Dezert Eez formed at Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Mi. All three members had known each other since 2003, but O’nill (Jerron Mosley) and 5-Star (Mike Williams) were the only 2 members of the group at the time. They performed on a local hip-hop circuit for a year before adding Mike’s cousin Nivek (Kevin Williams) to the team in 2004. The trio worked together, during a watered down rap era, with a common goal of the resurgence of underground hip hop.
The name Dezert Eez (Desert Eagle) is symbolic of a weapon created in Israel and then later brought to the states to be manufactured much like the Original Man. Their first recording together was "Declaration of War,” a rugged, up-close look at street and global affairs, which set the tone for much of their early material.
Over the next few months, they developed enough of a repertoire to start performing live outside the area, and quickly earned a following. When the group made its music available for download on the Internet, a substantial buzz built outside of Michigan, and it eventually earned them a opening slot for Wu Tangs Capadonna tour in 2004.
In early 2005, Dezert Eez released its first mixtape, The Realness, which won widespread critical praise that focused especially on the group’s lyrics. The buzz helped them earn a raft of high-profile outside gigs, including shows with KRS-1, Dead Prez, Slum Village and a mini tour with Wu Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck.
Dezert Eez leapt to a bigger stage in 2008 when 5-Star teamed up with C-Rayz Walz, Killah Priest (Wu Tang), and Bronze Nazareth (also Wu Tang) on Indie heavyweight Babygrande Records to form The Almighty. The album also featured hip hop legends Canibus, Keith Murray, and Planet Asia. In late 2009, as Dezert Eez was finishing up their next release, Ghettobox, they joined up.
