Marlon Williams, better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects located in Queens New York. He became interested in music, by performing in local talent shows, during the early days of rap music.
Eric B. & Rakim are an American hip hop duo formed in Long Island, New York, in 1986, composed of DJ Eric B. and MC Rakim. AllMusic wrote that "during rap's so-called golden age in the late '80s, Eric B. & Rakim were almost universally recognized as the premier DJ/MC team in all of hip-hop." Tom Terrell of NPR called them "the most influential DJ/MC combo in contemporary pop music period." The editors of About.com ranked them as No. 5 on their list of the 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Duos of All-Time, and Rolling Stone ranked them No. 5 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was an American three-piece rock band from New York City, formed in 1991. The group consisted of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin. Their musical style is largely rooted in rock and roll although it draws influences from punk, blues, garage, rockabilly, soul, noise rock, rhythm and blues and hip hop. They released nine official studio albums, collaborative records with Dub Narcotic Sound System and R.L. Burnside as well as numerous live, singles, out-take albums, compilations, remix albums and, in 2010, a series of expanded reissues.
Vincent Montana Jr., known as Vince Montana, was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist, and percussionist, best known as a member of MFSB and as the founder of the Salsoul Orchestra. He has been called "the Godfather of disco". Montana was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.
The Bridge Wars was a hip hop music rivalry during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, that arose from a dispute over the true birthplace of hip hop music and retaliation over the rejecting of a record for airplay. The Bridge Wars originally involved The South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, led by KRS-One, and Marley Marl's Juice Crew, hailing from Queensbridge. KRS-One and Marley Marl have since officially retired the feud, with the release of their collaborative 2007 album Hip-Hop Lives.
The Juice Crew was an American Hip Hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge –based artists in the mid–to–late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Crew helped introduce New School artists Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shante and Kool G Rap. The crew produced many answer records and engaged with numerous "beefs" – primarily with rival radio jock Kool DJ Red Alert and the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, as well as the "posse cut", "The Symphony".
Percy Lee Chapman, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, is an American rapper and record producer. Chapman hails from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City, who helped spawn other hip hop artists such as Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, Nas and many others both through production and influence. His name is a reference to the former leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi. He was the first in the Queensbridge projects to create intelligent street music and is documented to be the first to use the phrase "Illmatic" in 1988 on a record called "The Rebel" from the Marley Marl album "In Control Volume 1" which was a huge inspiration and influence on fellow New York rapper Nas.
Intelligent Hoodlum is the debut studio album by the American rapper Intelligent Hoodlum, later known as Tragedy Khadafi. It was released on A&M Records in 1990.
Saga of a Hoodlum is the second album by the hip-hop artist Tragedy Khadafi, and then known as by the stage name Intelligent Hoodlum.
"Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa/Keepin' the Faith" is a double A-side single by De La Soul released in 1991 off their album De La Soul Is Dead.
William Edward DeVaughn Jr. is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the million-selling hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got" in 1974.
"Diamond in the Back" is the fifth and final single released from the album Chicken-n-Beer by Ludacris. It is based on William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful for What You Got" and samples it heavily in the southern chopped & screwed format. It was produced by DJ Paul & Juicy J of Three Six Mafia. This was Ludacris's first single to not hit the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40 and the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks's Top 20. The music video is directed in Atlanta, and features cameo appearances by Lil Duval, Atlanta based comedian Shawty, members of Ludacris' Disturbing the Peace label Shawnna, I-20 (rapper), Bobby V, Tity Boi, David Banner and the producer duo DJ Paul and Juicy J.
We Got It is the third album by R&B boy band Immature that was released on December 5, 1995. The album featured singles "We Got It", "Please Don't Go", "Lover's Groove" and "Feel the Funk".
K-Def is an American, New Jersey based, hip hop producer/DJ who has been actively involved in the music industry since the early 1990s. He has recently produced music for artists such as Ghostface Killah and Puff Daddy. K-Def earned critical praise early in his career for his work with Marley Marl on the album Here Come the Lords by the hip hop group Lords of the Underground. Among the songs from that album that benefited from K-Def's production work include the hits "Funky Child" and "Chief Rocka".
"Be Thankful for What You Got" is a soul song written and first performed by William DeVaughn.
Billboard Top R&B Hits is a series of compilation albums released by Rhino Records in 1990 with each volume featuring ten hit rhythm and blues recordings from the 1970s. All tracks on the album were hits on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart with many also achieving success on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
DaYeene was a Swedish soul/house music group, active in early 1990s. The group consisted of the sisters Jeanette and Diane Söderholm. Diane had previously been vocalist in the Swedish synthpop band, Freestyle.
The following is a discography of production credited to Marley Marl.
Be Thankful for What You Got is a studio album issued in 1974 by the soul singer William DeVaughn. It includes the best selling song also titled "Be Thankful for What You Got".
Earl “Paul” Douglas is a Jamaician Grammy Award-winning drummer and percussionist, best known for his work as the drummer, percussionist and bandleader of Toots and the Maytals. His career spans more than five decades as one of reggae's most recorded drummers. Music journalist and reggae historian David Katz wrote, “dependable drummer Paul Douglas played on countless reggae hits."
