Outsidaz

Lore & Background

The group formed after Young Zee and Pacewon, who were rival MCs, met D.U. at a New Year's Eve party. Pacewon and D.U. were members of a crew named PNS, while Zee headed a crew named Pskitzo. Following a lengthy microphone battle that ended in a tie, they united into one group called the Outsidaz. Members included Axe, Denzy, Loon One, DJ Spunk, S. Coop, Nawshis, Rah Digga, the late Slang Ton, Bskills, and Yah Yah.

The Outsidaz made their first commercial appearance as guest artists on the song 'Cowboys' off the Fugees' multi-platinum second LP 'The Score'. They were also affiliated with D12, and D12 member Eminem shouted out the Outsidaz on several tracks from his major-label solo debut 'The Slim Shady LP'. A rift developed between Eminem and the Outsidaz when Young Zee and Pace Won recorded verses for the track 'Amityville' on Eminem's 'The Marshall Mathers LP', but Dr. Dre complained about too many guests, and their verses were removed. In a 2015 interview, Pace Won indicated the original version was probably permanently erased.

Reader's Guide

The Outsidaz occupy a notable place in late 1990s and early 2000s hip hop as a collective that bridged underground and mainstream scenes through key affiliations. Their connection to the Fugees gave them early exposure on the landmark album 'The Score', while their ties to D12 and Eminem linked them to one of the era's biggest commercial forces. The group's only studio album, 'The Bricks' (2001), remains their sole full-length release. Despite internal tensions—particularly the removal of Young Zee and Pace Won from Eminem's 'Amityville'—the collective's influence persisted through solo ventures and later tributes, including Eminem's shout-out on 'Fine Line' from 'Shady XV'. Their legacy is also carried by posthumous releases, such as the 2018 tribute edition of 'The Bricks' honoring Slang Ton. The Outsidaz exemplify the collaborative, often volatile nature of hip hop collectives during that period.

Did You Know?

• The Outsidaz formed in 1991 after a microphone battle between Young Zee and Pacewon ended in a tie.
• They made their first commercial appearance on the Fugees song 'Cowboys' from 'The Score'.
• Eminem shouted out the Outsidaz on multiple tracks from 'The Slim Shady LP'.
• The group's only studio album to date is 'The Bricks', released in 2001.