P.O.S (rapper)

P.O.S (rapper)
Tucker13 at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	P.O.S
Origin	Duluth, Minnesota
Genres	Hip hop music, Punk rock, Alternative hip hop, Hardcore punk
Occupations	Rapper, Music producer, Songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Rhymesayers Entertainment, Doomtree Records
Associated acts	Doomtree, Gayngs, Building Better Bombs, Cenospecies

P.O.S (rapper) P.O.S is an American rapper, producer, and songwriter associated with the Minneapolis–Saint Paul music scene and the independent hip hop collective Doomtree. He is known for blending elements of punk rock, hardcore punk, and indie rock with hip hop music, and for his work on labels such as Rhymesayers Entertainment and Doomtree Records. His career spans solo albums, group projects, and collaborations with a wide range of artists from Minneapolis to national scenes.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, P.O.S spent formative years in the Upper Midwest where he encountered local scenes including Fargo, North Dakota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He relocated to the Twin Cities area, connecting with artists from Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, and became active in grassroots venues such as First Avenue. Early musical exposures included touring acts on bills with bands from Iowa and Wisconsin, and scenes influenced by regional festivals like South by Southwest and North by Northeast.

Career

P.O.S began releasing music in the early 2000s, participating in projects alongside members of Doomtree and contributing to compilations on independent labels including Rhymesayers Entertainment. He co-founded bands and collectives influenced by punk rock ethos and underground hip hop music networks, touring nationally with artists tied to Epitaph Records, Sub Pop, and Merge Records affiliates. His albums drew attention from press outlets covering Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR Music, while he performed at festivals such as SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Pitchfork Music Festival. He also collaborated on releases distributed through independent distributors associated with Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar.

Musical style and influences

P.O.S merges aggressive punk rock instrumentation with hip hop music lyricism, citing influences from bands and artists across genres, including Minor Threat, Black Flag, The Clash, Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine. His production sometimes incorporates elements common to indie rock and post-hardcore acts like At the Drive-In and Refused, and he has worked with musicians rooted in jazz and electronic music traditions. Critics frequently align his work with other hybrid artists on labels such as Def Jux and collaborators from Anticon.

Discography

Solo albums and notable releases include independent and label-backed records released during the 2000s and 2010s that received coverage from outlets including Spin (magazine), Complex (media)],] and The Guardian. He has issued albums, EPs, and singles that circulated through networks tied to Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and traditional independent distributors connected to Kobalt Music Group and Secretly Canadian affiliates. His discography contains collaborations with producers and remixers associated with Danger Mouse, El-P, and Paul White.

Collaborations and side projects

P.O.S has been a member of and collaborated with collectives and bands including Doomtree, Gayngs, Building Better Bombs, and Cenospecies, and has worked alongside artists from scenes represented by Rhymesayers Entertainment, Anticon, and Def Jux. He has featured guest verses and production contributions on releases with artists connected to Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Slug (rapper), Dessa, Aesop Rock, Busdriver, Busdriver, Sage Francis, Murs (rapper), Cursive (band), Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and producers tied to Stone's Throw Records and Lex Records.

Personal life and activism

P.O.S has been involved in community organizing and benefit concerts with organizations and venues across the Midwest, supporting causes affiliated with groups like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and local chapters of The Trevor Project. He has publicly addressed issues relevant to the music community and participated in panels alongside activists from Black Lives Matter, Indigenous environmental movements, and nonprofit arts organizations. His involvement includes participating in benefit tours, charity compilations, and collaborations with musicians engaged with nonprofit initiatives such as Rock the Vote and fundraising for regional arts centers.

Awards and recognition

P.O.S has been recognized by independent music press and regional award bodies, receiving nominations and accolades from outlets including City Pages (Minneapolis), The Star Tribune (Minneapolis), Minnesota Music Awards, and coverage in national publications such as NPR Music, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone. His influence is frequently cited in discussions of the Minneapolis underground scene alongside peers from Doomtree, Rhymesayers Entertainment, and the broader independent hip hop and punk communities.

Category:American rappers Category:Musicians from Minnesota