EarthGang

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

EarthGang formed in 2008 when Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot, then high school students at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School in Atlanta, decided to make music together. They first met on a field trip in 9th grade. Their early releases included the EP *The Better Party* (2010), mixtapes *Mad Men* and *Good News* (both 2011), and their debut album *Shallow Graves For Toys* (2013), which Noisey called 'one of the most well thought-out releases of the year.' After their second album *Strays with Rabies* (2015), they signed to Dreamville Records on August 31, 2017. The next day they released *Rags*, the first of a trilogy of EPs that also included *Robots* (2017) and *Royalty* (2018). Their major-label debut album *Mirrorland* dropped on September 6, 2019, featuring Young Thug, T-Pain, Kehlani, and Arin Ray. In 2022 they released *Ghetto Gods*, with guest appearances from Future, JID, J. Cole, and CeeLo Green. EarthGang are also co-founders of the musical collective Spillage Village, alongside JID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, 6lack, Mereba, and Benji.

In Their Own Story

In 2017, J. Cole's Dreamville Records announced the signing of EarthGang on August 31. The very next day, September 1, the duo dropped *Rags*, the first EP in a trilogy that would define their early Dreamville years. They followed with *Robots* in October and *Royalty* in February 2018. That same year, they co-headlined the North American and European Never Had Shit Tour with JID, and served as the supporting act on 36 shows of J. Cole's KOD Tour. In 2019, they contributed five songs to Dreamville's compilation *Revenge of the Dreamers III*, including 'Down Bad,' 'Swivel,' and 'Sacrifices.' Their album *Mirrorland* arrived on September 6, 2019, a concept project that showcased their imaginative storytelling. In 2022, they released *Ghetto Gods* and appeared on the Dreamville compilation *D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape*. EarthGang performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.

Reader's Guide

EarthGang is the duo of Olu (Johnny Venus, born October 9, 1989) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot, born October 25, 1990). They signed to Dreamville Records in 2017 and are co-founders of the Spillage Village collective. Their role in the Dreamville universe is as creative innovators who blend Southern hip-hop with funk and soul. Their arc began with underground releases like *Shallow Graves For Toys* (2013) and *Strays with Rabies* (2015), leading to their Dreamville signing. Key moments include the *Rags/Robots/Royalty* EP trilogy, the album *Mirrorland* (2019), and *Ghetto Gods* (2022). They contributed to *Revenge of the Dreamers III* (2019) and *D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape* (2022). They have toured with J. Cole, JID, and Bas, and performed at Coachella in 2023. Their music is known for playful delivery and biting lyricism.

Did You Know?

• EarthGang first met on a field trip in 9th grade at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School in Atlanta.
• Their name EarthGang came to Johnny Venus abruptly one day; he explained in 2011 that 'It represents what we're made of and why we do what we do.'
• They recorded their first EP *The Better Party* in dorm rooms at Hampton University, closets in Atlanta, and a house studio owned by a fellow underground Atlanta musician named Mr. Fish.
• Noisey called their debut album *Shallow Graves For Toys* 'one of the most well thought-out releases of the year' and praised its 'playful delivery and biting lyricism.'
• EarthGang performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.