Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, composed of three emcees, and formerly three DJs. Their debut studio album, One for All (1990), is one of the most popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and political lyrics inspired by the teachings of The Nation of Gods and Earths. In 2008, About.com placed the group on its list of the 25 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time.
Anthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper known for being a longtime and frequent music partner of East Coast rapper Nas and also a member of hip hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. Online magazine About.com listed AZ as the "Most Underrated [Rapper] of All Time". AZ also made it onto the sites' "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", where he was reiterated as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever".
Lamont Coleman, known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability. He was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where, in 1995, he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. On February 15, 1999, he was fatally shot nine times in a drive-by shooting in Harlem.
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ. Raised in Atlanta, he began his musical career at the age of nine, as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin. In 1991, he discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross. Dupri wrote and produced their breakout 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He established his own record label, So So Def Recordings in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.
Long Live the Kane is the debut album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released by Cold Chillin' Records on June 21, 1988. It was produced by Marley Marl and established both as premier artists during hip hop's golden age. Kane displayed his unique rapping technique while covering topics including love, Afrocentricity and his rapping prowess. Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane display a sparse production style - creating beats with fast-paced drums and lightly utilized James Brown samples.
"One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)" is a song written and recorded by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Three versions of the song exist: An original, lyrically explicit version prefaced by an answering machine performance featured on the album, and two versions released as singles, of which both contain identical lyrics by B.I.G. despite differing instrumentals and choruses. The first of which is an upbeat "Hip Hop Mix" that samples Marley Marl's "Droppin Science", and the second is a sultrier R&B remix parenthetically labeled the "Stay with Me Remix", which samples the namesake 1983 song by the band DeBarge. The lattermost remains the most popular, and features backing vocals and harmonies performed by his wife Faith Evans, as well as an uncredited appearances by Mary J. Blige and Bad Boy Records label boss Puff Daddy—who also produced the version with Rashad Smith. It received platinum certification by the RIAA by July 31, 1995 and has sold 1.1 million copies.
Lord Finesse is an American rapper and hip-hop record producer from The Bronx, New York best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.
Omar Gerryl Credle, better known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper and member of the group D.I.T.C. He has been involved with several underground hip hop groups, namely Crooklyn Dodgers '95, Luv NY, and Perestroika.
Anthony Best professionally known as Buckwild, is an American hip hop producer. Hailing from The Bronx borough of New York City, he is a member of Diggin' in the Crates Crew, along with Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L, and O.C. He has produced a number of tracks for prominent rappers in the music industry, including The Notorious B.I.G.'s "I Got a Story to Tell" and Black Rob's "Whoa!". In 2013, he was described by HipHopDX as "one of Hip Hop's most prolific and acclaimed producers".
D.I.T.C. is the debut studio album by American New York-based hip hop collective Diggin' in the Crates Crew. It was released on February 22, 2000 via Tommy Boy Records. It features contributions from all the eight members of the group: Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L, as well as Big Pun, Milano, Cuban Link, KRS-One, and production from DJ Premier, Amed Harris and Rockwilder. The album peaked at number 141 on the Billboard 200, number 31 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 9 on the Independent Albums in the United States.
"Tonight's da Night" is the third single released by Redman from his debut album, Whut? Thee Album. It features a jazzy beat produced by Erick Sermon and Redman himself, and contains samples from many songs, including "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, "The Payback" by James Brown, "Tonight's the Night" by Raydio, and "A Few More Kisses to Go" by Isaac Hayes. The song starts off with Redman rapping about being "smooth to any groove", and he is then interrupted by Hurricane G who wants him to rap some "rough shit". Redman goes on to talk about guns and other illegal things. A remix can be found on Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside.
The complete discography of Big L, an American hip hop artist, consists of two studio albums, four posthumous albums, six compilation albums, two extended plays, three collaborative albums one live album, four music videos, and seven singles. His first album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, was released in 1995. In the US, it peaked at number 149 on the Billboard 200 and number 22 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
"Put It On" is a song recorded by American rapper Big L, and features American rapper Kid Capri. The track was produced by Buckwild for L's debut studio album, Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous (1995). The song was written by Big L, Roy Ayers and Anthony Best. The song was released on November 13, 1994 as the first single from the album through Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment.
Ayub Bey, known as Grand Daddy I.U., was an American rapper who was a member of the hip-hop group Juice Crew in the 1980s.
Herbert Malburn Brown better known by his stage name McGruff is an American hip hop recording artist from Harlem, New York, perhaps best known for being a member of Children of the Corn alongside Big L, Cam'ron, Bloodshed, and Mase.
Return of the Devil's Son, is the third posthumous album by American rapper Big L. It was released on November 23, 2010, through SMC Recordings. Officially put together by L's brother Donald Phinazee, Return of the Devil's Son is a collection of previously unreleased material, including early demo tracks, outtakes from Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous and The Big Picture together with a few freestyles and new remixes. It features guest appearances from Royal Flush and Kool G Rap, as well as production by Showbiz, Lord Finesse, DJ Premier, Large Professor, Domingo, amongst others.
"M.V.P." is a song recorded by American rapper Big L. The song was written by Big L and produced by Lord Finesse for Big L's debut studio album Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous. It was released in 1995 through Columbia Records as the second single from the album along with a "Summer Smooth Mix" featuring singer/songwriter Indoe. The original version samples "Stay With Me" by DeBarge. The acronym M.V.P. usually stands for 'most valuable player' in sports and e-sports settings. In the song, however, Big L takes it to stand for "most valuable poet". 4 remixes for the song exist: the Summer Smooth mix featuring Miss Jones and produced by Giovanni Salah, two remixes produced by Buckwild, both appearing on his 2007 album Buckwild: Diggin' in the Crates, and a remix by DJ Premier.
Lead Pipe is the second studio album by American rapper Grand Daddy I.U. from Queens, New York. It was released on June 21, 1994 through Cold Chillin'/Epic Street. The entire album was produced by Grand Daddy I.U. and Kay Cee.
The singles discography of American rapper Jay-Z consists of 68 singles as a lead artist, and 51 singles as a featured artist, as well as 14 promotional singles.
"Go See the Doctor" is a song by American rapper singer Kool Moe Dee. It was released in 1986 as the first single from his eponymous debut album. Originally published by Rooftop, it was later reissued by Jive.
