Christopher Cesar Portugal, known as Thes One, was born on October 18, 1977, in Torrance, California. He is an American rapper and record producer who grew up in San Pedro, California. Thes One met Michael Turner (Double K) while attending high school in Los Angeles, leading to the formation of People Under The Stairs. In 1998, they released their first 12-inch The Next Step Pt. 2, followed by their debut album The Next Step. The group signed a four-album deal with Om Records in 1999 and embarked on world tours. Their second album, Question In The Form Of An Answer, was released in June 2000, featuring the single "Youth Explosion" which sold out its initial run of 15,000 copies. Thes One coordinated successful world tours for People Under The Stairs. In April 2004, Thes One co-founded the independent artist-run label Tres Records.
