Jesse West

Last updated
Jesse West
Birth nameJesse Williams III
Also known as"3rd Eye", "Dirty Apple Slim", "Dirty Traxx"
Born (1967-12-04) December 4, 1967 (age 54)
Origin Bronx, New York
Genres Hip hop
Years active1989 – present
LabelsMotown/MCA
Website

Jesse West, a.k.a.3rd Eye (born December 4, 1967 in the South Bronx, New York) is a producer/rapper. Jesse grew up in the Bronx River Projects, where the Master/Teacher DJ Afrika Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation.

Contents

History

Born Jesse Williams III, he was one of the first rappers signed to Motown Records and, in 1989, released the album "No Prisoners". He then went on to produce hit songs with many artists including GZA, Xzibit, Heavy D and KRS-One among others. One of Bad Boy Records' original "Hitmen", West recorded Biggie Smalls first demo as well as produced remixes for songs on Mary J. Blige's album, What's the 411?

As rapper 3rd Eye, it has been argued that Jesse West was the first rapper to use the term " bling " [1] on Super Cat's 1993 hit "Dolly My Baby (Remix)" - a song that West produced and also featured Puff Daddy and a young Biggie Smalls in his recording debut.

Jesse West continues to create tracks and produce music for artists.

Discography

Solo Albums

YearSong/AlbumLabel
1989No PrisonersMotown
1997360° (single)Sure Shot Records
199824/7 (single feat. NINE)Loud Records
1999PlanetsDeClic & Alpha Entertainment

Production Credits

YearSongArtistAlbum/Label
1991"Come Do Me"GZAWords From A Genius/Cold Chillin' Records
1992"Slow Down", "Silky", "A Bunch of Niggas"Heavy D & The Boys/UptownBlue Funk/Uptown
1993"Ease Up"3rd Eye & Group HomeWho's The Man (soundtrack)/Uptown
1994"What", "You Know My Name"Top QualityMagnum Opus/PMD Records
1994"No Shorts and No Sleep"PMDShade Business/PMD Records
1996"Exclusive Debut"Ill BiskitsChronicles of Two Losers/Atlantic
1996"Richman, Poorman"NineCloud 9/Profile Records
1997"Step Into A World"KRS-OneI Got Next/Jive Records
1998"What U See Is What U Get"Xzibit40 Dayz & 40 Nightz/Loud Records
2001"Supreme Alphabet"Positive KCreative Control Records
2004"Lyrical High"3rd Eye & Zone 7Hit Squad-Zero Tolerance/Boondox Records
2006(entire album)Beans 'N' ApplesCome Fuk Wit Us/GLOK
2010(3 tracks)Krs-One & Greenie"It's All Good"/Azoos [2] [3]

Remixes

YearSongArtist(s)Label
1993"Dolly My Baby"Super Cat w/ 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige Columbia/SME Records
1993"What's the 411"Mary J. BligeUptown/MCA Records
1993"Reminisce"Mary J. BligeUptown/MCA Records

Other Appearances

"Guest Appearances"

YearSongArtist(s)AlbumLabel
2009"How You Really Want It" Busta Rhymes Back on My B.S. (iTunes only) Conglomerate, Universal Motown

Sampling

Related Research Articles

The Notorious B.I.G. American rapper (1972–1997)

Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper and songwriter. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta rap, he is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace became known for his distinctive laid-back lyrical delivery, offsetting the lyrics' often grim content. His music was often semi-autobiographical, telling of hardship and criminality, but also of debauchery and celebration.

Suge Knight Former American music executive and current convicted felon (born 1965)

Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. is a former American music executive and the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, who was a central figure in gangsta rap's commercial success. This feat is attributed to the record label's first two album releases: Dr. Dre's The Chronic in 1992 and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle in 1993.

