Trueschool Monday #23

"My object is to deprogram, blind your optics
You cannot stop this mission, this topic
Cuz you could write tickets my nigga or get paid
Learn this game of the streets or get slayed..."

Troy Donald Jamerson (born 31 October 1972, better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex delivery, internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Pharoahe Monch's name is derived from the monkey dolls, Monchhichis. After receiving a bad haircut, which left Monch looking like a "chimpanzee", girls in Monch's class at the High School of Art and Design began calling him "Monchhichi", which was later shortened to "Monch". Monch adopted the "Pharoahe" prefix after meeting future Organized Konfusion partner Prince Po.
Monch released three albums as part of the rap duo, Organized Konfusion with partner Prince Poetry: The self-titled Organized Konfusion, Stress: The Extinction Agenda and The Equinox. The duo handled a large amount of production on these albums themselves. All albums received positive critical reviews, but moderate sales. As a result, the duo split up after recording their final album The Equinox in 1997. Prince Poetry has since denied the possibility of an Organized Konfusion reunion.
Pharoahe Monch then signed to Rawkus Records, an indie label. After making several guest appearances on albums like the best-selling Rawkus compilation Soundbombing 2, Monch's much-hyped debut, Internal Affairs was released in 1999. The first single of the album, "Simon Says", became a hit single, peaking at #97 on the Billboard Hot 100; he was later sued for the use of a Godzilla sample for the beat. He also had a 2001 hit with "F**k You" off of the Training Day soundtrack (the clean version was called "Got You").
Pharoahe Monch will release his third solo album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) in 2010. He revealed that the album will be a "throwback to 1993, '94 hip-hop" and will feature production by Black Milk, Mr. Porter, Lee Stone & M-Phazes. A ten year anniversary re-issue of Internal Affairs will also be released featuring a documentary about the making of the album.