EarthGang
Atlanta duo bringing funk, soul, and conscious bars to Dreamville.
via Wikipedia: EarthGang · see source
Olu (Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot) are EarthGang, a hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia. They signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records in 2017, releasing their Dreamville debut project Rags the day after the signing was announced. Their music blends Southern hip-hop with funk and soul, drawing comparisons to Outkast and the Dungeon Family. In the Dreamville orbit, EarthGang brings a playful, conscious lyricism and a willingness to experiment, contributing to the label's collaborative projects and touring alongside J. Cole and other Dreamville artists.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
- Genre
- Hip-hop
- soul
- funk
- Years active
- 2008–present
- Label
- Spillage Village
- Dreamville
- Interscope
- SinceThe80s
- UnitedMasters
- Current members
- Olu (aka Johnny Venus); WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot)
Lore & Background
EarthGang formed in 2008 when Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot, then high school students at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School in Atlanta, decided to make music together. They first met on a field trip in 9th grade. Their early releases included the EP The Better Party (2010), mixtapes Mad Men and Good News (both 2011), and their debut album Shallow Graves For Toys (2013), which Noisey called 'one of the most well thought-out releases of the year.' After their second album Strays with Rabies (2015), they signed to Dreamville Records on August 31, 2017. The next day they released Rags, the first of a trilogy of EPs that also included Robots (2017) and Royalty (2018). Their major-label debut album Mirrorland dropped on September 6, 2019, featuring Young Thug, T-Pain, Kehlani, and Arin Ray. In 2022 they released Ghetto Gods, with guest appearances from Future, JID, J. Cole, and CeeLo Green. EarthGang are also co-founders of the musical collective Spillage Village, alongside JID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, 6lack, Mereba, and Benji.
Reader's Guide
EarthGang is the duo of Olu (Johnny Venus, born October 9, 1989) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot, born October 25, 1990). They signed to Dreamville Records in 2017 and are co-founders of the Spillage Village collective. Their arc began with underground releases like Shallow Graves For Toys (2013) and Strays with Rabies (2015), leading to their Dreamville signing. Key moments include the Rags/Robots/Royalty EP trilogy, the album Mirrorland (2019), and Ghetto Gods (2022). They contributed to Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019) and D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape (2022). They have toured with J. Cole, JID, and Bas, and performed at Coachella in 2023. Their music is known for playful delivery and biting lyricism.
Did You Know?
- Their name EarthGang came to Johnny Venus abruptly one day; he explained in 2011 that 'It represents what we're made of and why we do what we do.'
- They recorded their first EP The Better Party in dorm rooms at Hampton University, closets in Atlanta, and a house studio owned by a fellow underground Atlanta musician named Mr. Fish.
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