Handsome Boy Modeling School
| Company type | Music production duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, hip hop |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Dan the Automator, Prince Paul |
| Defunct | 2006 (initially) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2018; active with new releases as of 2023 |
| Products | Hip hop albums and singles |
Handsome Boy Modeling School represents an American hip hop production collaboration between Dan the Automator (known for work with Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon, and Deltron 3030) and Prince Paul (noted for contributions to Stetsasonic, De La Soul, and Gravediggaz). Initially active from 1999 until 2006, this partnership produced two albums featuring a wide array of guest performers. They came together again in 2018 for a live show in New York City and revealed intentions to release new music.
History
As a conceptual hip hop duo, Handsome Boy Modeling School satirizes themes of vanity, materialism, and consumer culture prevalent among the affluent, including supermodels and old-money elites. Their artistic output frequently offers commentary on social elitism and prevailing beauty ideals.
Their first album, So... How's Your Girl? released in 1999, is a concept record inspired by an episode of the sitcom Get a Life, which also inspired their name. Within this project, Dan the Automator and Prince Paul adopt the personas Nathaniel Merriweather and Chest Rockwell, respectively. The album includes collaborations with artists such as Róisín Murphy, DJ Shadow, Del the Funky Homosapien, Sean Lennon, and Mike D from the Beastie Boys.
The track "The Projects," featuring Dave of De La Soul alongside Del the Funky Homosapien, appeared on the soundtrack for the 2001 movie Ocean's Eleven.
Their sophomore effort, White People released in 2004, broadened their collaborative network to encompass artists like RZA, Cat Power, Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park, Jack Johnson, Mike Patton, Pharrell Williams, John Oates, as well as comedian Tim Meadows.
In 2006, Prince Paul declared his departure from the project due to professional disagreements with Dan the Automator. The duo reunited on February 14, 2018, performing at an event hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City and announced plans for forthcoming recordings. By April 2022, Dan the Automator confirmed progress on a third album targeted for release in the autumn.
March 2023 saw Handsome Boy Modeling School launch Music To Drink Martinis To, a collaborative release with Ford’s Gin.
Albums
| Title | Album details |
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| US |
AUS | ||
| So... How's Your Girl? |
|
198 | — |
| White People |
|
168 | 63 |
| Music to Drink Martinis To |
|
— | — |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Position | Corresponding Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| "Magnetizing" | 1999 | — | So... How's Your Girl? |
| "Rock 'n' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)" | 76 | ||
| "The Projects (PJays)" (with Dave and Del the Funky Homosapien) | — | ||
| "The Truth" (featuring Roisin* & J-Live) | — | ||
| "Sunshine" | 2000 | — | |
| "The World's Gone Mad" (featuring Alex Kapranos, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Barrington Levy) | 2004 | 82 | White People |
| "Case Study" (featuring Emi Meyer) | 2023 | — | Music to Drink Martinis To |
| "How Does It Feel?" (featuring Justin Warfield) | — |