The Dungeon Family are a musical collective based in Atlanta that specialized in Southern hip-hop with heavy funk and soul influences. Members of this collective recorded music, and had their career emerge, from Rico Wade's basement recording studio in East Point, Georgia, which was known as the "Dungeon".
History The group derives its name from "The Dungeon", the name given to record producer 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 constitute the production/songwriting team Organized Noize, who have produced hits for the main popular Dungeon Family groups Outkast, TLC, and Goodie Mob. Numerous aspiring musicians and artists emerged from the "Dungeon," with Wade even considered to be an originator of Atlanta hip-hop.
The collective released their only album together, titled Even in Darkness, under Arista Records on November 20, 2001.
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. Because of this, the collective decided to part ways with RCA's parent, Sony Music.
On April 13, 2024, Dungeon Family leader Rico Wade died.
In visual media On March 16, 2016, the documentary The Art of Organized Noize premiered on Netflix.
Members
1st generation Organized Noize Rico Wade Sleepy Brown Ray Murray Outkast Big Boi André 3000 Earthtone III Big Boi André 3000 Mr. DJ Goodie Mob Big Gipp T-Mo CeeLo Green Khujo Parental Advisory Mello K.P. Big Reese Lumberjacks T-Mo Khujo Society of Soul Sleepy Brown Roni Big Rube Ray Murray Rico Wade Sleepy's Theme Sleepy Brown Eddie Stokes Victor Alexander Joi Witchdoctor Cool Breeze Backbone Debra Killings
Slimm Calhoun
2nd generation Killer Mike Tito Lopez The Calhouns Slimm Calhoun Lucky Calhoun Pauly Calhoun Konkrete BlackOwned C-Bone Lil' Brotha Supa Nate Purple Ribbon All-Stars Big Boi Killer Mike Konkrete Vonnegutt TJG Janelle Monáe Scar Bubba Sparxxx 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 Studio albums Even in Darkness (2001)
Singles "Trans DF Express" "6 Minutes (Dungeon Family It's On)"
References