete".[10] "The F Bomb" was produced by Hollywood JB of Spillage Village. The album was re-released oniTunes in the summer of 2014.[5] In response toShallow Graves For Toys, in 2014,Noisey called EarthGang "an engaging, clever rap duo", praising the album's "playful delivery and biting lyricism" and calling it "one of the most well thought-out releases of the year."[5] Since the album, EarthGang has released several official music videos from the album.[10] In the summer of 2014, the video for "The F Bomb" was released.[5] On September 20, 2014, EarthGang began supporting a 40 date tour with their collaboratorAb-Soul, a member ofTop Dawg Entertainment.
On February 26, 2015, EarthGang released a 7 track EP calledTorba with track titles for each day of the week. The EP included features from Mac Miller,OG Maco, and JordxnBryant, with production fromChildish Major, Shine, Zeroh, Hollywood JB, and more.[11] On July 6,Spillage Village released their second collaboration projectBears Like This Too.[12] On November 6, 2015, EarthGang released their second album, entitledStrays with Rabies. The album includes features and cuts fromJID, DJ Khalil, DrewsThatDuDe,Ducko McFli, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Richie Quake, SykSense. They were also one of the featuring artists onMac Miller's GO:OD AM tour.[13] EarthGang has stated they as well contributed to the production of the album. On June 3, 2016, the duo would joinDreamville Records'Bas on his nationwideToo High to Riot Tour. The tour would later be reprised in Europe on November 13.[14] On December 2, 2016, Spillage Village releasedBears Like This Too Much with features fromJ. Cole and Bas, and production from Mac Miller, Ducko Mcfli, Childish Major and J. Cole among others.[15]
On August 31, 2017, rapperJ. Cole's imprintDreamville Records announced the signing of the duo and they released their Dreamville debut project the following day, the first extended play from their trilogy titledRags. The project features guest appearances fromD.C. Young Fly, Childish Major,Mick Jenkins, and fellow Spilage Village member and Dreamville artistJID.[16][17] Their second EP in the trilogyRobots was released on October 20, withSiR as a guest feature.[18] The third was released on February 23, 2018, namedRoyalty, with features coming fromAri Lennox andMereba.[19] In 2017 and 2018, EarthGang co-headlined in the North American and European Never Had Shit Tour with JID, and guestsLute, Chaz French, andMereba.[20] A year after serving as the opening act on the European leg of J. Cole's4 Your Eyez Only World Tour, EarthGang were also the supporting act on 36 shows of the North AmericanKOD Tour in 2018.[21]
On September 4, 2018, EarthGang premiered the song "Up" on the Berlin platformColors Studio. On September 21, they released a single titled "Stuck" featuring Arin Ray.[22] In January 2019, the duo announced that they will be a supporting act forSmino on theHoopti Tour.[23][24] On February 5, 2019, they released the second single "Proud of U" featuring Young Thug.[25] On July 5, 2019, Dreamville Records released their 3rd collaborative album,Revenge of the Dreamers III. Earthgang contributed to five songs including "Down Bad", "Swivel", and "Sacrifices" on the album. On August 30, they officially released the single "Up", and "Ready to Die" on September 2.[26][27]Mirrorland was released on September 6, 2019, and includes features fromYoung Thug,T-Pain,Kehlani, and Arin Ray. The production of the album was handled by a variety of producers including Olu,J. Cole,Elite, Ron Gilmore, Christo,Bink,DJ Dahi, Childish Major and Groove, among others.[28]
On September 25, 2020,Spillage Village released their fourth collective albumSpilligion, with EarthGang part of the singles "End of Daze", "Baptize", and "Hapi".[29][30] The duo also released the single "Powered Up" and appeared on songs withTOKiMONSTA,Louis The Child,Sinéad Harnett, andGorillaz in 2020.[31] On December 18, EarthGang released the first single from their next album, "Options" featuringWale.[32] On February 16, 2021, EarthGang revealed the album title,Ghetto Gods.[33]
