Giant Panda (group)
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Giant Panda | |
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| Origin | Seattle and Tokyo |
| Genres | Underground hip hop |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Tres Records |
Giant Panda is an underground hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Giant Panda is composed of three childhood friends known by the individual stage names Newman and Maanumental (from Seattle), and Chikaramanga (from Tokyo).
Career
[edit]The trio's name refers to their ethnic and cultural make-up. The first single released was "88 Remix" independently in December 2002, with airplay across the globe. Their follow-up was the 12-inch single "With It" in September 2004 on Tres Records. "With It" received critical acclaim from print critics, such as Chairman Mao from XXL. 2005 saw the release of Giant Panda's first full-length, Fly School Reunion (Tres Records). Fly School Reunion received positive reviews in magazines such as URB (4 1/2 stars), XXL, XLR8R, HHC, NME, and Exclaim!.[1] It was also a hit with college radio (3 on CMJ hip-hop charts).
Giant Panda made URB's list of Next 100 in 2005. This buzz allowed the group to tour the West Coast with fellow Angelino hip-hoppers People Under The Stairs and Time Machine. In 2006 GP hit the road with Ugly Duckling for a European tour, and then once again that year reached the EU shores with People Under The Stairs. 20 May 2008 saw the release of Giant Panda's sophomore effort, Electric Laser. XLR8R called Electric Laser "futuristic funk" that stays true to the group's "boom bap" and "electro" modes but also moves the sound forward. [2][3]
The group cites De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, EPMD and A Tribe Called Quest as key influences.[4]
Discography
[edit]Promos
[edit]- Fresh Donuts (2002)
Albums
[edit]- Fly School Reunion (2005)
- Electric Laser (2008)
7" singles
[edit]- Just Cause (2001)
12" singles
[edit]- '88 Remix (2002)
- With It (2005)
- Super Fly (2005)
- T.K.O. (2005)
- Speakers Pop (2008)
Collaborations
[edit]- Bloquera (2004) (Newman, Maanumental, Sir Kado, and Superbrush 427)
References
[edit]- ^ Noel Dix (31 July 2006). "Giant Panda Fly School Reunion". Exclaim!.
- ^ Zoneil Maharaj (28 May 2008). "Giant Panda Electric Laser". XLR*R.
- ^ "Tres Records – TRES RECORDS".
- ^ Firecloud, Johnny. "Hunting Endangered Species With Giant Panda". Antiquiet. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
External links
[edit]- Myspace Page - Currently their "official" site.
- Tres Records Artist Page
- Tres Records Official Site
- PUTS Online - The "official" unofficial fan site of People Under The Stairs. Also has up to date information on Giant Panda.
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