Ahmad (rapper)

Last updated

Ahmad
Ahmad (rapper).jpg
Ahmad in 2018
Background information
Birth nameAhmad Ali Lewis
Born (1975-10-12) October 12, 1975 (age 48)
Los Angeles, California, U.S. [1]
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instrument Vocals
Years active1993–present
Labels
Formerly of 4th Avenue Jones

Ahmad Ali Lewis (born October 12, 1975), simply known as Ahmad (often stylized in all caps), is an American rapper, songwriter, motivational speaker and author from Los Angeles, California. He is perhaps best known for the 1994 single "Back in the Day". Ahmad is also a former member and founder of the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones.

Contents

Career

Ahmad made his recording debut in 1993 on the soundtrack of The Meteor Man with the song "Who Can". Released when Ahmad was 18, "Back in the Day" the remix version (produced by Maurice Thompson of Barr 9 Productions) hit No. 26 on the US pop charts and No. 19 on the U.S. R&B charts on the strength of its hook, sung over a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love TKO". It also reached No. 64 in the UK Singles Chart. [2] It was the first single off his first album, Ahmad . The remix of "Back in the Day" is also featured on the soundtrack of The Wood , a 1999 motion picture. Ahmad secured his first recording contract as a senior in high school and earned a gold record for his chart-topping hit. [3] He later formed the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones.

He went back to school and enrolled in Long Beach City College in 2006; after graduating he was accepted by Stanford University, to acquire bachelor's degrees in sociology and African American studies. [4]

Lewis was married to his former 4th Avenue Jones bandmate, Tena Jones, from 1998 to 2007. Their son, Yeshuwa Ali, was born in 2004. [4]

Lewis is a practicing Christian. [5]

Discography

Albums

Solo

With 4th Avenue Jones

Singles

With 4th Avenue Jones:

Videos:

Appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Back</span> 1969 single by the Beatles with Billy Preston

"Get Back" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Beatles and Billy Preston, written by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969 and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston". The song is one of the few examples of John Lennon featuring prominently as lead guitarist. The album version of this song contains a different mix that features a studio chat between Paul McCartney and John Lennon at the beginning, which lasts for 20 seconds before the song begins, also omitting the coda featured in the single version, and with a final dialogue taken from the Beatles' rooftop concert. This version became the closing track of Let It Be (1970), which was released just after the group split up. The single version was later issued on the compilation albums 1967–1970, 20 Greatest Hits, Past Masters, and 1.

<i>Doggystyle</i> 1993 studio album by Snoop Doggy Dogg

Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mousse T.</span> German-Turkish musician

Mustafa Gündoğdu, best known under his stage name Mousse T., is a German-Turkish DJ, record producer, film composer and judge on season 15 of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol. He is best known for the 1998 house hit "Horny '98" and for his collaboration with Tom Jones on the 2000 hit "Sex Bomb", from Jones' 1999 album Reload.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stereo MC's</span> English hip hop music group

Stereo MC's are an English hip hop and electronic dance group that formed in Clapham, London, England, in 1985. They had an international top 20 hit with their single "Connected" and a UK top 20 hit with "Step It Up". After releasing eight albums for Island Records, K7, Graffiti Recordings, and Pias, they formed the label Connected with the band Terranova to release their own material and that of other artists within the house/techno/electronic genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back in the Day (Ahmad song)</span> 1994 single by Ahmad

"Back in the Day" is a 1994 single by Ahmad. Released when Ahmad was only 18, the song is a nostalgic remembrance of childhood and young teenage years, from a somewhat jaded adult perspective. "Back in the Day" was Ahmad's only major hit single, making it to number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the US R&B chart. The song contains a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love T.K.O."; and it was the first single of his 1994 self-titled album and was RIAA-certified gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil' Flip</span> American rapper

Wesley Eric Weston Jr., better known by his stage name Lil' Flip, is an American rapper. Raised in Houston, Texas, he embarked on his musical career as a freestyle and battle rapper before signing with local record label, Suckafree Records in 1999. After signing a joint venture with Columbia Records three years later, he became best known for his 2004 singles "Game Over" and "Sunshine", which peaked at numbers 15 and two on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

Full Intention are an English house music duo consisting of Michael Gray and Jon Pearn. They are best known as prolific producers and remixers. They have reworked songs for varied artists such as the Sugababes, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Frankie Knuckles, among others.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (N.W.A album) 1996 greatest hits album by N.W.A

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American hip hop group N.W.A, released on July 2, 1996, via Priority Records. Composed of nineteen tracks, the compilation contains several poplular singles and songs from the group's 1988 debut album Straight Outta Compton, 1990 extended play 100 Miles and Runnin' and their second and final studio album 1991 Niggaz4Life. It includes "Gangsta Gangsta", "Fuck tha Police", previously unavailable remix of "Straight Outta Compton", "Alwayz into Somethin'", remixed "Express Yourself", and "100 Miles and Runnin'", as well as inserts from live concerts. Production was handled by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella with Eazy-E serving as executive producer.

