Atban Klann

A.T.B.A.N Klann
Also known as	A Tribe Beyond a Nation Tribal Nation
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	1991–1995
Labels	Ruthless Records, Relativity Records
Associated acts	Eazy-E Blood of Abraham The Black Eyed Peas
Past members	Will 1X apl.de.ap Mookie Mook DJ Motiv8 Dante Santiago

The Atban Klann (A Tribe Beyond a Nation) was a hip hop group whose members were Will 1X, apl.de.ap, Mookie Mook, DJ Motiv8 (AKA Monroe Walker), and Dante Santiago. The Atban Klann were signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Will 1X (who later changed his stage name to will.i.am) and apl.de.ap were first signed by Eazy-E when they were in high school and would later become members of The Black Eyed Peas.^[1]

Biography

The group was signed to Ruthless Records in 1992 and made their debut on Eazy-E's EP, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick on the track entitled "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas". Soon after, the duo recorded their debut album, Grass Roots which was to be released on October 6, 1992; however, the album was shelved shortly before its release. The duo would stay with Ruthless until they were dropped from the label after Eazy-E's death in 1995.^[2] Will 1X would change his name to will.i.am and the Atban Klann would add Taboo and later Fergie and become the Grammy award winning band, The Black Eyed Peas.^[2]

Discography

Singles

• 1994: Puddles Of H2O

Studio albums

Grass Roots
Studio album by Atban Klann (The Black Eyed Peas)
Released	October 6, 1992 (planned but never released)
Recorded	1991-1992
Genre	Hip hop
Label	Ruthless, Relativity
Producer	DJ Motiv8, Will 1X, Madness 4 Real
Atban Klann (The Black Eyed Peas) chronology
Grass Roots (1992) Behind the Front (1998)
Singles from Grass Roots
"Puddles of H2O" Released: 1994

Grass Roots was planned to be released on October 6, 1992 for Ruthless Records, distributed by Relativity Records and featured production from the mentor of Will 1X who is DJ Motiv8; however, the album was put on hold. Two years later, the group released the first single from the album, "Puddles of H2O",^[3] but the album was still not released. The songs from the album later leaked and a cover was made using a photo of apl.de.ap and will.i.am from the Bridging the Gap photo-shoot in 2000. This was the only album Atban Klann recorded under that name, as they were dropped from Ruthless in 1995. However, six years later the group, now known as Black Eyed Peas, would release Behind the Front.

Track listing

1. "Open Your Mind (Introduction)"
2. "Goin for a Ride"
3. "Lord of the Flies"
4. "Adidas"
5. "Mountain Top"
6. "Quid Pro Quo"
7. "No Sequel"
8. "World's Gone Mad"
9. "Rain on Me"
10. "Dedicated"
11. "Styles are Critical"
12. "Puddles of H2O"
13. "Focus on You"
14. "Strolling"
15. "La Borio Woman Beater"
16. "Let Me Get Down"

References

1. Feely, Peter (September 23, 2013). "Will.i.am – exclusive interview". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 18 October 2013. Eazy E signed us [me and apl.de.ap] back when I was in high school. We were in a group called Atban Klann and Eazy E signed us to his record label Ruthless Records. Eazy was an inspiration and an instrumental part of the beginning of my career.
2. Kellman, Andy. "The Black Eyed Peas". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
3. "Atban Klann, The* - Puddles Of H2O (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.