Creature (musician)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Creature

| image = CREATURE.jpg

| caption = Creature in 2017

| birth_name = Siddiq Booker

| alias = Creaturenomics

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|11|10}}

| birth_place = Harlem, New York U.S.

| origin = Queens, New York U.S.

| genre = Rap
Punk

| occupation = Emcee
Rapper
Musician

| instrument = Rapping
Producing
Writing

| years_active = 1996–present

| label = 4th and Broadway
Island
Hydra Records
Insomniac Dream Entertainment (BMI)
a night on canopy

| associated_acts = RebelMatic
The Triflicts
MF Doom
Jin
Beatnuts

}}

Siddiq Booker (born November 10, 1973), better known by his stage name Creature, is a New York City-based independent underground rapper, vocalist, writer and composer who works in the rap, hip hop, and afro-punk genres.{{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/frank151/docs/frank43|title=Frank 43: Bug Out!|last=Powell|first=Ricky|date=2012-02-15|work=Frank|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en}}

Early life

Booker was born in Harlem, New York, and was raised in the Corona neighborhood of Queens in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/introducing-creature-new-music-323#axzz4qJwDt6QK|title=Introducing Creature [New Mui]|website=www.ebony.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{cite news|title=Creature (Rebelmatic): Interview|url=http://www.thebeeshine.com/creature-rebelmatic-interview/|work=TheBeeShine|date=16 October 2011|format=Video interview}}

Creature was inspired growing up listening to Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" and fellow Queens residents, Run DMC's, "Sucker MCs" on a boombox at the pool in Corona. He started playing in bands at 15.{{Cite news|url=https://www.metalheadsociety.com/news/interview-with-rebelmatic/|title=Interview With Rebelmatic|date=2017-07-23|work=Metalhead Society|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}} In high school he met Buc Live and then GED school met Gab Gatcha, both with whom he eventually formed the group, The Triflicts, in 1991.{{Cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2014/04/24/creature-of-rebelmatic-the-patriarch-of-nycs-hip-hop-underground/|title=Creature of Rebelmatic: The Patriarch of NYC’s Hip-Hop Underground {{!}} Village Voice|access-date=2017-08-20}} Creature had his first record deal at age 20.

Career

= The Triflicts =

The Triflicts was an underground hip hop group including Creature, Gab Gatcha and Buc Live. The group gained attention after Gab Gatcha mentioning their name on the first Beatnuts album on which he debuted. In 1996 Stretch and Bobbito played "I'm Terror" from a demo for 4th and Broadway Records, then played "Genuine" from their debut single released by Hydra Records on The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show of WKCR radio. The group's work was also played on Hot97, New York's premier hip hop radio station, in a song battle against Goodie Mob, where Goodie Mob won. The group went their separate ways when Buc stopped rapping and Gab refocused his time on work with The Beatnuts and later Gab spent some time in prison. Sergent Records from France published their unreleased demos in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/172855-Triflicts|title=Triflicts|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-08-20}}

= Sky Pimps =

Rob Sonic, Sonic Sum and Mike Ladd with Creature formed his next collective project, the Sky Pimps in the late 90s.

= RebelMatic =

In 2008 Creature bumped into a high school acquaintance and decided to form a band, RebelMatic. Since he had been in a punk rock band before he rhymed, so RebelMatic, his hip hop infused punk band, was a perfect fit.{{Cite news|url=http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/wake-up-smell-the-grind-with-creature/|title=Wake Up & Smell the Grind with Creature {{!}} Ghettoblaster Magazine|date=2011-05-02|work=Ghettoblaster Magazine|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}} They tell the public that they don't get the full experience of the band's energy until you see them live. They work through new music live and draw inspiration from bands ranging from Public Enemy, Sly and the Family Stone to John Coltrane and Metallica. RebelMatic opened for Kool AD in 2014 and played at AfroPunk Festival in New York in 2013 and 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://afropunk.com/2017/08/premiere-punk-rockers-rebelmatic-rage-listenable-hell-ep-eat-monster/|title=Premiere: Punk rockers RebelMatic rage on their listenable as hell EP ‘Eat The Monster’|date=2017-08-17|work=Afropunk|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}