On December 8, 2021, EarthGang released the first official single for the album titled "American Horror Story".[34] On January 14, 2022, the second single titled "All Eyes On Me" was released, accompanied by a music video.[35] The third single, "Amen" featuringMusiq Soulchild was released on February 22, and was premiered on theApple Music 1 radio show.[36] On the same day, they also announced the Biodeghettable Tour, with Mike Dimes andPigeons & Planes supporting.[37] On February 25, 2022,Ghetto Gods was released, including guest appearances fromFuture,JID,J. Cole,Musiq Soulchild,Baby Tate, Lynae Vanee,CeeLo Green,Nick Cannon, andAri Lennox.[38] On March 31, they appeared on the Dreamville compilationD-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, on the songs "Ghetto Gods Freestyle", "Jozi Flows" and "Everybody Ain't Shit".[39]
EarthGang performed at the22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.[40]
IncorporatingSouthern hip-hop and genres such asfunk andsoul music, EarthGang has drawn comparisons to groups such asOutkast,Dungeon Family andThe Pharcyde, among other artists.[10] Stated the duo in early 2011, "When we create, our goal is to set the listener in a mood for each track... the style is all a part of the execution. You'll hear who we are, where we're from, and what sounds we like through our music. We pay attention to details."[8]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [44] | US R&B/HH [45] | US Rap [46] | CAN [47] | ||||||||||
| Shallow Graves for Toys |
| — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Strays with Rabies |
| — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Mirrorland |
| 40 | 22 | 20 | 81 | ||||||||
| Ghetto Gods |
| 114 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Perfect Fantasy |
| — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Torba |
|
| Rags |
|
| Robots |
|
| Royalty |
|
| EarthGang vs. The Algorithm: RIP Human Art |
|
| Robophobia |
|
| Snakegang (withSnakehips) |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Better Party |
|
| Mad Men |
|
| Good News |
|
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [49] | US R&B/HH [50] | US Rap [51] | |||
| Revenge of the Dreamers III (withDreamville) |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape (with Dreamville) |
| 11 | 6 | 4 | |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||||||||||||
| Bears Like This (withSpillage Village) |
| — | |||||||||||
| Bears Like This Too (with Spillage Village) |
| — | |||||||||||
| Bears Like This Too Much (with Spillage Village) |
| — | |||||||||||
| Spilligion (with Spillage Village andJID) |
| 141 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [53] | US R&B/HH [54] | US Rap [55] | US Adult R&B [56] | CAN [57] | NZ Hot | ||||||||
| "The F Bomb" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Shallow Graves For Toys | |||||
| "Liquor Sto'" (featuring MarianMereba) | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Strays With Rabbies | |||||
| "Momma Told Me" (featuringJID) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Meditate"[58] (featuring JID) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rags | |||||
| "Robots"[59] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Robots | ||||||
| "Nothing but the Best"[60] (featuringAri Lennox) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Royalty | |||||
| "Stuck"[61] (featuring Arin Ray) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mirrorland | ||||||
| "Proud of U"[62] (featuringYoung Thug) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Down Bad"[63] (with JID,Bas andJ. Cole featuringYoung Nudy) | 64 | 30 | 24 | — | 93 | 10 | Revenge of the Dreamers III | ||||||
| "UP"[66] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mirrorland | ||||||
| "Collide"[67] (withTiana Major9) | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack andAt Sixes And Sevens | ||||||
| "Still Up"[68] (featuringReason) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut | |||||
| "End of Daze"[69] (withSpillage Village & JID featuring Jurdan Bryant, Mereba & Hollywood JB) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Spilligion | ||||||
| "Powered Up"[70] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Madden NFL 21 | ||||||
| "Baptize"[30] (with Spillage Village & JID) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Spilligion | ||||||
| "Hapi"[71] (with Spillage Village & Benji. featuring Mereba &Big Rube) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Options"[32] (featuringWale) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||
| "Run It Up"[72] (withSnakehips) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "American Horror Story" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghetto Gods | ||||||
