Originally going under the name Bushwick Bomb Squad since their formation in 1993, members Q-Unique, D-stroy, Freestyle, Swel Boogie, and Jise One played around in the underground hip-hop field for a short duration before signing to the independent Fondle 'Em Records and changing their moniker to the Arsonists. With three 12" singles that followed -- one of which released on a division of Geffen Records -- a deal on Matador followed in 1999. Their debut full-length, As the World Burns, was released later on that year. ~ Mike DaRonco