Atban Klann

A.T.B.A.N Klann
Also known as	A Tribe Beyond a Nation Tribal Nation The A.T.B.A.N Klann
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative hip hop, jazz rap, experimental hip hop
Years active	1992–1995[1]
Labels	Ruthless, Relativity
Spinoffs	Black Eyed Peas
Past members	Will 1X apl.de.ap Mookie Mook DJ Motiv8

A.T.B.A.N Klann (A Tribe Beyond a Nation) was an American hip hop group composed of Will 1X, apl.de.ap, Mooky Mook, and DJ Motiv8. The Atban Klann were signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Will 1X (who later changed his stage name to will.i.am) and apl.de.ap were first signed by Eazy-E when they were in high school and would later become members of The Black Eyed Peas.^[2]

History

The group was signed to Ruthless Records in 1992 and debuted on Eazy-E's EP, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick on the track entitled "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas". Soon after, the group recorded their debut album, Grass Roots, which was to be released on October 6, 1994; however, the album was shelved shortly before its release, and shortly after being jailed for 6 weeks in early 1995 on a domestic assault charge, Mookie Mook would leave after an argument. The duo would stay with Ruthless until they were dropped from the label after Eazy-E died in 1995.^[3] Will 1X would change his name to will.i.am and the Atban Klann would add Taboo and later Fergie and become the Grammy award winning band, The Black Eyed Peas.^[3]

Discography

Singles

• 1994: Puddles of H2O

Studio album

Grass Roots
Cover of the 2020 Back 2 Da Source release
Studio album by Atban Klann
Released	2020
Recorded	1992–1994
Genre	Hip hop
Label	Ruthless, Relativity, Back 2 Da Source
Producer	DJ Motiv8, Will 1X
Singles from Grass Roots
"Puddles of H2O" Released: 1994

Grass Roots was originally planned for release at the end of 1993^[4] for Ruthless Records, distributed by Relativity Records; however, the album was put on hold. In 1994, the group released the first single from the album, "Puddles of H2O", as a CD single and promotional twelve-inch, with the B-side single "Let Me Get Down".^[4] However, with the band being dropped from Ruthless in 1995 it was not released at that time. The songs from the album later leaked and a cover was made using a photo of apl.de.ap and will.i.am from the Bridging the Gap photo-shoot in 2000.^{[citation needed]} It was then remastered and released properly for the first time on vinyl in 2020 by Back 2 Da Source Records, which sold out.^[5]

Track listing

1. "Open Your Mind"
2. "Put On Your Adidas"
3. "Goin for a Ride"
4. "Mountain Top" (feat. Dante Santiago and Mr. Shaw)
5. "L.A. Barrio Woman Beater"
6. "Lord of the Flies" (feat. Huck Finn)
7. "No Sequel"
8. "Focus on You" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
9. "Quid Pro Quo"
10. "World's Gone Mad" (feat. Longevity)
11. "Strollin"
12. "This Is Dedicated" (feat. Dandilion and Mr. Shaw)
13. "Let Me Get Down" (feat. Mr. Shaw)
14. "Duet" (feat. Dante Santiago and Dandilion)
15. "Puddles of H2O"
16. "Rain on Me"
17. "Eyougodah"

Personnel

A.T.B.A.N. Klann

• Will 1X – vocals
• apl.de.ap – vocals
• Mooky Mook – vocals
• DJ Motiv8 – turntables

Featured artists

• Dante Santiago – vocals
• Mr Shaw – vocals
• Dandillion – vocals
• Huck Finn – vocals
• Longevity – vocals

References

1. Andy Kellman. "The Black Eyed Peas". AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
2. Feely, Peter (September 23, 2013). "Will.i.am – exclusive interview". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved October 18, 2013. Eazy E signed us [me and apl.de.ap] back when I was in high school. We were in a group called Atban Klann and Eazy E signed us to his record label Ruthless Records. Eazy was an inspiration and an instrumental part of the beginning of my career.
3. Kellman, Andy. "The Black Eyed Peas". Allmusic. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
4. Lowers, Erin (November 25, 2018). "The Black Eyed Peas' Journey from Conscious to the Charts". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
5. "The A.T.B.A.N. Klann - Grass Roots (Album, 2xLP Gatefold Edition + Insert) SOLD OUT".