Under the Same Name: The TAME ONE Documentary

About Us:

We are three filmmakers from Essex County, New Jersey who have been making a documentary about a hip hop pioneer; Rahem Brown aka TAME ONE.

Tame is a Newark, NJ bred emcee and graffiti writer. A generational talent whose legacy is too important not to be told.

The Story:

“Under the Same Name: Tame One” tells the inspiring, tumultuous, and often hilarious story of a true renegade.

Tame One was a seminal graffiti writer whose tag was well known throughout the Northeast by the time he began gaining notoriety as an emcee in the late 1980’s.

After two legendary appearances on the Stretch & Bobbito Show, Tame’s group the Artifacts inked a deal with Atlantic Records. Their first single "Wrong Side of the Tracks" was released in 1994 to critical acclaim, widely regarded as the first hip hop song dedicated to graffiti. The track, along with the rest of the Artifacts catalog, is celebrated by writers across the globe as THE graffiti anthem to this day.

Our film "Under the Same Name" is derived from a "Wrong Side of the Tracks" lyric. It is a reference to Tame’s status as the first major label recording artist to use his tag as his stage name while still actively writing graffiti. A feat that further solidified Tame’s reputation as a fearless, uncompromisingly authentic talent.

After Artifacts parted ways, Tame went on to enjoy an impressive solo career throughout the 2000’s, reinventing and ingratiating himself with new generations of underground hip hop royalty such as Del the Funky Homosapien, The Weathermen (Cage, Aesop Rock, El-P, Yak Ballz, Vast Aire, etc.), Sean Price, Young Zee, and many more.

After more than a decade of silence, Tame reunited with his Artifacts bandmate El da Sensei in 2010 to the excitement of hip hop fans far and wide. Their reunion would lead to multiple world tours along with a new album produced by Buckwild of DITC, before Tame's untimely passing in 2022.

Like so many innovators, geniuses and madmen, Tame never received the degree of commercial success and recognition he so rightfully deserved. An underground king revered by those in the know as a lyrical and artistic visionary.

He’s your favorite emcee’s favorite emcee. Now, it's time for his story to be told.

About the Funding:

We’ve pooled our resources to make headway on this film without a budget. But we have many more interviews to conduct in order to do Tame's story the justice it deserves. We will also be investing in various post-production resources.

Your generous contributions will help fund:

We hope you'll consider signing up for our email blast and keep up to speed with our progress.

https://forms.gle/MFGsBhgCGtc1CUC16

More About Us:

David Dowd - Executive Producer

David founded New Jersey’s renowned skateboard shop, Division East Board Sports in 2002. He released Tame One’s full length solo album “The Grudge” via Division East Records in 2007.

Following increased demand for Tame One music, David partnered with Tame’s mother Darlene to remaster and re-release “The Grudge” on vinyl for the first time in 2024. It was during this time that David and Darlene discussing the idea of bringing Tame’s story to life.

David is a husband and father of two, as well as being an avid surfer, skater and rabid hip hop enthusiast. He still runs Division East as an apparel brand and record label.

Kris Walter - Director

Kris is a lifelong music fan and storyteller. He began his career working at MTV where he made promos and shot with the likes of every musician from Drake to Taylor Swift.

A keen interviewer with an eye for simply lit beauty, Kris has conducted interviews with athletes, musicians and captains of industry alike.

Kris is a NJ native who still lives there with his wife, daughter and two cats who are all sick of listening to him talk about this film.

George Douglas Peterson - Director

George Douglas Peterson aka GDP is a musician, director and photographer from New Jersey living in Brooklyn.

After touring the world as a recording artist with the likes of Tame One, among many others, he began taking his lifelong passion for cameras more seriously.

He's shot and directed for renowned brands, music videos, as well as humanitarian medical aid missions. All the while obsessed with hip hop music.