One Block Radius

One Block Radius is an alternative rap trio from California who paid their dues for several years before making their major-label debut in 2008. Comprised of <a href="spotify:artist:7gULlMYPd5zbqr7wpvAtsQ">Marty James</a> (a singer, songwriter, and producer from Chico, CA), Z-Man (a rapper from San Francisco, born Zamon Christian), and MDA (a DJ and graphic artist born in Indiana), the group cites a diversity of influences including <a href="spotify:artist:7yk35uHNQclPXFGFoTU44w">the Pharcyde</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1Z8ODXyhEBi3WynYw0Rya6">De la Soul</a> as well as <a href="spotify:artist:0EdvGhlC1FkGItLOWQzG4J">Sublime</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:77tT1kLj6mCWtFNqiOmP9H">Hall & Oates</a>. The group members began their musical careers individually. During the early 2000s, <a href="spotify:artist:7gULlMYPd5zbqr7wpvAtsQ">James</a> employed the alias of <a href="spotify:artist:7MEg8CCRCKcaiH1ywG5jOo">Scapegoat Wax</a>, was signed to <a href="spotify:artist:03r4iKL2g2442PT9n2UKsx">the Beastie Boys</a>' label Grand Royal for a while, and released a couple albums (Okeeblow, 2001; Swax, 2002) and also a single, Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) (2001). During this same period, MDA worked at Grand Royal and collaborated with <a href="spotify:artist:7gULlMYPd5zbqr7wpvAtsQ">James</a> in <a href="spotify:artist:7MEg8CCRCKcaiH1ywG5jOo">Scapegoat Wax</a>. Meanwhile, Z-Man was affiliated with the <a href="spotify:artist:0XTSrpKEUhzQ5aiYswppxh">Hieroglyphics</a> collective in the Bay Area and released a couple albums (Anti Nerd, 2003; Dope or Dog Food, 2004) on Refill Records. <a href="spotify:artist:7gULlMYPd5zbqr7wpvAtsQ">James</a>, MDA, and Z-Man ultimately befriended one another and began collaborating as One Block Radius, making their recording debut, "Look Out Below," on the <a href="spotify:artist:0XTSrpKEUhzQ5aiYswppxh">Hieroglyphics</a>-affiliated compilation Hiero Imperium Presents the Building (2004). Their full-length album debut, Long Story Short (2005), followed a year later, and they began touring nationally, generally as an opening act. Their breakthrough came courtesy of <a href="spotify:artist:7gULlMYPd5zbqr7wpvAtsQ">James</a>, whose contribution to the <a href="spotify:artist:1IpTB6p6H8ImPEpktuz8Bx">Federation</a> single "I Wear My Stunna Glasses at Night" (2006), on which he sang the hook, garnered a lot of attention within the rap industry. Soon he had a variety of collaboration offers. Furthermore, One Block Radius was offered a recording contract with Island Def Jam, on which they made their major-label debut in 2008 with the single "You Got Me." The track appeared on self-titled album that followed later in the year. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi