X-Clan

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X-Clan
Image:Xclan.jpg
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York City
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Years active	1989 – Present
Website	http://www.xclanmusic.com/
Members
Brother J Master China Kumu Ultraman ACL Lord Cza DJ Fat Jack
Former members
Professor X (deceased) Sugar Shaft (deceased) Paradise the Architect

X-Clan is a hip-hop group from Brooklyn, New York, originally composed of Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X the Overseer, Paradise the Architect, and Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider. The current incarnation of the group features leader Brother J, Master China, Kumu, "Ultraman" Ra Hanna, ACL, Lord Cza and DJ Fat Jack.

[edit] Biography

Known for its Afrocentrism and militant activism (they were members of Blackwatch), X-Clan soon gained fame for the controversy its music aroused, though commercial success was sporadic. Its debut was To the East, Blackwards (1990), followed by Xodus (1992), and a temporary break-up. Both albums peaked at #11 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Charts in the United States. They also coined the made-up word “vanglorious,” not to be confused with vainglorious, as a way to say Thanks but no thanks to Noah Webster (citation needed).

Other artists who were affiliated with X-Clan and Blackwatch include Isis, Queen Mother Rage, and YZ. X-Clan's affiliates saw a string of releases throughout the early 1990s: Professor X released a solo album titled Years of the 9, on the Blackhand Side in 1991 and a second solo album titled Puss N' Boots: The Struggle Continues in 1993; Queen Mother Rage released Vanglorious Law in 1991; Isis released Rebel Soul in 1990; and YZ released his debut, Sons of The Father (noted for the song "Thinking of a Master Plan") in 1989, followed by The Ghetto's Been Good To Me (which included his modest hit "Return of The Holy One") in 1993. It should be noted that YZ became affiliated with the group after releasing his first album, and that Isis is also the MC known as Linque Ayoung. Lin Que, at one point, was a member of the Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated group Deadly Venoms.

In 1994 Brother J formed a new group, Dark Sun Riders, that released the full length Seeds of Evolution in 1996. In 1995, long-time group member Sugar Shaft died from complications related to AIDS. X-Clan reformed in the late 1990s but did not release any new material. Brother J assembled a new team that he calls X Clan Millennium Cipher and released a vinyl single for "The One/Blackwards Row" in 2004. Professor X died of complications from spinal meningitis on March 17, 2006.

A new X-Clan album, titled Return from Mecca (originally titled The Trinity) was released in 2007, featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, RBX, KRS-1 and Jacoby Shaddix who is the lead vocalist of rock group Papa Roach . Also, Tech N9ne is featured on a hidden bonus track entitled "All I Want is Respect."

[edit] Discography

Album cover	Album information
	To the East, Blackwards Released: April 19, 1990 Billboard 200 chart position: #97 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #11 Singles: "Raise the Flag"/"Heed the Word of the Brother", "Funkin' Lesson"/"Shaft's Big Score", "Grand Verbalizer, What Time is It?"
	Xodus Released: May 19, 1992 Billboard 200 chart position: #31 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #11 Singles: "Fire & Earth (100% Natural)", "Xodus"/"Foreplay", "A.D.A.M."/"F.T.P."
	Return from Mecca Released: January 30, 2007 Billboard 200 chart position: R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: Singles: "Weapon X"