La the Darkman | |
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Birth name | Lason Jackson |
Born | New York City, New York | July 23, 1979
Origin | Brooklyn, New York |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation | Rapper |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels |
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Lason Jackson (born July 23, 1979), better known as La the Darkman, [1] is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated rapper and MC.
Jackson was born in New York City, New York and grew up Crown Heights, Brooklyn with his brother William Jackson. [2] He negotiated his first deal while finishing high school and was a protégé of the Wu-Tang Clan having grown particularly close with various members. Jackson later secured a distribution deal through Navarre Distribution, with whom he released his debut album Heist of the Century in 1998. He later toured with several singers and groups such as 50 Cent and the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as launching his own management company and clothing store. [3] Jackson later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked with Aphilliates Music Group and Embassy Entertainment, later negotiating label deals with both companies. [4] He also worked in a business capacity for DJ Drama, setting up booking arrangements and endorsement deals. [3] Jackson also executive produced the album Gangsta Grillz vol.1 and vol.2 which both albums hit #2 and #4 on the Billboard charts. [5]
The independently released Heist of the Century later peaked at 37 on Billboard's "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" in May 1998. [6]
Rapper/actor Drake mentioned Jackson during a MTV interview calling him one of the "Hottest MCs in the Game". [7] Vibe praised Jackson's participation in the Uncontrolled Substance album, calling his overtures "seductive". [8]
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper and hip hop producer. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
Uncontrolled Substance is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck. The album was released on October 5, 1999, under Loud Records. Originally slated for release in 1995, the record was indefinitely postponed after a flood destroyed over 100 beats in RZA's basement, including his original productions for the album. Eventually released four years later, Uncontrolled Substance received mostly positive reviews, and is Inspectah Deck's most critically acclaimed and most commercially successful album to date. The album features Wu-Tang Clan members U-God and Masta Killa, and appearances from lesser-known affiliates Street Life, Killa Sin, and LA the Darkman. A music video was made for the songs "Word on the Street" directed by Gregory Dark & "Show 'N' Prove" directed by Joseph Kahn. The album's liner notes state that it is dedicated to Inspectah Deck's late father, Frank Hunter.
Killarmy is an American hip hop group that is affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan. It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man.
Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Heist of the Century is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was released on November 17, 1998, through Supreme Team Entertainment. The production was handled by Carlos "Six July" Broady, 4th Disciple, Havoc of Mobb Deep, RZA, Raekwon, and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. It features appearances by many Wu-Tang Clan members and affiliates such as Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa and U-God, among others.
Ronald Maurice Bean, better known professionally as Mathematics, is a hip hop producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan and its solo and affiliate projects. He designed the Wu-Tang Clan logo.
Tekitha Washington is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated female vocalist. She was the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house singer for the album Wu-Tang Forever, on which she also performed a solo track titled "Second Coming". She also filled in for the unavailable Mary J. Blige in the video for Ghostface Killah's "All That I Got Is You".
SRC was an American record label created by former Loud Records CEO Steve Rifkind. It was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and was distributed through Universal Records, Motown Records and Republic Records.
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
The Wu-Elements are a production team closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. A loosely knit group, it consists of five producers who typically support main producer RZA in handling production duties for Wu-Tang group, solo and affiliate releases.
Gangsta Grillz: The Album is the debut studio album by hip hop disc jockey DJ Drama, bearing the name of his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, that was released on December 4, 2007, by Aphilliates Music Group, Embassy Entertainment, Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records.
Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 2 is the second studio album by American hip hop disc jockey DJ Drama. It was released on May 19, 2009, by Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records.
"Day Dreaming" is a song by American hip hop artist DJ Drama. The song serves as the lead single from his second studio album Gangsta Grillz: The Album . The hip hop song, produced by Drumma Boy, features guest vocals from American singer Akon, as well as American rappers Snoop Dogg and T.I. The song was released onto iTunes on February 9, 2009. Originally, the song was meant for Akon's album Freedom, under the title "Go Go Dancer". The song peaked at #33 in New Zealand and #59 in Sweden, becoming DJ Drama's only entry in those countries.
Willie Jackson, known professionally as Willie the Kid, is an American rapper, songwriter, film producer, entrepreneur and tech investor from Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Willie the Kid made his music debut as a founding member of The Aphilliates working closely with DJ Drama and Don Cannon. He is the younger brother of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman.
The discography of American disc jockey DJ Drama consists of six independent studio albums. His first, Gangsta Grillz: The Album, was released in December 2007 and spawned two singles: "5000 Ones" and "The Art of Storytellin' Part 4". Two years later, he released his second album Gangsta Grillz: The Album (2009), which likewise spawned two singles: "Day Dreaming" and "Ridiculous" —both of which failed to chart domestically.
Gary Eldridge Grice, better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American rapper. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both the first member in the group to receive a record deal and being the oldest member. He has appeared on his fellow Wu-Tang members' solo projects, and has maintained a successful solo career starting with his second album Liquid Swords (1995).
D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape is the fourth compilation album by American record label Dreamville. It was released on March 31, 2022, by Dreamville and Interscope as a Gangsta Grillz mixtape hosted by DJ Drama.