P.O.S (rapper)
Stefon Leron Alexander (born August 18, 1981), better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an American hip hop artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has been a member of groups such as Doomtree, Building Better Bombs, Gayngs, Marijuana Deathsquads, Cenospecies, Four Fists, and Shredders. Early life. P.O.S was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended Hopkins High School. Career. Early career. Before entering hip hop, P.O.S was in the punk rock bands named Degenerates and Om. In 2001, P.O.S, rapper Syst, and DJ Anomaly formed a short-lived hip hop group Cenospecies. The group released a studio album, "Indefinition , in 2002. The group won the award for Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months" in the year-end issue of "City Pages". Doomtree. In 2001, P.O.S and MK Larada formed a hip hop collective Doomtree. The group has released three studio albums: "Doomtree" (2008), "No Kings" (2011), and "All Hands" (2015). Solo. P.O.S released his debut solo studio album, "Ipecac Neat", on Doomtree Records in 2004. His second studio album, "Audition", was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2006. In 2009, P.O.S released his third studio album, "Never Better", on Rhymesayers Entertainment. It peaked at number 106  on the "Billboard" 200 chart. His fourth studio album, "We Don't Even Live Here", was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2012. It peaked at number 47 on the "Billboard" 200 chart. A version of the album remixed by Marijuana Deathsquads, titled "WDELH/MDS/RMX", was released a year later. In 2017, P.O.S released his fifth studio album, "Chill, Dummy", on Doomtree Records. Side projects. P.O.S is a vocalist and guitarist in the punk band Building Better Bombs. The group released a studio album, "Freak Out Squares", on Init Records in 2007. He is a member of Minneapolis indie supergroup  Gayngs. The group's first studio album, "Relayted", was released on Jagjaguwar in 2010. Marijuana Deathsquads was formed after Building Better Bombs went on hiatus. Consisting of rotating members, the group released the first studio album, "Crazy Master", in 2011. P.O.S is also a member of hardcore punk band Wharf Rats along with Chris 2, Chachi Darin, and Wade MacNeil. He is one half of Four Fists along with Astronautalis. The duo's first studio album, titled "6666", was released in 2018. He is a member of Shredders along with Sims, Lazerbeak, and Paper Tiger. The group has released two  studio albums: "Dangerous Jumps" (2017) and "Great Hits" (2019). Style and influences. In a 2010 interview with "Punknews.org", P.O.S listed Minor Threat, Operation Ivy, Black Flag, Rancid, Metallica, and Michael Jackson as some of the first musicians he loved. Hip hop-wise, he cited Mos Def, Company Flow, Atmosphere, and Aesop Rock as important influences. Personal life. In 2012, P.O.S had to cancel his national tour due to health concerns. In a video posted to YouTube, P.O.S said failing kidneys are to blame for the cancellation, saying, "everyone keeps telling me, including my doctors, that I have to take care  of my health first." In 2014, he received a kidney transplant. Controversies. In June 2020 P.O.S released a statement regarding allegations of sexual assault and abuse by his touring DJ. In response to this, multiple women came forward accusing P.O.S himself of a history of manipulation and emotional abuse. In July 2020 P.O.S responded to these allegations and announced that he was stepping away from music. Recognition. P.O.S has been honored with two stars on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to  the culture at the venue. P.O.S has one star for his solo work, and the Doomtree collective also has one.