Nick Rodriguez, better known by his stage name M.E.D. (sometimes stylized as MED), is an American rapper from

Oxnard, California Oxnard () is a city in Ventura County in the U.S. state of California, United States. On California's Central Coast (California), Central Coast, it is the most populous city in Ventura County and the List of largest California cities by populati ...

. He was formerly known as Medaphoar. He has been signed to

Stones Throw Records Stones Throw Records is an American independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. Under the direction of founder Peanut Butter Wolf, Stones Throw has released music ranging from hip hop to experimental psychedelic rock. ''LA Weekly'' ...

Life and career

Nick Rodriguez grew up in a musical family in

. After being featured on

Lootpack Lootpack is an American hip hop group signed to Stones Throw Records with members Madlib Otis Lee Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. ...

's 1999 album '' Soundpieces: Da Antidote'', he was asked by

Peanut Butter Wolf Christopher George Manak (born October 8, 1969 ), better known by his stage name Peanut Butter Wolf, is an American disc jockey and record producer from San Jose, California. He is based in Los Angeles, where he moved to in 2000. He is the found ...

to join

. He was also featured on

Quasimoto Quasimoto was a side project of hip hop producer Madlib, from Oxnard, California. Quasimoto is composed of Madlib and his animated alter ego Lord Quas. Lord Quas is known for his high-pitched voice, which often interacts with Madlib's regular ...

's '' The Unseen'' and

Madlib Otis Lee Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. Critically acclaimed for his eclectic, music sample, sample-heavy production style, he is rega ...

's ''

Shades of Blue Varieties of the color blue may differ in hue, chroma (also called saturation, intensity, or colorfulness), or lightness (or value, tone, or brightness), or in two or three of these qualities. Variations in value are also called tints and sha ...

''. In 2005, M.E.D. released his debut album, ''Push Comes to Shove'', on Stones Throw Records. It was produced by Madlib, Oh No,

J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michiga ...

, and

Just Blaze Justin Gregory Smith (born January 8, 1978), known professionally as Just Blaze, is an American record producer and DJ. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Smith attended Rutgers University for three years before dropping out to pursue a career in mus ...

. In 2011, he released his second album, ''Classic'', on Stones Throw Records. It featured contributions from Madlib,

Aloe Blacc Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III (born January 7, 1979), known professionally as Aloe Blacc (), is an American singer and rapper. He is known for his guest performance on Avicii's 2013 single "Wake Me Up (Avicii song), Wake Me Up", which peaked on ...

Hodgy Beats Gerard Damien Long (born November 9, 1990), better known as Jerry (formerly Hodgy and Hodgy Beats), is an American rapper and record producer. He is best known for being a founding member of the hip hop collective Odd Future. Music career Long ...

Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He first earned recognition through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's music ...

, and

Karriem Riggins Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, record producer, DJ and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. He met Chicago rapper Common and fellow Detroit musician J Dilla both in 1996, and served as an extensive contributor for releases by both ...

. In 2014, he released ''Theme Music'', a collaborative album with producer J. Rocc, under the group moniker Axel F. In 2015, he released a collaborative album with Blu and Madlib, titled '' Bad Neighbor'', on Bang Ya Head. It was a follow-up to their 2013 EP, ''The Burgundy''. The trio also released an EP, ''The Turn Up'', in 2017.

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Push Comes to Shove'' (2005) * ''Classic'' (2011) * ''Theme Music'' (2014) * '' Bad Neighbor'' (2015) * ''Child of the Jungle'' (2019) * ''Flying High'' (2022)

Mixtapes

* ''Bang Ya Head'' (2005) * ''Bang Ya Head II'' (2009) * ''Bang Ya Head 3'' (2010) * ''Bang Ya Head 4'' (2016)

EPs

* ''The Burgundy'' (2013) * ''Psychedelic Weather'' (2015) * ''The Turn Up'' (2017) * ''Loyalty'' (2018)

