El-P

El-Producto or El-P (born Jaime Meline) is well-known in underground hip-hop circles as a pioneer whose work with the trio Company Flow (El-P, Big Jus and Mr.Len) was heralded as some of the most progressive and intelligent hip-hop of its time.

Originally signed to Rawkus records, and dropped after a creative dispute, El-P now runs his own label: Definitive Jux and released a solo album in May of 2002 called Fantastic Damage.

He has recently worked with free jazz pianist Matthew Shipp--a fan of El P's music--and in an interview with Shipp, Meline stated "First and foremost, I wanted to do it because it scared the shit out of me ... And when I get offered the chance to be involved with something that scares me, I usually do it, because I'm trying to learn, I'm trying to understand music as much as I can, to become a better musician in general and work in different capacities."

The resultant album, High Water, has recieved mostly positive reviews.