Giant Panda

Giant Panda are an underground rap trio from Los Angeles affiliated with alternative rap icons People Under the Stairs. Comprised of rapper/producers Newman (born Alex Newman in Seattle), Maanumental (Jamaan Mclaren; Seattle), and Chikaramanga (Chikara Kurahashi; Tokyo, Japan), the trio independently released the ’88 Remix (2002) 12″ EP before joining the stable of Tres Records, an independent rap label co-founded by Chikaramanga and People Under the Stairs rapper/producer Thes One. In 2006 Giant Panda released their full-length album debut, Fly School Reunion, along with a series of 12″ EPs: With It, Super Fly, and T.K.O. The trio released its second album, Electric Laser, on Tres Records in 2008. ~ Jason Birchmeier