= Solo work =

Creature's style has been described as "agile" and "pre-knee jerk" contemporary rap battling. After his first group, The Triflicts, started going their separate ways, Creature was featured on The X-Ecutioners' first album, X-Pressions. In the late 1990s he met Sole, El-P and Antipop Consortium. In 2000 he worked with Mike Ladd on the Infesticons for the album, Gun Hill Road.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/19503-The-Infesticons|title=The Infesticons|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}} And wrote a hook for a single from MC Jin's The Rest Is History album in 2003. That same year he was featured on Vaudeville Villain by MF Doom. In 2004 he went on tour with Rob Sonic's Telicatessen debut album tour. Following that Creature had a song with Rob Sonic and Hangar 18 called "Sniper Picnic” that was featured on the Tony Hawk video game.{{Cite news|title="Creature" Feature|date=2006-01-06|work=Starz TV}} He collaborated with Kool AD on his own album with the song, "Warhol's Wig" that received much acclaim.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ok-tho.com/2015/06/creature-ft-kool-ad-warhols-wig.html|title=Creature ft Kool A.D - Warhol's Wig|website=www.ok-tho.com|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hip-hop.pl/news/projector.php?id=1437646951|title=Creature ft. Kool A.D. (Das Racist) "Warhol's Wig" teledysk|website=www.hip-hop.pl|language=pl|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://hiphopforum.sk/creature-feat-kool-a-d-warhol-s-wig-2015-t149987.html|title=Creature feat. Kool A.D. - Warhol's Wig (2015) online video klip - hiphopforum.sk|website=hiphopforum.sk|language=sk|access-date=2017-08-21}} He has also toured with Angelo Moore and collaborated with Ari Up.{{Cite news|url=http://sonicboombap.com/torn-together-out-june-16th/|title=Torn Together Out June 16th Sonic Boom BatpP|date=2015-06-05|work=Sonic Boom Bap|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}} Creature performed with Homeboy Sandman and Aesop Rock at Irvin Plaza the summer of 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://nyc.thedelimagazine.com/25015/tonight-homeboy-sandman-plays-irving-plaza-aesop-rock-and-creature|title=Tonight: Homeboy Sandman plays Irving Plaza with Aesop Rock and Creature|website=The Deli Magazine {{!}} nyc.thedelimagazine.com/|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-21}}

Before the digital age of music PR, like Percee-P, Lucky & Sdaerd, L.I.F.E.long, and MC Jin, Creature spent many hours selling his independent music, direct, in front of Fatbeats and at clubs on the streets of New York.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/nyregion/13rap.html|title=On the Sidewalks, Rappers Peddle Their Own Voices|last=Levin|first=Dan|date=2008-07-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=http://marathonofdope.com/portfolio/creature/|title=Creature - marathon of dope|work=marathon of dope|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}

Creature created a concert series called The Coffee Grind that featured a mix of under-represented hip hop artists with those more well known like Just Ice, Camp Lo, and Sadat X.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thebeeshine.com/creature-rebelmatic-interview/|title=Creature (Rebelmatic) {{!}} Interview {{!}}|date=2011-10-18|work=TheBeeShine|access-date=2017-08-20|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnartifact.com/12424|title=Quimtime Open Mic|website=www.gnartifact.com|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.upa.nyc/bios/creature/|title=Creature {{!}} Underground Producers Alliance|date=2016-12-19|work=Underground Producers Alliance|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}

= The Underdog's Manifesto =

In 2006, Creature wrote the book, The Underdog's Manifesto: A Guerilla Artist's Path to Independence, with Dax-Devlon Ross. The book was published by Outskirts Press and reissued in 2008 by Outside the Box Publishing. The book explores Creature's journey of being a self-produced independent artist and how he learned creative ways to publicize and package one's work. Underdog's Manifesto includes interviews with Percee P, Duo Live and “Lucky” Logan P. McCoy and an afterword by Jeremy Glick.{{cite web|title=Books by Dax|url=http://otbpublishing.com/books/by-dax/|website=Outside the Box Publishing|access-date=2017-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822020210/http://otbpublishing.com/books/by-dax/|archive-date=2017-08-22|url-status=dead}}

= Coffee Grind Media =

Creature has two independent production companies, one called Creaturenomics and one called Coffee Grind Media, LLC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/135212-Creature-2|title=Creature (2)|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}

Personal life

Creature, or Siddiq Booker, has two children. His son helped to name the 2017 album for RebelMatic, Eat The Monster.

