Alias originally performed as a rapper with
Sole in the group Live Poets. He also produced his own songs, but would still rap over another producer's beats. He moved to California in 1999 to start the label Anticon, as well as to focus on his music. Later on, as Alias began working with Anticon, he produced tracks for the emcees on the label.[citation needed]
In 2002, Alias released his first solo album The Other Side of the Looking Glass. He produced and rapped on the album.[4] After that, Alias moved away from rapping to focus solely on production. His production work also moved away from
sampling and began to involve more
synthesizers and instruments such as guitar. He released his first instrumental album Muted in 2003.[5] The compilation of his remix works, Collected Remixes, was released in 2007.[6] He returned home to Portland, Maine in August 2007.
In 2008, Alias released the album Resurgam. The album is titled after the Portland city motto, which is Latin for "I shall rise again." "Well Water Black" featuring
Yoni Wolf of
Why? was a popular song from the album, but was never officially released as a single.[7]
In 2011, Alias released the instrumental album Fever Dream.[8]
He died on March 30, 2018, of a heart attack at age 41.[9] Artists such as
Son Lux offered their condolences to Whitney's family, and a
GoFundMe page was created in support of his wife and children.[10]
Sole – "Shoot the Messenger", "Tokyo", "Plutonium", "Slow, Cold Drops", "Pawn in the Game Pt. 1", "Pawn in the Game Pt. 2", "The Priziest Horse" & "Teepee on a Highway Blues" from Selling Live Water (2003)