<i>Poetic Justice</i> (soundtrack) 1993 soundtrack album by various artists

Music from the Motion Picture Poetic Justice is the soundtrack to John Singleton's 1993 film Poetic Justice. It was released on June 29, 1993, through Epic Soundtrax, and consisted of a blend of hip hop and R&B music. The album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 25, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharam</span> Iranian techno and house DJ and producer

Sharam Tayebi, better known as Sharam, is an Iranian techno and house DJ and producer. Born in Tehran, Iran, he emigrated to Washington D.C. at the age of 14. A mainstay of the Washington underground dance music scene, he has been active both as one half of the duo Deep Dish and solo artist, producer and mixer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Avenue Jones</span> American alternative hip hop band

4th Avenue Jones was an American alternative hip hop band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was conceived by Ahmad Ali Lewis, popularly known as Ahmad. The band's name comes from the popular idiom "Keeping up with the Joneses" and the street in South Central Los Angeles where they began their rehearsals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Duggal</span> Musical artist

Diamond Duggal also known as DJ Swami is a British-Indian music producer, composer, musician and AI researcher. He has produced for a number of notable artists, including Shania Twain, Pras Michel, Apache Indian, Maxi Priest, Stereo Nation, Zoheb Hassan and Viktor Kiraly as well as remixing for artists including Erasure, the Beat and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He is an accomplished guitar player and multi-instrumentalist and toured as lead guitarist with Boyzone and Robbie Williams. Diamond is also co-founder of production duo Simon and Diamond with his brother Simon Duggal. As DJ Swami, he performs and records electronic, Indian Punjabi bhangra and South Asian music both as a solo artist and as band leader of UK electronic world music acts Swami and PunjabTronix. DJ Swami also tours and performs in collaboration with Deep Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeform Five</span> English electronic music group

Freeform Five is an English electronic group led by DJ, producer and songwriter Anu Pillai.

"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Stretch, Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993, the song holds significance as the only song 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. officially recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song, originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World, then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life, Volume I, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively.

This is the discography of American rapper KRS-One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones discography</span>

American rapper Jim Jones has released seven studio albums, five collaborative albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays (EPs), nineteen mixtapes and 47 singles. Jones is perhaps best known for being a member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats, with whom he recorded several mixtapes with before releasing their debut album Diplomatic Immunity, in 2003. In August 2004, Jones released his solo debut album On My Way to Church, under Diplomat Records and E1 Music. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Certified Gangstas" and "Crunk Muzik", the latter of which features his Dipset-cohorts Juelz Santana and Cam'ron, and also supported the release of Dipset's second album Diplomatic Immunity 2 (2004).

Below shows the discography for the American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member, Ol' Dirty Bastard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, Come Back (The Equals song)</span> 1966 single by the Equals

"Baby, Come Back" is a song by English band the Equals from their 1967 album Unequalled Equals. Written by Eddy Grant, the song was originally released as a B-side in 1966 and was later released as a single in continental Europe before being released as a single in the UK in 1968. "Baby, Come Back" charted in multiple countries, including number one on the Belgian, Rhodesian and UK charts in 1967 and 1968.

<i>Ahmad</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Ahmad

Ahmad is the debut studio album by American rapper Ahmad. It was released on May 24, 1994, through Giant/Reprise Records. It was produced by Redfoo, Brian C. Walls, Maurice Thompson, and Ahmad, who also served as executive producer with Cassandra Mills and Lloyd Winston. The album produced two singles: "Back in the Day" and "You Gotta Be".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love T.K.O.</span> 1980 single by David Oliver

"Love T.K.O." is a song written by Cecil Womack and Gip Noble, Jr. It was written for soul singer David Oliver, and appeared first on his album Here's to You in 1980. Cecil and Linda Womack recorded the song themselves as Womack & Womack and it appeared simply as "T.K.O." on their debut album Love Wars in 1983.

References

  1. Johnny Loftus. "Ahmad". AllMusic . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 17. ISBN   978-1-904994-10-7.
  3. "Gold & Platinum: Ahmad". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Gordon, Larry (August 19, 2008). "He's no gangsta; he's a scholar" via LA Times.
  5. "He's no gangsta; he's a scholar". Los Angeles Times. August 19, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2023.