Hip-Hop/Rap
United States of America
The Shape Shifters
About The Shape Shifters
The Shape Shifters are a Los Angeles alternative rap collective that emerged in the 1990s and inspired a cult following over the years. The group's full-length album debut, Planet of the Shapes (1998), was released on cassette and compiled various four- and eight-track recordings from the years 1993 through 1998; the album was released as a double-disc CD in 2000 by Nitrous Oxide Records. Planet of the Shapes features original group members Circus (born Marcus Aureli; rapper, producer, sampling), AWOL One (born Tony Martin; rapper), Radioinactive (born Kamal Humphrey; rapper), Shumagorath (rapper), Actual Jae L.A. (aka L.A. Jae; born John Barnes; producer, turntablist), Mr. Fung (aka Mek One; producer), Transducer (born Mike McMullen; producer), DJ Rob One (born Robert Cory; turntablist), and Nicko the Greek (keyboards) -- many of whom went on to perform in other groups (e.g., Ex Vandalz, Stuffed Animals, Three Eyed Cowz) and adopt other aliases.
Following a few underground singles (Triple Threat, 1998; 2012, 1999), the Shape Shifters released a bunch of music in 2000: not only did Planet of the Shapes finally get released as a double-disc CD, but the group also released a second double-disc CD, Know Future, along with yet another album, Adopted by Aliens. In 2002 the Shape Shifters released Soul-Lows (a mixtape CD-R that appeared in a number of editions, each with different track listings) and a DVD, Terrorists from Another Planet; plus, group standout Circus released his solo debut album, Gangstahz fo Gawd. In 2004 there was another bunch of releases: Soulows Two (a mixtape), The Mix Tape CD (a mixtape), Circuit City (a 12" single), The Shape Shifters Was Here (a full-length album), and Gawd Bless the Faceless Cowards (a Circus solo album). ~ Jason Birchmeier
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