Doomtree

The name "Doomtree" is a made-up word that doesn't have a meaning, according to P.O.S, who says that it has come to represent "my people and my life's work so far."{{cite web|url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-292-12525-doomtree.html|title=The Gang’s All Here: Minneapolis' slept-upon hip-hop crew head out on their first full tour|work=Salt Lake City Weekly|last=Ali|first=Reyan|date=November 4, 2010}} When Dessa was asked about the name, she said "Initially it was a proposed name for a Cecil and P.O.S. record. The name followed us when we all lived together in a big rundown house a few years ago. Whether it was the fault of architecture or some sort of cosmic wormhole, dead pigeons always showed up on our doorstep."{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/music-merchants-of-doom/26107959/|title=Music: Merchants of Doom|newspaper=Star Tribune|access-date=2017-02-04}} The group was originally named "False Hopes" when it was just P.O.S and Cecil Otter, but after consideration, it was traded off to be the name of a series of releases (there are 15 total) by Doomtree members (such as Cecil Otter's or Doomtree's debut).{{cite web|url=http://respect-mag.com/2011/11/wings-and-teeth-an-interview-with-doomtree/|title=Wings And Teeth - An Interview With Doomtree {{!}} RESPECT.|website=respect-mag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-05}}

File:Wingsandteeth.png

Members of Doomtree have described the group's formation as a gradual process.{{cite web|url=http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/music/interviews/1851|title=Doomtree Interview|work=Caught in the Crossfire|author=Abjekt|date=August 30, 2006}} The initial lineup saw P.O.S and MK Larada, friends from high school, making songs with other local artists such as Cecil Otter and Beautiful Bobby Gorgeous. The beginning of the name began when P.O.S and Cecil Otter first envisioned Doomtree to be an in house production team.{{Cite news|url=http://urbanbeancoffee.com/iheartmpls/2013/9/18/pos-of-doomtree|title=P.O.S. of Doomtree|newspaper=URBAN BEAN COFFEE|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-05}} Soon enough Sims and Lazerbeak, fellow Hopkins High School alumni, followed. Mike Mictlan, having also attended high school with P.O.S, became an official member when he moved back to Minneapolis from Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/doomtree08.html|work=Rap Reviews|title=RapReview Feature for August 12, 2008 - Doomtree Interview|date=August 12, 2008|first=Adam|last=Bernard}} Dessa joined after having a chance encounter with P.O.S, who was living down the street from her at the time along with Sims, Turbo Nemesis and MK Larada.{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/2004-03-03/news/doomsday/all|title=Doomsday!|work=City Pages|first=Peter S.|last=Scholtes|date=March 3, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606053744/http://www.citypages.com/2004-03-03/news/doomsday/all/|archive-date=June 6, 2011}} Sims and Dessa were said to be the last to join the collective. After its final formation, members MK Larada, Turbo Nemesis, Tom Servo, and Bobby Gorgeous gradually drifted away from the group.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/doomtree/status/93436977449418752|title=DOOMTREE on Twitter|newspaper=Twitter|language=en|access-date=2017-02-05}} MK Larada is responsible for Doomtree's famous "Wings and Teeth" logo.{{Cite news|url=http://www.listenupdenver.com/8821/doomtree-talks-no-kings-and-their-famous-wings-and-teeth-logo/|title=Doomtree Talks No Kings And Their Famous Wings And Teeth Logo « Listen Up Denver!|newspaper=Listen Up Denver!|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-05}}

Doomtree's first official album, Doomtree, was released on July 29, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=35915|title=Doomtree - Doomtree|work=Sputnikmusic|author=Inveigh|date=April 2, 2010}}

Their second official album, No Kings, was released to critical acclaim on November 22, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/doomtree-no-kings-1798170561|title=Doomtree: No Kings|work=The A.V. Club|first=Genevieve|last=Koski|date=November 22, 2011}}{{Citation|title=No Kings by Doomtree|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/no-kings/doomtree|access-date=2017-02-05}}

In 2012, Time included Doomtree in the "11 Great Bands You Don't Know (But Should)" list.{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/08/07/11-bands-you-dont-know-but-should/slide/doomtree/|title=11 Great Bands You Don't Know (But Should)|work=Time|first=Melissa|last=Locker|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=October 28, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811213101/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/08/07/11-bands-you-dont-know-but-should/slide/doomtree|archive-date=August 11, 2012}} December 12, 2012 was proclaimed by Mayor R. T. Rybak as "Doomtree Day in the city of Minneapolis" in conjunction with the opening night of the Doomtree Blowout 8 show at First Avenue.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2012/12/doomtree_day_is_friday_mayor_rybak.php|title=Doomtree Day in Minneapolis is Friday, proclaims Mayor Rybak|work=City Pages|first=Reed|last=Fischer|date=December 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219080506/http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2012/12/doomtree_day_is_friday_mayor_rybak.php|archive-date=December 19, 2012}}

