The Dungeon Family is a musical collective, based in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...

that specializes in

Southern hip hop Southern hip hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip hop, or dirty south, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Memp ...

with heavy funk and

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

influences. The group derives its name from "The Dungeon", the name given to

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

Rico Wade's studio, located in the basement of his mother's house, where many of the early members of the collective did their first recordings. Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and

Sleepy Brown Patrick Leroy "Sleepy" Brown (born January 24, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Savannah, Georgia. He is one-third of the successful Atlanta-based production team of Organized Noize, which has created hits for act ...

constitute the production/songwriting team

Organized Noize Organized Noize is an American production team from Atlanta, Georgia composed of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown. History Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's " Don't Let Go (Love)", and L ...

, who have produced hits for the main popular Dungeon Family groups Outkast and

Goodie Mob Goodie Mob is an American hip hop group based in Atlanta, Georgia, consisting of CeeLo Green, Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp. History The group was formed in 1991 by Cameron " Big Gipp" Gipp, Willie "Khujo" Knighton Jr., CeeLo Green (born Tho ...

. The collective released their first album together, titled '' Even in Darkness'', on November 26, 2001.

Label dissolution

On October 7, 2011, it was announced that Arista, along with Jive and J Records, would be shut down. All artists on those labels, including The Dungeon Family, were moved to RCA Records.

In visual media

On February 8, 2016, it was announced that on March 22, 2016, the documentary ''The Art of Organized Noize'' would premier on Netflix.

Members

1st generation

** Rico Wade **

** Ray Murray * Outkast **

André 3000 André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a part of southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi. ...

Big Boi Antwan André Patton (born February 1, 1975), better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a member of the southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside André 300 ...

* Earthtone III ** André 3000 ** Big Boi **

Mr. DJ Mr. DJ (born David Sheats) is an American hip-hop producer and DJ from Atlanta. He and Outkast members Big Boi and André 3000 make up the record production company Earthtone III. Biography Raised on the southside of College Park, Georgia, M ...

** Big Gipp **

T-Mo Robert Terrance Barnett (born February 2, 1972, in Fairburn, Georgia), professionally known by his stage name T-Mo Goodie (or simply T-Mo), is an American rapper from Atlanta. He is best known for being a member of Southern hip hop quartet Goodi ...

** Cee Lo Green **

Khujo Willie Edward Knighton Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known as Khujo, is an American rapper. He is one-fourth of Goodie Mob (along with T-Mo, Cee-Lo, and Big Gipp), and one-half of The Lumberjacks (with T-Mo). Life and career Khujo was bo ...

Parental Advisory Advisory (abbreviated PAL) is a warning label introduced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1985 and adopted by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2011. It is placed on audio recordings in recognition of profan ...

** Mello ** K.P. ** Big Reese * Lumberjacks ** T-Mo ** Khujo *

Society of Soul Society of Soul was a five-member R&B group that consisted of the members of Organized Noize (Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade and Ray Murray) as well as Espraronza and Big Rube Ruben Bailey (born September 27, 1969, Atlanta, Georgia), professionally ...

** Sleepy Brown ** Roni **

Big Rube Ruben Bailey (born September 27, 1969, Atlanta, Georgia), professionally known by his stage name Big Rube, is an American spoken word artist, rapper and hip hop producer. He is a first-generation member of the Dungeon Family and of Society of ...

** Ray Murray ** Rico Wade * Sleepy's Theme ** Sleepy Brown ** Eddie Stokes ** Victor Alexander * Joi * Witchdoctor * Cool Breeze *

Backbone The backbone is the vertebral column of a vertebrate. Arts, entertainment, and media Film * ''Backbone'' (1923 film), a 1923 lost silent film starring Alfred Lunt * ''Backbone'' (1975 film), a 1975 Yugoslavian drama directed by Vlatko Gilić ...

Debra Killings Debra Killings (born July 7, 1966) is an American singer and bass guitarist, notable for extensive session musician, session and background vocal work for LaFace Records and Rowdy Records-based artists such as TLC (band), TLC, Monica (singer), Mo ...

2nd generation

Killer Mike Michael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American rapper, actor, and activist. Mike made his debut on Outkast's 2000 LP '' Stankonia'', and later appeared on their Grammy-winning single "T ...

* Slimm Calhoun * The Calhouns ** Slimm Cutta Calhoun ** Lucky Calhoun ** Pauly Calhoun * Konkrete ** BlackOwned C-Bone ** Lil' Brotha ** Supa Nate * Purple Ribbon All-Stars **

** Killer Mike ** Konkrete ** Vonnegutt ** TJG **

Janelle Monáe Janelle Monáe Robinson (; born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, rapper and actress. She is signed to Atlantic Records, as well as to her own imprint, the Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe has received eight Grammy Award nominations. Mon� ...

** Scar **

Bubba Sparxxx Warren Anderson Mathis (born March 6, 1977), better known by his stage name Bubba Sparxxx, is an American rapper from Georgia. His singles include "Deliverance", " Ugly" (both featuring Timbaland), and " Ms. New Booty" (featuring Ying Yang Twins ...

* Sniper Unit ** Big L (Pauly Calhoun) ** Swift C (Lucky Calhoun) * Da Connect ** Meathead ( Future) ** Infinique ** Boulevard Intl. ** G-Rock ** C-Smooth ** Rico Wade * ChamDon ** G-Rock ** C-Smooth

Discography

* '' Even in Darkness'' (2001)

References

{{Authority control Alternative hip hop groups Hip hop collectives Musical groups established in 1992 Hip hop supergroups Southern hip hop groups Musical groups from Atlanta