While a member of the New York City duo <a href="spotify:artist:4trFlc6c04qfpnCGvlqFCV">Organized Konfusion</a>, Pharoahe Monch developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop's preeminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps with partner Prince Poetry. After recording three albums together from 1991-1997, the two amicably split up, and Monch pursued a more aggressive solo style with the terrific independent label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rawkus%22">Rawkus</a>. He made guest appearances on other artists' records and contributed tracks to the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rawkus%22">Rawkus</a> compilation Soundbombing, Vol. 2, which raised expectations for his solo debut. The single/video "Simon Says" was released in the summer of 1999 and became a massive hit among rap and club audiences, setting the stage for a surprising debut -- just short of the Top 40 -- for the full-length Internal Affairs upon its release several months later. While he didn't release a second album -- Desire -- until 2007, he was active throughout the intervening years, with fiery singles like "The Life" (with Styles) and "Agent Orange," along with featured spots on tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:0OiS4KHxViIFnJooFTXl7V">Ras Kass</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0IVcLMMbm05VIjnzPkGCyp">J Dilla</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3BeQqzKdlARoOd6y30kCO2">Pete Rock</a>, and Sa-Ra. The wait would be halved for the rapper’s third album, with the conceptual W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) arriving in 2011, four years after 2007's Desire. His 2014 release, P.T.S.D.: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, was another conceptual effort, this time with guests like <a href="spotify:artist:0lEssBAxQl2In4RpaB1C2Y">Talib Kweli</a> and the psychedelic soul group <a href="spotify:artist:1JbB3pybR1wjrQSBLaMWyn">the Stepkids</a>. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
![H! Vltg3 (Evidence Reanimation) [feat. Pharoahe Monch and DJ Babu]](https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e0266e2ae8f422bddd8eda5b93f)