Doomtree's documentary film, Team the Best Team, was also released as a DVD in 2012,{{cite web|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2012/11/doomtree_documentary_team_the_best_team_dvd.php|title=Doomtree to release documentary, Team the Best Team DVD|work=City Pages|first=Reed|last=Fischer|date=November 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165318/http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2012/11/doomtree_documentary_team_the_best_team_dvd.php|archive-date=July 14, 2014}} and also as a digital stream and download in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26521/title.doomtree-releases-team-the-best-team-documentary|title=Doomtree Releases "Team The Best Team" Documentary|work=HipHopDX|first=Andres|last=Tardio|date=December 8, 2013}}

In December 2014, Doomtree had the final installment of the annual Blowout concert series,{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/music/what-does-the-last-blowout-ever-mean-for-doomtree-6642273|title=What Does the "Last Blowout Ever" Mean for Doomtree?|work=City Pages|first=Jerard|last=Fagerberg|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=November 24, 2015}} which the crew hosted for 10 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/music/the-best-twin-cities-concerts-this-weekend-12-12-14-6633820|title=The Best Twin Cities Concerts This Weekend: 12/12-14|work=City Pages|first=Erik|last=Thompson|date=December 12, 2014|access-date=November 24, 2015}}

On January 27, 2015, Doomtree released their third group album, All Hands.{{cite web|url=https://doomtree.bandcamp.com/album/all-hands|title=All Hands, by Doomtree|website=Doomtree|access-date=2017-02-06}} In October 2015, Doomtree curated the first Doomtree Zoo festival at the CHS Field.{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/music/our-likes-and-dislikes-of-doomtree-zoo-10-7724775|title=Our likes and dislikes of Doomtree Zoo 1.0|work=City Pages|first=Ryan|last=Warner|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=November 24, 2015}}

While P.O.S and Cecil Otter have released solo albums on other record labels (Rhymesayers Entertainment and Strange Famous Records, respectively), each of the group albums and the majority of the collective's solo work are released on their own label, Doomtree Records.{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Chris|title=Steady As She Grows|work=Colorado Springs Independent|date=March 15, 2012|url=http://www.csindy.com/colorado/steady-as-she-grows/Content?oid=2442636|access-date=July 13, 2013}}

Doomtree has also formed a publisher, Doomtree Press. In 2009, it put out Spiral Bound, Dessa's first book of poetry and fiction.{{cite web|last1=Behm|first1=Jon|title=Dessa 'Spiral Bound' Review|work=Culture Bully|date=January 13, 2009|url=http://www.culturebully.com/dessa-spiral-bound-review|access-date=July 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606071148/http://www.culturebully.com/dessa-spiral-bound-review|archive-date=June 6, 2010|url-status=dead}}

Officially, the CEO of the label is Dessa,{{Cite news|url=http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/dessa-ceo|title=Dessa the CEO|newspaper=Minnesota Business Magazine|language=en|access-date=2017-02-04}} but the label is run by the entire group, with outside help from friends such as Ander Other, Doomtree's "Intern/Merchant/Graphic Designer/Webmaster/Video Editor/Social Media Agent/Librarian."{{cite web|url=http://first-avenue.com/performer/ander-other|title=ANDER OTHER (Doomtree) {{!}} First Avenue|website=first-avenue.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-04}}

As a group, Doomtree's sound reflects being a collective of many members with unique individual musical influences. Officially classified as hip-hop, the influences of jazz, punk rock, blues, rock, and soul can be detected throughout their music. Doomtree is known for having "tangled, multihued and pointedly intellectualized lyrics"{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/139308308.html|title=Hip-Hop Collective Doomtree Lands In Philly This Week|work=Philadelphia Weekly|last=Ali|first=Reyan|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=July 13, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130714031925/http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/139308308.html|archive-date=July 14, 2013}} with "cerebral rhymes and moody beats."{{cite web|url=http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2010/02/11/music3.html|title=Doomtree's Brain Fruit|work=Eugene Weekly|last=Brickner|first=Sarah|date=February 11, 2010|access-date =July 13, 2013}}

File:Doomtree - First Avenue Star.jpg]]The group has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author= |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |access-date=2020-05-10 |archive-date=2020-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }} recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=2019-05-03 |access-date=2020-05-10 }} P.O.S also has a star for his solo work. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=2019-05-13 |access-date=2020-05-10 }}

• Dessa: rapper
• Cecil Otter: rapper/producer
• P.O.S: rapper/producer
• Sims: rapper
• Mike Mictlan: rapper
• Paper Tiger: producer/DJ
• Lazerbeak: producer

• MK Larada: producer
• Turbo Nemesis: producer/DJ
• Tom Servo: producer/DJ
• Beautiful Bobby Gorgeous: producer

File:Doomtree Blowout at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota - 2012 8285630473 o.jpg in 2012.]]

Between 2005-2014, Doomtree performed in annual group shows ("Blowouts") at local Minneapolis, Minnesota venues.

• Underground hip hop
• Twin Cities hip hop
• List of record labels

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Category:Alternative hip-hop groups

Category:Midwest hip-hop groups

Category:American independent record labels

Category:Independent record labels based in Minnesota

Category:Hip-hop record labels

Category:Companies based in Minneapolis

Category:2001 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Musical groups from Minneapolis