Rob Sonic

Rob Sonic
Rob Sonic performing in 2012
Background information
Birth name Robert Smith
Also known as Bobby Freedom, Bananas Foster
Born Washington, D.C., U.S.
Origin New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, producer, hip hop artist
Instruments Vocals, Soundpad
Years active 1998–present
Labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers Entertainment
Associated acts Sonic Sum, Hail Mary Mallon

Robert Smith, better known by his stage name Rob Sonic, is a hip hop artist from The Bronx. He is a former member of hip-hop group Sonic Sum and a current member of hip-hop group Hail Mary Mallon besides Aesop Rock.

History

Robert Smith was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in the Bronx.[1] As a child, he devoted himself to music of various genres. He was a follower of artists such as The Beatles, Run DMC, Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin, Public Enemy, Muddy Waters, Ultramagnetic MC's, and The Clash.

In 2000, Smith gained critical acclaim as the front man of the hip hop group Sonic Sum, whose first album The Sanity Annex won rave reviews in the United States, Europe and Japan, with Spin voting it the "2nd Best Album of the Year that No One Heard". Word got around and soon came offers from artists like DJ Krush and Funkstörung to work with them on their albums, a collaboration with Slug and Mike Ladd, as well as shout outs from Radiohead, Bobbito Garcia, Autechre and others.

In 2003, Smith signed to Definitive Jux after he and label head El-P realised they shared the same management. He released his first solo album Telicatessen on the label in 2004, and his second, Sabotage Gigante, in 2007. The song "Sniper Picnic" from Telicatessen was featured in the game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. Additionally, the song "Brand New Vandals" was featured in Skate 3. Smith appears on the tracks "Dark Heart News" and "The Harbor Is Yours" from Aesop Rock's 2007 album None Shall Pass.

In 2011, Smith released the album Are You Gonna Eat That? on Rhymesayers Entertainment with Aesop Rock and DJ Big Wiz under the alias Hail Mary Mallon. The group's second album, Bestiary, was released in 2014 on the same label.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

  • "Death Vendor / Dylsexia" (Definitive Jux, 2004)
  • "Shoplift" (Definitive Jux, 2004)
  • "Fatman and Littleboy / The Over Under" (Definitive Jux, 2006)
  • "Rock the Convoy" (Definitive Jux, 2007)
  • "JJ Sad" (Skypimps, 2018)

Additional credits

Production

Guest appearances

Featured tracks

References

  1. ↑ Bobby Freedom [@Rob_Sonic] (24 September 2015). "ROB FACTS: While most of my life was spent in the Bronx but I was born in Washington D.C. therefore I know more about politics than anyone" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=505950209521997&id=308643799252640
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