Coachella Artist Spotlight: P.O.S.

P.O.S., aka Stefon Alexander, is a rapper from Minneapolis who is part of Rhymesayers Entertainment (Atmosphere‘s label). He spits his lyrics fast and steady over raw drum beats and punk-rock bass and guitar riffs, creating a style that is unparalleled by most others.

He’s been on the Warped Tour several years and has performed with bands like Bad Brains, Atmosphere, Underoath, Saosin, Eye Alaska and Gym Class Heroes. He’s also sampled music from The Bouncing Souls and even had an AMAZING cover of Pearl Jam‘s “Why Go,” which was shown on MTV2.

Click more for everything P.O.S. (including the real meaning behind P.O.S.)

At first sight, P.O.S. doesn’t seem like your typical rapper with his gauged ears and sleeves of tattoos. But aside from the stereotypes, Alexander began his music career in high school in a punk band called Om. It was there that he inherited the name P.O.S., or Pissed Off Stefon. The name has also taken on several other meanings: Product of Society, Promise of Stress, Promise of Skill, Plain Ole Stefon, and of course, Piece of Shit. He later left the group to pursue his newly developed respect for rap.

P.O.S. is one of the founders of Doomtree Collective, a group of DJ’s, MC’s and producers who come together to bring forth an alternative-influenced rap/hip-hop sound. This is the group that released his original EP’s and first album, Ipecac Neat, which would eventually get picked up and re-released by Rhymesayers in 2004. Although they never made a video for it, the song “Music For Shoplifting” is (in my opinion) the best track off that album.

P.O.S. “Music For Shoplifting”

Audition was the second installment from P.O.S. and Rhymesayers and was released in 2006. This album helped launch him into the national spotlight, and he started touring heavily with the Warped Tour and Underoath. The first time I saw him live was at Paid Dues in 2008. I stood next to Cage and watched him nod his head in approval as P.O.S. went up and absolutely killed it in front of the thousands of fans. It was the moment when he performed “P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life” that I knew I had a new favorite rapper. The song samples Underoath and has a great rock/rap mix to it.

P.O.S. “P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life (Live)”

In 2009, P.O.S. released his current album Never Better. There have been a few singles off the album, including “Drumroll” and “Optimist,” which both had videos air on MTVU and were received well by fans and critics alike. He was recently a part of the PacTour with Saosin and Eye Alaska, which is where I saw him most recently. Although 75% of the audience was a bunch of high school kids there for the bands, I’m positive that several people left the House of Blues with a new-found respect for his technique, style and sound.

P.O.S. “Drumroll”

P.O.S. covering Pearl Jam’s “Why Go”

P.O.S. will be performing night 1 of Coachella.