KMD

Zev Love X, DJ Subroc, and Jade 1 formed KMD in Long Beach, New York, in 1988. The three were Black Muslims active in the Nuwaubian Nation. KMD began as a graffiti crew; they also practiced breakdance. Onyx the Birthstone Kid soon replaced Jade 1, who left the group in order to finish high school. MC Serch, a native of nearby Far Rockaway, met the group at community functions and recruited them for a guest spot on "The Gas Face," a single off 3rd Bass' The Cactus Album. The guest appearance caught the attention of A&R executive Dante Ross, who signed KMD to Elektra Records. KMD released their debut album Mr. Hood in 1991. The group recorded their follow up, Black Bastards, in 1993. while attempting to cross the 878 Nassau Expressway on April 23, 1993. Zev Love X completed the album alone over the course of the next months and advance copies were finally sent out in early 1994. Soon afterwards Elektra Records unexpectedly cancelled the album and dropped KMD. Zev Love X dropped out of the New York hip hop scene until 1997, when he reemerged as MF Doom. On August 16, 2017, MF Doom premiered the first new KMD track in eight years, "True Lightyears", on NPR Music. It was the first single from KMD's still-unreleased comeback album Crack In Time and featured Jay Electronica and MF Doom. The track was also released as part of MF Doom's 2017 compilation album The Missing Notebook Rhymes. MF Doom died on October 31, 2020, with the cause of death originally not being revealed. In July 2023 it had been reported that Doom died of angioedema. == Members ==

• Zev Love X (Daniel Dumile) (1988—1993, 2017—2020, died 2020) • DJ Subroc (Dingilizwe Dumile) (1988—1993, died 1993) • Onyx the Birthstone Kid (Alonzo Djihuti Hodge) (1988—1993) • Jade 1 (1988) == Discography ==

Albums Studio albums Compilation albums EPs • Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares (1998, Fondle 'Em) • Released only on 12" vinyl. Singles • "Peachfuzz / Gasface Refill" (1990) from Mr. Hood. • "Who Me? / Humrush" (1991) from Mr. Hood. • "Nitty Gritty / Plumskinzz" featuring Brand Nubian (1991) from Mr. Hood. • "What a Nigga Know?" (1994) from Black Bastards. • "It Sounded Like a Roc" (1999) from Black Bastards. • "Notebook 01 - True Lightyears" featuring Jay Electronica and Doom (2017) from Crack In Time. Music videos • "Peachfuzz" (1991) • "Who Me?" (1991) • "What A Niggy Know?" (1994) - Unreleased == References ==