| "All Eyes On Me" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Amen" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Been a Minute" (withSnakehips)[48] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SnakeGang | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Anarchy"[73] (Jarren Benton featuring EarthGang) | 2016 | Slow Motion Vol. 2 |
| "Can't Call It"[74] (Spillage Village featuring EarthGang,JID,J. Cole andBas) | Bears Like This Too Much | |
| "D/Vision"[75] (JID featuring EarthGang) | 2017 | The Never Story |
| "Voodoo"[74] (Spillage Village featuring EarthGang) | Bears Like This Too Much | |
| "Church"[76] (Samm Henshaw featuring EarthGang) | 2019 | N/a |
| "Hope You're Happy"[77] (Emeryld featuring EarthGang) | Young | |
| "Fried For The Night"[78] (TOKiMONSTA featuring EarthGang) | 2020 | Oasis Nocturno |
| "Big Love"[79] (Louis The Child featuring EarthGang) | Here for Now | |
| "Take Me Away"[80] (Sinéad Harnett featuring EarthGang) | Ready Is Always Too Late | |
| "Stargazer"[81] (Tommy Newport featuring EarthGang) | 2021 | N/a |
| "Run It Up" (Snakehips featuring EarthGang) | ||
| "You Comfort Me" (James Vickery featuring EarthGang) | ||
| "Better Days"[82] (Dermot Kennedy featuring EarthGang) | 2022 | TBA |
| "Mess Around" (Forest Claudette featuring EarthGang) | 2023 | Everything Was Green |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [83] | NZ Hot [84] | ||||||||||||
| "Wells Fargo (Interlude)" (with Dreamville and JID featuringBuddy, andGuapdad 4000) | 2019 | 22 | — | Revenge of the Dreamers III | |||||||||
| "Sacrifices" (with Dreamville and J. Cole featuringSmino andSaba) | — | — | |||||||||||
| "Waterboyz" (with JID and J. Cole) | 2022 | — | 29 | Ghetto Gods | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Throwed" | 2010 | JID | Cakewalk |
| "Purple Paradise"[86] | 2012 | JID, Stillz | Route of Evil |
| "Rolling Stoner"[87] | 2013 | Mereba, JID | Room For Living Remixes |
| "October / 3 Storms"[88] | JID | Para Tu | |
| "Green Onions"[89] | 2014 | JID, Money Makin' Nique | Lucky Buddha |
| "LeHooligangs"[90] | 2015 | JID,OG Maco | DiCaprio |
| "Premonition"[91] | 2017 | Lute, Cam O'bi | West1996 pt. 2 |
| "New Malcolm X"[92] | 2018 | Sy Ari Da Kid, JID | Better Safe Than Sy Ari |
| "Big Titties"[93] | 2019 | Rico Nasty,Kenny Beats, Baauer | Anger Management |
| "Wells Fargo (Interlude)"[94] | JID,Buddy,Guapdad 4000 | Revenge of the Dreamers III | |
| "1993"[94] | Buddy,Smino,Cozz, JID,J. Cole | ||
| "Sacrifices"[94] | J. Cole, Smino &Saba | ||
| "Jollof Rice"[95] | Bas | Spilled Milk 1 | |
| "Not Numb"[96] | Childish Major, Buddy | Dirt Road Diamond | |
| "The Light"[97] | 2020 | Mick Jenkins | The Circus |
| "Up Up Away"[98] | JID,Vince Staples | Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut | |
| "Revenge"[98] | Lute,Omen, Ari Lennox,Childish Major,Reason | ||
| "No Fear No More (Remix)" | Madeon | Non-album single | |
| "Super Bounce"[99] | Duckwrth | SuperGood | |
| "Opium"[100] | Gorillaz | Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez | |
| "Goat Head (Remix)"[101] | Brittany Howard | Jaime (Reimagined) | |
| "Wildlings"[102] | Tobe Nwigwe, Duckwrth | Non-album single | |
| "Problems" | Domani | Non-album single | |
| "Choose"[103] | 2021 | Neelam | Non-album single |
| "Out of the Blue (Remix)" | RINI | Non-album single | |
| "Take It or Leave It" | Angélique Kidjo | Mother Nature | |
| "Act Up" | Rich Brian | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album | |
| "Honey" | Jordan Hawkins | Heart Won't Stop | |
| "Never Be The Same" | Friends Only, Kabaka Pyramid, Buddy, MediSun, Hector Roots Lewis | N/a | |
| "L.O.V.E." | 2022 | Yung Bae,Jon Batiste, Sherwyn | Groove Continental: Side A |
| "Ghetto Gods Freestyle" | 2 Chainz | D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape | |
| "Jozi Flows" | Bas | ||
| "Everybody Ain't Shit" | N/a | ||
| "Sk8" | 2025 | JID,Ciara | God Does Like Ugly |
| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARIA Music Awards | 2023 | Best Soul/R&B Release | Forest Claudette (featuring EarthGang) – "Mess Around" | Won | [104] |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2020 | Best Duo/Group | Themselves | Nominated | [105] |
| Black Reel Awards | 2020 | Outstanding Original Song | "Collide"(withTiana Major9) | Won | [106] |
| Grammy Award | 2020 | Best Rap Performance | "Down Bad"(withJ. Cole,JID,Bas andYoung Nudy) | Nominated | [107] |
| 2021 | Best R&B Song | "Collide"(with Tiana Major9) | Nominated | [107] |
