With Oakland, CA, serving as their backdrop, Slumplordz formed as a rap group in 1997. Comprised of individual members Hard Rard, Moon, J. Jonah, Gravanaught, and Irahktherigor, the collective also breaks down into sub-groups, including Sunnmoonsekt, the Yakuza, and the Original Raw Elements. Slumplordz' initial release on Knock Factor Records in 1999 came in the form of Sunnmoonsekt, which primarily featured Hard Rard and Moon. The cassette version of the album made enough waves in the underground for Slumplordz to be picked up by Stray Records, a subsidiary of Dogday. In 2000, the Oakland-based label released a Slumplordz single called "Slump," followed by an album titled The Yakuza in Don't Worry About the Caliber. In 2001, Stray Records re-released the Sunnmoonsekt album. Slumplordz are rooted in a unique production style, indigenous to the Bay Area. Merging the tenets of classic mob rap from the likes of Khayree and RBL Posse with the minimalist sensibilities of electronica, the "slump" sound takes shape. The Roland TR-808 is heavily relied upon as insane drum claps urge each musical endeavor. Their MCing is somewhat of an acquired taste, but for anyone schooled in the ways of Too Short, Digital Underground, and Del, Slumplordz are far from a stretch and close to an extension. ~ Robert Gabriel