Singles

* "In Rhymes We Trust" (2001) * "Place Your Bet" (2002) * "Overdue" (2002) * "What U in It For?" (2003) * "Push" (2005) * "Get Back" (2005) * "Don't Sleep" (2005) * "100 Dolla Bills" (2009) * "Where I'm From" / "Classic" (2010) * "The Buzz" / "Peroxide" (2013) * "Classic (Dexter Remix)" (2014)

Guest appearances

- "Level Zero", "Wanna Test", and "Episodes" from '' Soundpieces: Da Antidote'' (1999) *

- "24-7" from '' The Unseen'' (2000) *

- "Please Set Me at Ease" from ''

'' (2003) * Wildchild - "Knicknack 2002" and "Feel It" from ''

Secondary Protocol ''Secondary Protocol'' is the first studio album by American rapper Wildchild. It was released on Stones Throw Records in 2003. The album's title meaning is about the artist wanting to show a more personal view, which is alternative to what he b ...

'' (2003) *

Madvillain Madvillain was an American hip hop supergroup formed in 2002, consisting of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib. Their only album, '' Madvillainy'' (2004), earned critical acclaim and cult popularity, widely regarded as one of the greatest r ...

- "Raid" from ''

Madvillainy ''Madvillainy'' is the only studio album by American hip-hop duo Madvillain, consisting of British-American rapper MF Doom and American record producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, by Stones Throw Records. The album was recor ...

'' (2004) and "FYI" (Unreleased) * Oh No - "The Ride" from ''

The Disrupt ''The Disrupt'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop musician Oh No. It was released on October 5, 2004 by Stones Throw Records Stones Throw Records is an American independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. Under the ...

'' (2004) * Quasimoto - "The Exclusive" from ''

The Further Adventures of Lord Quas ''The Further Adventures of Lord Quas'' is the second and final studio album by Quasimoto, a hip hop duo composed of Madlib and his animated alter ego, Lord Quas. It was released via Stones Throw Records on May 3, 2005. Reception At Metacritic, ...

'' (2005) * Oh No - "Keep It Lit" from '' Exodus into Unheard Rhythms'' (2006) *

- "Jungle Love" from '' The Shining'' (2006) *

Guilty Simpson Byron Dwayne "Guilty" Simpson is an American rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan whose recording career spans more than 20 years. He is signed to Stones Throw Records, and is known for being one of the late producer J Dilla's favorite r ...

- "The Future" from '' Ode to the Ghetto'' (2008) *

Gangrene Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. If the ga ...

- "Breathing Down Yo Neck" from ''

Gutter Water ''Gutter Water'' is the debut full-length studio album by American hip hop duo Gangrene. It was released on November 22, 2010 via Decon. Production was handled by members Oh No and Alchemist, with DJ Muro co-producing one song. It features guest ...

'' (2010) *

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestantism, Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally ...

- "Fitta Happier" from ''

'' (2012) * Oh No - "Jones's" from ''

Disrupted Ads ''Disrupted Ads'' is the seventh studio album by American hip hop producer and rapper Oh No. It was released on January 29, 2013. The album features guest appearances from Blu, MED, Rapsody, Psalm One, Tristate, Midaz, Chali 2na, Roc C, Gangr ...

'' (2013) * Blu - "Brown Sugar" from ''

Good to Be Home ''Good to Be Home'' is a studio album by American hip hop recording artist Blu. The album was released on May 19, 2014, by New World Color and Nature Sounds. ''Good to Be Home'' features guest appearances from Fashawn, Casey Veggies, Prodigy, Mi ...

'' (2014) * Lucio Bukowski &

Declaime Dudley Perkins is an American rapper and singer from Oxnard, California. He has released records on Stones Throw Records under his own name and the alias of Declaime. In 2008, he co-founded the SomeOthaShip Connect record label with his partner ...

- "Personal History" from ''Aucun Potentiel Commercial'' (2017) * Blu & Oh No - "Boogie to Flex" and "Made the Call" from ''A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night'' (2019)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:M.E.D. Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Musicians from Oxnard, California Rappers from California 21st-century American rappers Stones Throw Records artists