Roger McBride, better known by his stage name King T, is an American West Coast Hip hop rapper from Compton, California. Emerging as one of Compton's earliest hip hop artists, he was signed to Capitol Records, where he released his debut album Act a Fool in 1988 with the hit singles "Act a Fool," "Payback's A Mutha," "The Coolest," and "Bass” [Remix], all of which were considered hip-hop classics. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked primarily with producer DJ Pooh, and was responsible for the rise of Tha Alkaholiks, whom he helped guide into the rap game. King T is also the CEO of his own record label, King T Inc.

Hit Em Up 1996 song by 2Pac featuring the Outlawz

"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss track by hip hop artist 2Pac, featuring the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996. The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly Shakur's former friend turned rival, the Notorious B.I.G.. The song was recorded at Can Am Studios in 1996. There is a previous version of this song recorded in October 1995. Reporter Chuck Philips, who interviewed Shakur at Can Am, described the song as "a caustic anti–East Coast jihad in which the rapper threatens to eliminate Biggie, Puff, and a slew of Bad Boy artists and other New York acts." The song was produced by long-time collaborator Johnny "J". The video, itself described as infamous, includes impersonations of Biggie, Puffy and M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Kim.

Styles P American rapper from New York

David R. Styles, better known by his stage name Styles P, is an American rapper, best known as a member of hip hop group the Lox, alongside childhood friends Sheek Louch and Jadakiss. Along with the other members of the Lox, he is a founder of D-Block Records and was also a part of the Ruff Ryders Entertainment collective. In addition, he has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo MC. In 2002, he released his debut solo album A Gangster and a Gentleman, which contained the hit single "Good Times". The song peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me (1996). The song features fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and was produced by Daz Dillinger. The song was released as a promotional single for the album on May 7, 1996 and later as the B-side to the album's second major and third overall single, How Do U Want It. The song peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The song contains interpolations of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's song "The Message" and "Radio Activity Rap " by MC Frosty and Lovin' C.

East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry 1990s feud between artists/ fans of the East Coast and West Coast hip hop scenes in the US

The East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry was a feud between artists and fans of the East Coast hip hop and West Coast hip hop scenes in the United States, especially from the mid-1990s. Focal points of the feud were East Coast–based rapper The Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy and their New York City–based label, Bad Boy Records, and West Coast–based rapper Tupac Shakur with Suge Knight and their Los Angeles-based label, Death Row Records. The feud culminated in the murders of both rappers in drive-by shootings. Although several suspects have been identified, both murders remain unsolved.

Stretch (rapper) American rapper and record producer

Randy Walker, of the stage name Stretch, was an American rapper and record producer, working in Live Squad. In the early 1990s, he joined 2Pac's rap group Thug Life. The November 30, 1994, shooting of Shakur led to their split. On November 30, 1995, exactly one year after the shooting of Shakur, Stretch was shot and killed at the age of 27.

Who Shot Ya? 1995 song by the Notorious B.I.G.

"Who Shot Ya" or often "Who Shot Ya?" is a song by Brooklyn, New York, rapper the Notorious B.I.G., also called Biggie Smalls, backed by Sean Combs as the "hype man". Puffy's emerging record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, released it on February 21, 1995, on an alternate reissue of Biggie's single "Big Poppa/Warning," out since December 5, 1994. While this 1994 release climbed the Billboard Hot 100, its new B side "Who Shot Ya"—now Biggie's "most infamous classic," with an instrumental now iconic—revised some vocals of a "Who Shot Ya" track, rapped by Biggie and Keith Murray, already issued on a mixtape from a Harlem DJ earlier in 1995. Recalled as "menacing magic" that helps "define New York rap," "Who Shot Ya" was "controversial and hugely influential." Widely interpreted as a taunt at 2Pac, the single provoked a "rap battle" between the two rappers, formerly friends.