Discography

= Releases =

2005: Never Say Die – featuring Slug, Jin, and Busdriver.
2007: Hustle to be Free
2011: Chester Himes EP {{Cite web|url=http://nyc.thedelimagazine.com/8090/nyc-indie-hip-hop-creature|title=NYC indie Hip Hop: Creature|website=The Deli Magazine {{!}} nyc.thedelimagazine.com/|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-21}}
2013: Black Lagoon Radio
2015: Torn Together – featuring Kool AD, Vordul Mega, SavKills, Nutso and Homeboy Sandman. Production by Preservation (Ka & Yasiin Bey) and Omega One.{{Cite web|url=https://oldtothenew.wordpress.com/tag/creature/|title=Creature {{!}} Old To The New - Ryan Proctor's Beats, Rhymes & Hip-Hop Nostalgia|website=oldtothenew.wordpress.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://grownuprap.com/2015/03/09/creature-sore-eyes-feat-vordul-mega-of-cannibal-ox/|title=Creature – ‘Sore Eyes’ feat. Vordul Mega of Cannibal Ox|last=Rap|first=Grown Up|date=2015-03-09|website=Grown Up Rap|access-date=2017-08-21}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rawdrive.com/2015/07/21/creature-warhols-wig-ft-kool-a-d-video/|title=Creature – Warhol’s Wig ft. Kool A.D [video]|date=2015-07-21|work=Raw Drive|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}
2020: The day night stood still (Coffee Grind Media / a night on canopy)

= Collaborations =

1996: Genuine / Don't Make Me Try (single) – (with The Triflicts){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/172855-Triflicts|title=Triflicts|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}
2000: Gun Hill Road – (with The Infesticons)
2003: The Majesticons vs. The Infesticons / Beauty vs. Ugly (The Instrumental Albums) (2xLP) – (with The Infesticons)
2004: featured with Jin, "So Afraid" on The Rest is History – (as S. Booker)
2009: Prey For The Vulture – (with RebelMatic){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/4125705-Rebelmatic|title=Rebelmatic|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}
2010: Bedford Park – (with The Infesticons)
2014: Elephant Amnesia – (with RebelMatic)
2014: 93-94 Unreleased Demos EP – (with The Triflicts)
2017: Eat The Monster EP – (with RebelMatic)

Videos

2012: Creature, "Embrace the Day," produced by Prefuse 73, directed by Rodolfo Duran.{{Cite news|url=http://ugsmag.com/creature-embrace-the-day-prod-prefuse-73/|title=Creature - "Embrace The Day" Prod. Prefuse 73|date=2012-03-03|work=UGSMAG|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}
2015: Creature, “Warhol’s Wig” featuring Kool AD, directed by Skila.{{Cite news|url=http://www.yrbmagazine.com/creature-warhols-wig-feat-kool-a-d-creaturenomics-veeveeveeveevee-hiphhop/|title=Creature- Warhol's Wig feat. Kool A.D @Creaturenomics @veeveeveeveevee #hiphhop|date=2015-08-05|work=YRB Magazine {{!}} Lifestyle Fashion Music Art Culture|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.egotripland.com/creature-kool-a-d-warhols-wig-video/|title=egotripland.com {{!}} Creature ft. Kool A.D — "Warhol’s Wig" (Music Video|website=www.egotripland.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-21}}
2015: Creature, "Sore Eyes" featuring Vordul Mega, produced by Noble Dru.{{Cite news|url=http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/video-power-creature-ft-vordul-mega-sore-eyes/|title=Video Power: Creature ft. Vordul Mega - Sore Eyes {{!}} Ghettoblaster Magazine|date=2015-10-28|work=Ghettoblaster Magazine|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}

Works and publications

{{cite book|last1=Creature|last2=Devlon-Ross|first2=Dax|title=The Underdog's Manifesto: A Guerilla Artist's Path to Independence|date=2008|publisher=Outside the Box Publishing, LLC|location=New York|isbn=978-0-981-73984-7}}