Josh the Word, Pool Cosby

Born in Woodstock, NY, steps from the site of the world's most famous concert, Josh the Word grew up in not just the shadow of upstate's notorious woods, but also that of musical acts remembered for their willingness to break the status quo. Following their lead, in a town known for hippies and acid rock, Smith stayed true to the sounds that moved him, replacing Grateful Dead records with J Dilla and Doomtree, finding his song somewhere between the fiery swells of the soul era and the powerful lyricism of Minnesota underground hip-hop. He is a rapper, a poet, a scholar and something of a gentleman who enjoys fat horn lines, hard snares over acoustic guitars, and favors a good house party to a dance club any day.

With his 10-piece ensemble, The Concert G’s, Josh proved time and time again what it means to be at capacity – both for the venues he fills and the fans he inspires. Now, after distilling the energy of the big band down to a leaner, tighter 4 man crew, THE RIOT ACT, he is gearing up for another run of shows and new music.

Josh the Word’s debut album "Of Mics and Men", produced exclusively by Jared Paul, was released in 2010. His second record, The Reach EP, was recorded with his 11-piece live band at the legendary Dreamland Recording Studio in upstate New York and was released in 2011. He released Analogue in 2012, written and recorded in collaboration with cellist/singer-songwriter Mel Hsu. Looking to the future, Josh will be releasing two new EPs in 2014, all while working on his next full length with a crew of his nearest and dearest.


Based in Brooklyn, NY, Pool Cosby brings together sample-based electronic hip-hop with violin, cello, and drums. Influenced by artists such as Shlohmo and J Dilla, this genre-bending band fuses old-school classics such as Ol' Dirty Bastard, Sam Cooke, and Mariah Carey with contemporary rhythms and sounds.

Prior to forming Pool Cosby, each member had garnered their own recognition in the music industry, including major label credits for engineering, mastering, arranging, and tracking. Collectively, they have worked with artists including 50 Cent, Trey Songz, Oberhofer, Melanie Fiona, Sean Paul, araabMUZIK, Theophilus London, and Juelz Santana.

Even though their first album was released only a year ago in October of 2012, Pool Cosby has already more than proven themselves in the electronic music scene, ranking #4 on ReverbNation's chart for Top 10 Experimental Bands in Brooklyn. Pool Cosby recently headlined showcases at the CMJ Music Marathon, the Knitting Factory, Pianos, SPiN NYC, and Spike Hill and is currently working on their third and fourth albums.