Ha (song) 1998 single by Juvenile

"Ha" is a 1998 single by rapper Juvenile, from his third album 400 Degreez. It was produced by Mannie Fresh. This song, along with Juvenile's "Back That Azz Up" and B.G.'s "Bling Bling" was responsible for taking Cash Money Records from a small local label in New Orleans to the pop mainstream. The song is notable for its unique style of rapping, with every line except the chorus ending with "ha". The chorus to the song interpolates a line taken from the earlier Juvenile single "Solja Rags".

The Payback (song) 1974 single by James Brown

"The Payback" is a funk song by James Brown, the title track from his 1973 album of the same name. The song's lyrics, originally written by trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley but heavily revised by Brown himself soon before it was recorded, concern the revenge he plans to take against a man who betrayed him. The song is notable for its sparse, open arrangement and its use of wah-wah guitar – a relative rarity in Brown's previous funk recordings. Released as a two-part single in February 1974, it was the first in an unbroken succession of three singles by Brown to reach #1 on the R&B charts that year – the last chart-toppers of his career. It also peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was his second, and final, single to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Party and Bullshit Single by The Notorious B.I.G.

"Party and Bullshit" is a song by American hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., credited as BIG. The song is the artist's debut single and was released as the fourth promotional single for the soundtrack to the 1993 film Who's the Man?.

<i>Cold Case Files: Vol. 1</i>

Cold Case Files: Vol. 1 is a compilation album by American hardcore rap group Onyx released on August 19, 2008 by Iceman Music Group. This compilation contains singles and lost studio recordings from the group's albums.

Big Pun American rapper (1971–2000)

Christopher Lee Rios, better known by his stage name Big Pun, was an American rapper and songwriter. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the early 1990s, he came to prominence during the latter half of the decade for his work with Fat Joe and the Terror Squad.

"Dolly My Baby" is the title of a reggae/hip-hop song performed by Jamaican reggae/dancehall recording artist Super Cat released as a single in early 1993. The original version of the song is featured on Super Cat's album Don Dada (1992). The song was a major success for Super Cat, reaching number 64 on the R&B singles chart and number 21 on both the rap and dance charts.

Cosimo Fini, better known by the stage name Gué previously as Gué Pequeno, is an Italian rapper and record producer. He was also earlier a member of various formations, notably the hip hop duo Club Dogo with rapper Jake La Furia and producer Don Joe. Between 1999 and 2001, he was also in "Sacre Scuole", a group made up by Gué Pequeno, Dargen D'Amico and Jake La Furia.

Charlie Wilson (singer) American singer and musician

Charles Kent Wilson, also known as Uncle Charlie, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and the former lead vocalist of the Gap Band. As a solo artist Wilson has been nominated for 13 Grammy awards and 11 NAACP Image Awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and was a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005. In 2009 and 2020, he was named Billboard magazine's No. 1 Adult R&B Artist, and his song "There Goes My Baby" was named the No. 1 Urban Adult Song for 2009 in Billboard Magazine.

<i>Ready to Die</i> 1994 studio album by The Notorious B.I.G.

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. The album features productions by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. It was recorded from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper's experiences as a young criminal, and was the only studio album released during his lifetime, as he was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album Life After Death in 1997.

<i>Duets: The Final Chapter</i> 2005 remix album by The Notorious B.I.G.

Duets: The Final Chapter is the second posthumous album by late American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., and is a collection of songs featuring appearances of other prominent rappers. The album was released by Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records in the UK on December 19, 2005, and in the US on December 20 and charted at #3 selling 438,000 copies, beaten by the extremely high sales of Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable and Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough. In the UK it climbed as high as #13 after the release of the album's first single "Nasty Girl". It is his second posthumous album that was certified platinum and is said to be his last album of mainly new material.

Easy Mo Bee American record producer

Osten Harvey Jr., better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer, known for his production work for artists such as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, as well as his affiliation with Bad Boy Records in its early years, and his production involvement in The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, Ready to Die. He also produced two songs on 2Pac's album, Me Against the World.

References

  1. Bling Etymology Archived 2011-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Jesse West : Brooklyn Bodega". Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2010-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)