M.E.D. (rapper)

M.E.D.
Birth name	Nick Rodriguez
Also known as	MED, Medaphoar
Born	Oxnard, California
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Stones Throw Records, Bang Ya Head
Associated acts	Blu, Madlib, Oh No

Nick Rodriguez, better known by his stage name M.E.D.^[1] (sometimes stylized as MED^[2]), is an American rapper from Oxnard, California.^[3] He was formerly known as Medaphoar.^[4] He has been signed to Stones Throw Records.^[5]

Life and career

Nick Rodriguez grew up in a musical family in Oxnard, California.^[6] After being featured on Lootpack's 1999 album Soundpieces: Da Antidote, he was asked by Peanut Butter Wolf to join Stones Throw Records.^[6] He was also featured on Quasimoto's The Unseen and Madlib's Shades of Blue.^[7]

In 2005, M.E.D. released his debut album, Push Comes to Shove, on Stones Throw Records.^[8] It was produced by Madlib, Oh No, J Dilla, and Just Blaze.^[9] In 2011, he released his second album, Classic, on Stones Throw Records.^[10] It featured contributions from Madlib, Aloe Blacc, Hodgy Beats, Talib Kweli, and Karriem Riggins.^[11] In 2014, he released Theme Music, a collaborative album with producer J. Rocc, under the group moniker Axel F.^[12] In 2015, he released a collaborative album with Blu and Madlib, titled Bad Neighbor, on Bang Ya Head.^[13] It was a follow up to their 2013 EP, The Burgundy.^[14]

Discography

Studio albums

• Push Comes to Shove (2005)
• Classic (2011)
• Theme Music (2014) (with J. Rocc, as Axel F.)
• Bad Neighbor (2015) (with Blu and Madlib)

Compilation albums

• Bang Ya Head (2005)
• Bang Ya Head II (2009)
• Bang Ya Head 3 (2010)
• Bang Ya Head 4 (2016)

EPs

• The Burgundy (2013) (with Blu and Madlib).
• Psychedelic Weather (2015) (with Otakhee)

Singles

• "In Rhymes We Trust" (2001)
• "Place Your Bet" (2002)
• "Overdue" (2002)
• "What U in It For?" (2003)
• "Push" (2005)
• "Get Back" (2005)
• "Don't Sleep" (2005)
• "100 Dolla Bills" (2009)
• "Where I'm From" b/w "Classic" (2010)
• "The Buzz" b/w "Peroxide" (2013) (with Blu and Madlib)
• "Classic (Dexter Remix)" (2014)

Guest appearances

• Lootpack - "Level Zero", "Wanna Test", and "Episodes" from Soundpieces: Da Antidote (1999)
• Quasimoto - "24-7" from The Unseen (2000)
• Madlib - "Please Set Me at Ease" from Shades of Blue (2003)
• Wildchild - "Knicknack 2002" and "Feel It" from Secondary Protocol (2003)
• Madvillain - "Raid" from Madvillainy (2004)
• Oh No - "The Ride" from The Disrupt (2004)
• Quasimoto - "The Exclusive" from The Further Adventures of Lord Quas (2005)
• Oh No - "Keep It Lit" from Exodus into Unheard Rhythms (2006)
• J Dilla - "Jungle Love" from The Shining (2006)
• Guilty Simpson - "The Future" from Ode to the Ghetto (2008)
• Gangrene - "Breathing Down Yo Neck" from Gutter Water (2010)
• Oh No - "Jones's" from Disrupted Ads (2013)
• Blu - "Brown Sugar" from Good to Be Home (2014)

References

1. Reeves, Mosi (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D., ‘Classic’ (Stones Throw)". Spin. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
2. Fallon, Patric (July 1, 2010). "MED "Classic (feat. Talib Kweli)"". XLR8R. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
3. Martins, Chris (August 23, 2010). "Watch: Oxnard Rapper MED Celebrates His Medical Marijuana Card in New Video for Stones Throw". LA Weekly. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
4. Rabin, Nathan (July 1, 2005). "MED: Push Comes To Shove". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
5. Murph, John (January 18, 2012). "M.E.D.: As Universal As Heartache". NPR. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
6. Brown, Marisa. "MED - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
7. Weiss, Jeff (October 26, 2011). "MED dips into his private sonic stash on new Stones Throw record". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
8. Bush, John. "MED - Push Come to Shove". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
9. Dombal, Ryan (June 15, 2005). "M.E.D.: Push Comes to Shove". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
10. Patrin, Nate (November 29, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
11. Matthews, Aaron (November 1, 2011). "M.E.D.: Classic". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
12. Jonex, Kevin (November 25, 2014). "Axel F.: Theme Music". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
13. Gu, Marshall (November 3, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib: Bad Neighbor". PopMatters. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
14. Hughes, Josiah (September 22, 2015). "MED, Blu & Madlib Team Up on 'Bad Neighbor,' Share MF Doom Collaboration". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 20, 2015.

External links

• Medaphoar discography at Discogs