Agallah

Infobox musical artist
Name = Agallah


Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Angel Aguilar
Origin = Brownsville, New York City, U.S.
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active = 1993-present
Label = Babygrande Records (2005-2007)Propain Ent./Ingrooves/Universal (2008-Present) According to official myspace page
Associated_acts = Purple City Productions,Ike Eyes, Sean Price, D&D Allstars

Agallah (also known as 8-Off The Assassinator or Don Bishop), born Angel Aguilar, is a Puerto Rican and Filipino-American rapper who was a member of the The Diplomats-affiliated group Purple City and the group Propain Campain. He was formerly known as 8-Off Agallah, but changed the name because it was controversial; 8-Off is a variation of the name Adolf, as in Adolf Hitler. He has ghostwritten songs for many well-known artists. In addition to producing his own music, he also produced tracks for Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, The Diplomats, Guru, Rockin' Squat, Sean Price, Saigon, Mobb Deep and Big Pun. In 1996, he finished his debut album, "Wrap Your Lips Around This" but it was never properly released due to label folding. The album was available for a short time and is now considered a rarity.

History

A native of Brooklyn's notorious Brownsville Projects, Agallah has been a presence on the underground hip hop scene for quite some time, although mainstream success has continued to elude him. Starting out as a producer, Agallah turned to rhyming and released a major label single on Elektra Records in 1995. In 1997 he made the classic duo "Till My Heart Stops" on Rawkus Soundbombing I with underground legend R.A. the Rugged Man. A collaboration with Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz followed, although the album the single was to appear on, "Wrap Your Lips Around This" was never released. Additionally, there were production stints for the likes of EPMD, Das EFX, Onyx, and Group Home [ [http://www.thaformula.com/agallah_purple_city.htm World's Best Source For That Ol' Boom Bap ] ] . During this time, Ag won the acclaim of top New York producers, such as Tony Touch and DJ Premier. In 2000, Agallah recorded the "Sesame Street"-themed single "Crookie Monster," which became an underground hit and featured production by the Alchemist.

In late 1999 Agallah teamed up with former EPMD member PMD and formed the hip hop group D.B.D. (Death B4 Dishonor). Other artists in the group were Ike Eyes, 215 and Deke O'malley. The group was short lived but they recorded a demo album which featured artist Guru of Gang Starr, John Forté, special Ed and Lil Dap of Group Home, D.B.D. also released a single entitled "Feel This/Code Red" which was produced by KRS-One's brother Kenny Parker. The unreleased album can be found on various internet sharing sites.

A friendship with Shiest Bub eventually led to the formation of Purple City Entertainment (also known as Purple City Productions) with Un Kasa, which attracted the attention of Dipset capo Jim Jones [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:t1azqj2woj0a~T1 allmusic ((( Purple City > Biography ))) ] ] . Shiest previously had been doing promotional work for Cam'ron and Juelz Santana. For the new Purple City project, Agallah was christened "the Don Bishop", with Shiest as "the Emperor." Jones' enthusiasm for Ag's track "Gangsta" garnered the producer/MC a slot on the "Diplomats Volume 4" mixtape.

Poised to take over the booming mixtape circuit, Purple City signed to Babygrande Records in late 2004. The following year, the label released a "greatest hits" collection that collected Purple City's best mixtape gems. Even as Purple City reached newer heights in 2006, Un Kasa departed the outfit due to business disputes, among other reasons.

Agallah's profile as a solo artist has also expanded in the wake of Purple City's rise, with the release of "You Already Know" (featuring appearances by dead prez and Nappy Roots, with production by DJ Premier and Alchemist) on Babygrande coupled with the release of the mixtape "Propane Piff" on Koch Records.

In mid 2007, Agallah stated in a myspace bulletin that he is no longer signed to Babygrande.

Agallah also contributed the song "Risin' To The Top" to the smash hit and controversial video game Grand Theft Auto III, appearing on the "Game FM" radio station, Agallah teamed up with Rockstar Games once again to record the soundtrack for Midnight Club 2. Gamers can also hear Agallah's beats on EA Sports basketball game NBA Live 08.

The rappers third album A.N.G.E.L. (A Nigga Gotta Envision Life) is due to be released in 2008 on his own label Propian Ent. and will feature productions by DJ Premier, Havoc, 9th Wonder and Agallah himself.

Discography

olo albums

Mixtapes

* Mixtape Iz Da Album
* Show Up
* Doomsday
* Propane Piff
* Fuck A Purple Chain
* F.A.M.E. (Fuck All My Enemies)

ingles

* Ghetto Girl/ Neighbourhood Hoe
* Alize For Dolo/Alize For Dolo Mr Cheeks Remix)
* The Crookie Monster/5 Star Millas/I Know All Y'all
* Telemundo (Featuring Sean Price)
* Imagine Your Life Monie Love /Gangster 4 My Homies
* Rising To The Top (Grand Theft Auto 3 Theme Song) (Featuring Sean Price)
* New York Ryder Music/Club Hoppin

Unreleased albums

Agallah has 3 albums that were never released due to various reasons, two of the albums were solo, while one was a group album.

* Wrap Your Lips Around This - 1995
* D.B.D - 1999
* Imagine Your Life - 2002

Collaborations

Outside of Dipset, Agallah has recorded with:

* Almighty Froch Family
* Cappadonna
* Rockin' Squat
* Caviar Dreams
* R.A. The Rugged Man
* Craig G
* Buc Fifty
* Mr. Cheeks of Lost Boyz
* Champ MC of Deadly Venoms
* Sadat X & Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian
* Heltah Skeltah, Starang Wondah, Smif-N-Wessun & Buckshot of Boot Camp Clik
* Jus Allah
* EPMD
* Edo G
* Group Home
* Guru of Gang Starr
* Bazaar Royale
* Kool G Rap
* Chubb Rock
* Channel Live
* dead prez
* Nappy Roots
* Das EFX
* Shyheim
* Afu-Ra
* Mr Eon of High & Mighty
* MC Serch
* Monie Love
* Labba of Flipmode Squad
* Masta Ace
* Royce Da 5'9"
* St Laz
* The Alchemist
* P Dap
* Pretty Ugly
* Panama P.I.
* Tony Touch
* Cormega

Trivia

* His uncle died of AIDS.
* His father left home when he was three months old.
* His mother was murdered.
* He is Christian.fact|date=July 2008
* Nicknames include Brad Piff, Mick Swagger, Eddie Piff, 8-Off the Assassin, Don Bishop, and Edwardo Pifferhands.

References

External links

* [http://www.thedonbishop.com/ Agallah Official Web Site]
* [http://www.purplecity.com/ Purple City Official Web Site]
* [http://www.dipsetmixtapes.com/ The Diplomats Web Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/agallahdonbishop Official MySpace]