Hangar 18 'Sweep The Leg' album

Definitive Jux recording artists Hangar 18 has been around in one form or another since 1995 during the heyday of the New York City underground hip hop scene. Group members Tim 'Alaska' Baker and Ian 'Windnbreeze' McMullin have been the two constant members continuing a legacy that started at New York's fabled Nuyorican Poets Cafe in the mid-nineties. Alaska and Wind were mainstays of the "All That' monthly open mic event that was hosted by legendary NYC radio personality Bobbito Garcia, where the group learned there craft with some of the eras best undiscovered talent.

The nights spent at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe not only sharpened the duo's skills but also introduced them to many of the artists that would help to mold the New York City underground sound including the now defunct collective the Atoms Family who would eventually welcome the group into the fold in 1996. The Atoms Family consisted of Hangar 18, Cannibal Ox, Cryptic One and Jest One Art and had a slew of releases through the late-nineties and into the 2000's. Most notably 'The Prequel' album which included tracks from all of the members of Atoms Family and some of the early collaborations with Blueprint and his crew from Columbus, OH.

After years of showcasing and dropping independent material the Atoms Family created a somewhat cult following and managed to network and become friends with artists such as EL-P, Aesop Rock, Blueprint, Mr. Lif, and others that would go on to become some of the most influential artists in the underground scene. These relationships would prove important as the Hangar developed its sound.

In late 2001 Alaska met Paul 'DJ paWL' Iannacchino at a benefit concert he was throwing to help pay a friend's medical bills. paWL gave Alaska tape of beats that would change the course of the group and dare I say history itself. paWL had the exact sound that Hangar 18 had been looking for and after only two sessions paWL became the third member of Hangar 18. These early sessions would spawn the three track demo that was given to Aesop Rock who in turn played it for EL-P who saw potential in the group and offered them a single deal in 2002 which turned into a full on record deal by early 2003.

2004 the trio dropped their critically acclaimed debut album "The Multi-Platinum Debut Album" on Definitive Jux Records. A release which at the time was heralded as the "Most Platinum Album of the Year" and received critical acclaim from both Spin and Playboy (sadly there was no invite to the mansion). This led to the recording of the theme song for the VH1 show 'Hip Hop Babylon'.

The Hangar, as their fans affectionately call them, spent the lion's share of the past three years on the road performing as many as 200 shows a year. Along with headlining the hip hop stage on the 2005 Warped tour, The Hangar has shared the stage with such artists as RJD2, One Be Lo, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Big Daddy Kane, Cobra Starship, Madina Lake, Zion I, Grouch, and Murs. Earlier this year they completed a US and UK tour with Gym Class Heroes and most recently were main support on EL-P's US tour.

Moving forward the Hangar is prepping to hit the road for the Rock the Bells/Paid Dues tour, and recently finished up their second album "Sweep the Leg' which is already being compared to early Sabbath, if they were more into the dark arts and less British.

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Hangar 18 - Sweep The Leg