Prozak

by Jason BirchmeierProzak is a longtime member of the Detroit-area horrorcore rap scene, performing in the groups Bedlam and Project: Deadman before embarking on a solo recording career in 2004. Moreover, his notability includes the founding of Wickedstock, an annual horrorcore festival held in the Detroit area. Born Steven Shippy, he began recording his raps in 1995 and founded his first group -- Strict9ne, also featuring his childhood friend Heckles -- in 1997. During the late '90s he became closely affiliated with the Detroit-area horrorcore scene, doing security work for the R.O.C. and his second-generation House of Krazees collective. He befriended fellow horrorcore rapper Madness (aka Curt D), and in 1999 the two founded Bedlam in the mid-Michigan city of Saginaw (approximately two hours north of Detroit). The duo issued several self-released Bedlam albums, including multiple volumes of the Chemical Imbalancez series, before signing with Long Range Distribution, which released Bedlamitez Rize in 2003 and Shock Treatment (previously released in 2002) in 2004. Prozak went solo in 2004, releasing the debut album Aftabirth via Long Range Distribution, and also that year he teamed up with former Insane Clown Posse producer Mike E. Clark to found the duo Project: Deadman and release the album Self Inflicted via MSC Music Entertainment. Several years passed before Prozak returned with his second solo album, Tales from the Sick (2008), released by Strange Music.