Too Phat
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, entertainment |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia |
| Products | Hip hop music albums and singles |
Too Phat was a Malaysian hip-hop pair originating from Kuala Lumpur, established in 1998 by Malique (Cairel Adrin Ibrahim) and Joe Flizzow (Johan Ishak). After signing with Positive Tone, they rose to fame with their debut album Whutthadilly? (1999), earning the Best New Local English Artist award at the 8th Anugerah Industri Muzik. Their sophomore effort, Plan B (2001), set a new benchmark by selling 45,000 units on its first day and achieving platinum status—a milestone in Malaysian hip-hop history.
Their third release, 360°, included hits like "Just a Lil' Bit" and "Ala Canggung," moving 100,000 copies and securing another platinum certification. The fourth and concluding studio album, Rebirth Into Reality (2005), featured collaborations with notable Asian artists such as Siti Nurhaliza, Inul Daratista, Kyla, and Joey Boy. Throughout the 2000s, Too Phat emerged as Malaysia's leading hip-hop duo, garnering recognition across Asia. Their accolades include multiple honors from Anugerah Industri Muzik, Anugerah ERA, and the MTV Asia Awards. The group disbanded in 2007 as both members embarked on individual musical paths.
Career
Joe Flizzow and Malique first connected through a hip-hop chat forum in 1998. Initially part of a trio with Kevin Felix (known as Doctah'K), they eventually consolidated into a duo signed under Positive Tone. Their initial breakthrough arrived in 1999 with singles "Li'l Fingaz" and "Too Phat Baby," which received considerable airplay.
Capitalizing on their early momentum, they launched Whutthadilly?. Notably, Plan B has achieved sales surpassing 4.5 million copies, earning double platinum certification within Malaysia.
The track "Just a Friend" from Plan B was accompanied by a music video produced in partnership with Maxis Hotlink and premiered on NTV7. The video featured appearances from local entertainers and athlete Watson Nyambek and tackled the sensitive topic of homosexuality—an audacious choice given Malaysia’s conservative climate. Additionally, Too Phat collaborated with American rapper Warren G.
Their 2005 album Rebirth Into Reality incorporated East Asian hip-hop talents; its lead single "Dua Dunia" showcased award-winning vocalist Siti Nurhaliza. Following this release, the duo entered an indefinite hiatus to concentrate on solo endeavors.
In 2010, Too Phat briefly reunited to promote their single "Masih Hip Hop".
Solo career
After their final joint performance alongside Kanye West in 2007, the members of Too Phat pursued solo careers. Malique issued solo works including OK (2008), K.O The Mixtape (a collaboration with DJ Fuzz, 2009), and TKO: Pejamkan Mata under his own label Qarma Musiq. Despite speculation about an English-language album in 2017, it never came to fruition.
Joe Flizzow launched his solo career with the album President on 31 December 2008 through Warner Music Malaysia, followed by Havoc released on 7 November 2013.
Aku Tanya Apa Khabar
In 2015, Joe Flizzow’s track Apa Khabar featuring SonaOne won the Anugerah Juara Lagu Award (AJL). The song reflects nostalgically on his relationship with Malique. While the victory elicited some negative reactions due to hip hop/R&B's niche appeal in Malaysia, many long-time fans commended Joe for invoking a sense of nostalgia.
Recent developments
By 2016, Joe Flizzow had concentrated his efforts on Kartel Records, the label he established in 2005, which had signed notable Malaysian R&B talents including Altimet and SonaOne.
Following the conclusion of Too Phat, Malique adopted a more private lifestyle, opting for seclusion despite participating in collaborations on tracks like Mantera Beradu (featuring M Nasir, 2008), Senyum (featuring Najwa, 2010), among others. In 2011, he expressed that distributing music without engaging in public performances suited his preferences best.
In December 2016, Malique revealed intentions to release a new solo album titled TKO through Qarma Music, with an English version planned for launch in 2017.
Studio albums
- Whutthadilly? (1999)
- Plan B (2001)
- 360° (2003)
- Rebirth Into Reality (2005)
Collaborative album
- Phat Family (various artists; 2002)
Compilation albums
- Too Phat Classics (2004)
- Too Phat: Too Furious (2006)
- Too Phat: The Greatest Hits (2007)
- The Best of Too Phat (2013)
Solo albums
- OK (Malique; 2008)
- The President (Joe Flizzow; 2009)
- K.O: The Mixtape (Malique & DJ Fuzz; 2009)
- Havoc (Joe Flizzow; 2013)
- TKO: Pejamkan Mata (Malique; 2013)
Singles
- "Li'l Fingaz"
- "Too Phat Baby"
- "Jezzebelle"
- "Anak Ayam"
- "Tell Shorty" (featuring Ruffedge & V.E.)
- "Just A Friend" (featuring V.E.)
- "You" (featuring Sharifah Aini)
- "Ala Canggung" (featuring Lil' Marissa)
- "Where My Love At"
- "Just A Li'l Bit" (featuring Warren G)
- "Alhamdulilah" (featuring Yasin, Ahli Fiqir & Dian Sastrowardoyo)
- "Dua Dunia" (featuring Siti Nurhaliza)
- "Snap"
- "KL"
- "Showtime"
- "How Me Seksi" (featuring Inul Daratista)
- "To The World Cup" (2006)
- "Feels So Good" (Emcee David featuring Joe Flizzow) (2006)
- "Jari Jemari" (Camillia featuring Joe Flizzow) (2007)
- "Get It Done" (2007)
- "1000 Verses" (ALI featuring Joe Flizzow)
- "One Night Lover" (Rossa featuring Joe Flizzow) (2012)