Biography
Rap duo Statik Kxng merged East Coast production techniques with West Coast rap stylings across their self-titled 2016 debut album. Echoing the approach taken by PRhyme (Royce da 5'9" and DJ Premier) and Run the Jewels (Killer Mike and El-P), the pair revived the classic Golden Era MC/DJ aesthetic of the 1980s and early 1990s. Producer Statik Selektah, born Patrick Baril on January 23, 1982, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and rapper KXNG Crooked, also known as Crooked I and born Dominick Wickliffe on September 23, 1978, in Long Beach, California, had each developed separate careers before teaming up. Statik issued his debut solo album in 2007, supplying beats for a roster of guest rappers that included Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, DJ Khaled, KRS-One, the Alchemist, and Jadakiss. He completed seven albums before linking with KXNG Crooked, who had been active on mixtapes since 2003. In addition to multiple EPs, Crooked released one album on Death Row Records and a pair of albums on Eminem's Shady Records as part of the Slaughterhouse crew. The Statik Kxng debut appeared in February 2016 via Penalty Entertainment/ShowOff Records and included a guest appearance by Selektah's frequent collaborator Termanology.
Singles
