Strong Arm Steady, often referred to as SAS, is a rap/hip
hop group in California's underground hip hop scene. As of December
2009, the act consists of members Mitchy Slick of San Diego, California,
and (both of Los Angeles) Phil Da Agony and probably the most visually
distinct member, Krondon, who is albinistic. Originally an amorphous
collective of at least eight, formed as an alternative to the gang-focused
productions of West Coast rap's then-dominant Death Row Records,
SAS pared down to four members for recording in the studio and performing
live, with Xzibit as the frontman. Since he left the group in 2006,
the three remaining members have been a stable trio.
Over the years they have recorded many mixtapes and have distributed
them all over the world. "Speaking directly to their fans,"[1]
they were West Coast pioneers in the use of mixtapes as a group's
principal method of distribution and marketing, a model necessitated
by their neither being DJs nor closely affiliated with a DJ, and
a method already proven on the East Coast by 50 Cent and others in
the early 2000s.
Talib Kweli signed Strong Arm Steady to his Blacksmith Records label
in 2007. The group released a collaboration with producer Madlib,
In Search of Stoney Jackson, with a roster of guest vocalists[1]
including studio head Talib Kweli, former SAS member Planet Asia,
Guilty Simpson, Phonte (of Little Brother), Fashawn, and "a
host of underground Los Angeles's emerging rap talent".[2] Stoney
Jackson, as it has been called for short,[1] was released online
as MP3 files in December 2009 through Stones Throw Records, with
a CD release date of January 26, 2010.[2] The album was named one
of the best albums of 2010 by numerous media outlets including AllHipHop
[3] and on the blog of famed producer DJ Premier.[4]
Their album Arms & Hammers is scheduled to be released on February
22, 2011 by Blacksmith Records and Element 9 and will be distributed
by Fontana Distribution.
Contents
[show]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Mixtapes
The Collectors Edition Vol. 1 (2003)
Gangs of L.A. (2003)
L.A. Ballin' 2004 (All Star Edition) (2004)
True Crime: The Streets of L.A. (2004)
XXX: State of the Steady (2004)
D-Bo Series Vol. 1 (2005)
D-Bo Series Vol. 2 (2005)
E-Dog Series Vol. 1 (2006)
Green Up (2006)
Dilated Steady (with Dilated Peoples) (2007)
Strong Arm Radio (Klack Music) (2007)
Deep Hearted: The Sampler (2008)
Cali Untouchable Radio Vol. 17: Klak Klak Edition (with DJ Warrior) (2008)
Gang Mentality (with Clinton Sparks; January, 2009)
[edit] Albums
Deep Hearted (2007)
In Search of Stoney Jackson[2] (2010)
Arms & Hammers (2011)
[edit] Singles
One Step (2007)
Can't Let It Go (2010)
Trunk Music (2010)
Make Me Feel (2011)[5]
On Point feat. Too Short (2011)[6]
Hand Guns feat. Jelly-Roll (2011)